Method for reproducing the sequence of a program in an automation device

• US 9,927,791 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Grosch, Thomas, Laforsch, Jrgen, Renschler, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Karim, Ziaul
• Application Number:
  US14/519,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 700 86, 717124, 717125
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13152 Modification of program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/14 Error detection or correction of the data by redundancy in operation G06F11/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3636 by tracing the execution of the program
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/366 using diagnostics G06F11/0703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

A method for reproducing the sequence of a program provided for process control in an automation device, wherein a program that corresponds to the program in the automation device with regard to process control is provided for processing using a backup device, where suitable measures can be used to image the complete history of the automation device and to reproduce the sequence of the program so that with regard to the processing of the program, it becomes possible to subsequently and repeatedly approach any desired time in the past and to reproduce all associated data.

Claims

1. A method for reproducing a sequence of a program provided for process control in an automation device, comprising:

providing a backup program which corresponds to the program in the automation device with regard to process control for processing using a backup device, the backup device processing the backup program during processing of the program in the automation device for process control;

utilizing the automation device to store an image in a backup memory within at least one predefined or predefinable time during the processing of the program in the automation device for process control, the image representing an internal state of the automation device at this time;

utilizing the automation device to store, during the processing of the program in the automation device each time a predefinable or predefined interval of time has expired or an event has occurred during the interval of time, a release and process input values in the backup memory, stored releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device and further indicating to the backup device that said backup device is permitted to process processing sections of the backup program which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed;

utilizing the backup device to read the image as well as the stored releases and the process input values from the backup memory; and

utilizing the backup device to process said processing sections of the backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the stored releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image such that a speed at which a sequence of those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, which sequence is to be reproduced or reconstructed, is increased.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backup device is utilized to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automation device is utilized to produce an initial image at a first time during the processing of the program in the automation device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the backup device is utilized to produce intermediate images at further times during the processing of the backup program and to store the produced intermediate images in the backup memory.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the automation device is utilized to produce intermediate images at further times and to store the produced intermediate images in the backup memory.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the automation device, (ii) the backup device, and (iii) the backup memory are interconnected via a global network.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of (i) the automation device, (ii) the backup device, and (iii) the backup memory are interconnected via a global network.

8. An arrangement comprising:

an automation device;

a backup device;

a backup memory;

a program stored in the automation device for providing process control; and

a backup program which corresponds with regard to process control being provided for processing using the backup device;

wherein the automation device is configured to process the program for process control;

wherein the backup device is configured to process the backup program during the processing of the program in the automation device for process control;

wherein the automation device is further configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory within at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control;

wherein the automation device is further configured to store, during the processing of the program in the automation device each time a predefinable or predefined interval of time has expired or an event has occurred during the time interval, a release and process input values in the backup memory, stored releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device and further configured to indicate to the backup device that said backup device is permitted to process processing sections of the backup program which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed;

wherein the backup device is configured to read the stored image, the stored releases and the process input values from the backup memory; and

wherein the backup device is further configured to process said processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the stored releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image such that a speed at which a sequence of the processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, which sequence is to be reproduced or reconstructed, is increased.

9. The arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce an initial image at a first time during the processing of its program.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the backup device is further configured to produce intermediate images at further times during the processing of its backup program.

12. The arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce intermediate images at further times.

13. A backup device for an arrangement including an automation device configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory within at least one predefined or predefinable time process control and being configured to store, during processing of a program stored in the automation device each time a predefinable or predefined interval of time has expired or an event has occurred during the time interval, a release and process input values in the backup memory, stored releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device and being further configured to provide an indication to the backup device, the program stored in the automation device providing process control, and a backup memory, the backup device comprising:

a backup program which corresponds with regard to the process control of the program in the automation device for processing for the backup device, the backup device processing the backup program during the processing of the program in the automation device for process control;

wherein the backup device is configured to read the stored image, the stored releases and the process input values from the backup memory;

wherein the backup device is further configured to receive the indication from the automation device, said indication notifying the backup device that said backup device is permitted to process processing sections of the backup program which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed; and

wherein the backup device is further configured to process said processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the stored releases and the process input values taking into account the stored image such that a speed at which a sequence of the processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, which sequence is to be reproduced or reconstructed, is increased.

14. The backup device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the backup device is further configured to process the backup program after the processing of the program in the automation device.

15. The backup device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the backup device is further configured to produce the intermediate images at the further times during the processing of the backup program and to store them in the backup memory.

16. An automation device for an arrangement including a backup device configured to read an image, releases and process input values from a backup memory and configured to process processing sections of its backup program, which correspond to those processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, based on the releases and the process input values taking into account a stored image, the backup memory, and a backup program which corresponds with regard to process control being provided for processing using the backup device, the automation device comprising:

a program stored in the automation device for process control;

wherein the automation device is configured to process the program for process control;

wherein the automation device is further configured to store an image of its internal state in the backup memory during at least one predefined or predefinable time during process control; and

wherein the automation device is further configured to store, during processing of the program in the automation device each time a predefinable or predefined interval of time has expired or an event has occurred during the time interval, a release and the process input values in the backup memory, stored releases indicating which processing sections of the program have already been processed by the automation device, and further configured to indicate to the backup device that said backup device is permitted to process processing sections of the backup program which correspond to those processing sections of the back program in the automation device which have already been processed such that a speed at which a sequence of the processing sections of the program in the automation device which have already been processed, which sequence is to be reproduced or reconstructed, is increased.

17. The automation device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce the initial image at the first time during the processing of its program.

18. The automation device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the automation device is further configured to produce the intermediate images at the further times during the processing of its program.