Industrial simulation using redirected I/O module configurations
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system comprising at least one processor to implement a development environment, wherein the development environment comprises:
- a development interface component configured to receive input that facilitates creation of a simulation of an industrial process within the development environment;
a configuration retrieval component configured to identify I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program;
a connection pool component configured to select a generic I/O module profile corresponding to an I/O module type specified by the I/O module configuration data and to create a set of I/O connection definitions based on the generic I/O module profile and the I/O module configuration data, wherein the connection pool component selects the generic I/O module profile from among two or more generic I/O module profiles that describe generic characteristics of corresponding I/O module types;
an I/O kernel configured to exchange simulation data between the simulation and an I/O module instance defined on the industrial controller by the industrial control program based on the I/O connection definitions in accordance with a first timing defined by a simulation clock, wherein the industrial controller executes the modified industrial control program in accordance with a second timing defined by a controller clock to facilitate processing of input signals received from the simulation and controlling of output signals directed to the simulation system; and
a synchronization component configured to dynamically designate which of the simulation clock or the controller clock is to serve as a master clock for exchange of the simulation data between the simulation and the I/O module instance.
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Abstract
A simulation environment for running a process simulation used to validate an industrial control program. The simulation environment exposes the I/O module configurations defined in the control program and retrieves module configuration information therefrom. This I/O module configuration information is combined with generic, module-specific I/O module profiles to create a pool of available controller I/O points, which can be selectively associated with I/O points in the simulation to create an I/O point mapping. During control program validation, simulated I/O data is exchanged between the process simulation and the I/O module instances in the controller in accordance with the I/O point mapping.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system comprising at least one processor to implement a development environment, wherein the development environment comprises:
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a development interface component configured to receive input that facilitates creation of a simulation of an industrial process within the development environment; a configuration retrieval component configured to identify I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program; a connection pool component configured to select a generic I/O module profile corresponding to an I/O module type specified by the I/O module configuration data and to create a set of I/O connection definitions based on the generic I/O module profile and the I/O module configuration data, wherein the connection pool component selects the generic I/O module profile from among two or more generic I/O module profiles that describe generic characteristics of corresponding I/O module types; an I/O kernel configured to exchange simulation data between the simulation and an I/O module instance defined on the industrial controller by the industrial control program based on the I/O connection definitions in accordance with a first timing defined by a simulation clock, wherein the industrial controller executes the modified industrial control program in accordance with a second timing defined by a controller clock to facilitate processing of input signals received from the simulation and controlling of output signals directed to the simulation system; and a synchronization component configured to dynamically designate which of the simulation clock or the controller clock is to serve as a master clock for exchange of the simulation data between the simulation and the I/O module instance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A simulation module, comprising:
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a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory that facilitates execution of the computer-executable instructions to; execute a simulation of an industrial process; read I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program; determine an I/O module type defined by the I/O module configuration data; retrieve a generic I/O module profile corresponding to the I/O module type from a stored set of generic I/O module profiles, wherein the stored set of generic I/O module profiles comprises two or more generic I/O module profiles; modify the generic I/O module profile based on the I/O module configuration data resulting in a set of I/O connection definitions; exchange, based on a first timing defined by a simulation clock, simulation data between the simulation and an I/O module instance of the industrial control program based on the set of I/O connection definitions, wherein the industrial controller executes the industrial control program in accordance with a second timing defined by a controller clock to process input signals received from the simulation and control output signals directed to the simulation; and dynamically designate one of the simulation clock or the controller clock to act as a master clock for exchange of the simulation data between the simulation and the I/O module instance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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executing, by a system comprising a processor, a simulation of an industrial process; retrieving, by the system, I/O module configuration data defined in an industrial control program; retrieving, by the system, a generic I/O module profile corresponding to an I/O module type defined by the I/O module configuration data, wherein the retrieving the generic I/O module profile comprises selecting the generic I/O module profile from among two or more generic I/O module profiles that describe generic characteristics of corresponding I/O module types; modifying, by the system, the generic I/O module profile based on the I/O module configuration data to yield a set of available I/O point definitions for an I/O module corresponding to the I/O module configuration data; and communicatively, by the system, interfacing, by the system, a simulation I/O point of the simulation with an I/O point of an I/O module instance defined by the industrial control program and corresponding to the I/O module based on the set of available I/O point definitions; exchanging, by the system via the interfacing and using a first timing defined by a simulation clock, simulation data between the simulation I/O point and the I/O point of the I/O module, wherein the industrial controller executes the industrial control program using a second timing defined by a controller clock to process input signals received from the simulation and to control output signals directed to the simulation; and dynamically designating, by the system, one of the simulation clock or the controller clock to serve as a master clock for the exchanging. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification