Networked programmable industrial controllers
First Claim
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1. A programmable industrial controller configured for communication with other programmable industrial controllers over a computer network, the controller comprising:
- a network interface for communicating over the network;
a database for storing (i) a specification of at least one control function, (ii) controller state information, and (iii) state information, received over the network via the network interface, of other controllers;
a transmission module for periodically transmitting at least some of the controller state information over the network for broadcast to the other controllers;
an output interface for causing performance of the at least one control function; and
a memory partition for storing a control program comprising instructions for operating the network of controllers, the transmission module being configured to transmit segments of the control program to the network for execution by selected ones of the controllers based at least in part on the controller state information.
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Abstract
Different devices or subsystems, including programmable industrial controllers, are connected to a common network. Each connected device has the capability for autonomous or quasi-autonomous action based on a common pool of information accessible on the network. For example, all or a subset of devices connected to the network may periodically broadcast status data over the shared network medium; status data may include the current state of the controller and/or environmental conditions that the controller monitors.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A programmable industrial controller configured for communication with other programmable industrial controllers over a computer network, the controller comprising:
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a network interface for communicating over the network; a database for storing (i) a specification of at least one control function, (ii) controller state information, and (iii) state information, received over the network via the network interface, of other controllers; a transmission module for periodically transmitting at least some of the controller state information over the network for broadcast to the other controllers; an output interface for causing performance of the at least one control function; and a memory partition for storing a control program comprising instructions for operating the network of controllers, the transmission module being configured to transmit segments of the control program to the network for execution by selected ones of the controllers based at least in part on the controller state information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system of linked programmable industrial controllers, the system comprising a plurality of programmable industrial controllers intercommunicating over a computer network, each of the controllers comprising a network interface for communicating over the network;
- a database for storing (i) a specification of at least one control function, (ii) controller state information, and (iii) state information, received over the network via the network interface, of other controllers;
a transmission module for periodically transmitting at least some of the controller state information over the network for broadcast to the other controllers;
an output interface for causing performance of the at least one control function; and
a memory partition for storing a control program comprising instructions for operating the network of controllers, the transmission module being configured to transmit segments of the control program to the network for execution by selected ones of the controllers based at least in part on the controller state information. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- a database for storing (i) a specification of at least one control function, (ii) controller state information, and (iii) state information, received over the network via the network interface, of other controllers;
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12. A method of operating a linked network of programmable industrial controllers, the network comprising a plurality of programmable industrial controllers intercommunicating over the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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periodically causing each of the controllers to broadcast status data over the network; connecting a new controller to the network; and continuously populating a database of the new controller with data received over the network from the other controllers, the populating step comprising (i) creating a database record for each of the controllers connected to the network, (ii) receiving state information from the other connected controllers, (iii) storing the state information from each of the controllers in an associated record of the database, and (iv) updating the database as new data is received from the other connected controllers, wherein a designated one of the controllers stores a control program comprising instructions for operating the network of controllers, the designated controller transmitting segments of the control program to the network for execution by selected ones of the controllers based at least in part on the controller state information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification