Programmable controller and communication unit, and controller system and method of processing data, and methods of solving variables and of handing data

A method of solving variables in a programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates through a network with other communication units, the method characterized in that:

• the controller having a memory device of storing a variable table that associates a variable name with a real address corresponding to the variable name;
• the communication unit having a communication setup information memory device of storing communication setup information for identifying a variable name targeted for communications with other communication units,
• the communication unit making an inquiry to the controller about the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the communication setup information memory device, with predetermined timing;
• the controller, in response to the inquiry, returning the real address corresponding to the variable name;
• the communication unit creating a table that associates the returned real address with the variable name targeted for communications, and storing it in the memory device.

A method of solving variables in a controller system not only that comprises a plurality of programmable controllers comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication unit through a network, but also wherein the plurality of programmable controllers are configured and connected to the network, the method characterized by:

• the controller storing a variable table that associates the variable name with the real address in which data corresponding to the variable name is stored;
• the communication unit storing communication setup information that associates a variable name for identifying a variable name targeted for communications with other communication unit, transmission and reception attributes, sender address of data, and a variable name at the sender;
• the communication unit making an inquiry to the controller about the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the communication setup information, with predetermined timing;
• the controller, in response to the inquiry, returning the real address corresponding to the variable name;
• the communication unit creating and storing a table that associates the returned return address and the variable name targeted for communications;
• in addition, the communication unit detecting the transmission and reception attributes, and, when it is the reception attribute, issuing a request for acquiring identification information that identifies the data to be communicated, to the communication unit at the sender address to be identified based on the sender address;
• and
• in response to the request, not only acquiring the identification information transmitted from the communication unit at the sender address, but also enabling provision to the controller of the data transmitted together with the identification information during communications, by associating and storing the acquired identification information with the returned real address.

A programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the programmable controller characterized by:

• the controller having a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data;
• and
• the communication unit having:
• a communications setup information memory device that stores communication setup information identifying a variable name targeted for communications with the other communication units;
• a table that associates and stores the variable name targeted for communications and a buffer area;
• and
• a device of solving variables that obtains a real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table by making an inquiry to the controller with predetermined timing, and stores and retains a table that associates the variable name with the acquired real address.

A programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the programmable controller characterized by:

• the controller having a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data;
• and the communication unit having:
• a table that associates and stores a variable name targeted for communications with other communication units and buffer area;
• a variable solution device that obtains the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table by making an inquiry to the controller with predetermined timing, and stores and retains a table that associates the variable name with the acquired real address;
• and
• a communication establishment device that receives the communication setup information for identifying the variable name targeted for communications from the other communication units.

A programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the programmable controller characterized in that:

• the controller has a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data;
• the communication unit has a table that associates and stores a variable name targeted for communications with the other communication units and buffer area, and a communication establishment device that receives communication setup information for identifying the variable name targeted for communications from the other communication units;
• and
• the communication unit comprises a variable solution device that obtains the real address corresponding to the variable name included in the communication setup information by making an inquiry to the controller with timing after the communication establishment device receives the communication setup information, and stores and retains a table that associates the variable name with the acquired real address.

A communication unit that not only connects to, by way of a system bus, a controller comprising a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data, but also communicates with other communication units through a network, the communication unit having:

• a communication setup information memory device that stores in the communication unit communication setup information that identifies a variable name targeted for communications;
• a table that associates and stores the variable name targeted for communications and buffer area;
• and
• a variable solution device that obtains the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table by making an inquiry to the controller with predetermined timing, and stores and retains the table that associates the variable name with the real address.

A method of solving variables in a programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the method characterized in that:

• the controller has a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data;
• the communication unit has a communication setup information memory device that stores communication setup information identifying a variable name targeted for communications with other communication units, and a table that associates and stores the variable name targeted for communications and buffer area;
• the communication unit makes an inquiry to the controller about the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table;
• the controller, in response to the inquiry, refers to the variable table and sends back the real address corresponding to the variable name;
• and
• the communication unit creates and stores a table that associates the returned real address with the variable name targeted for communications.

A communication unit that not only connects to, by way of a system bus, to a controller comprising a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data, the communication unit having:

• in the communication unit,
• a table that associates and stores a variable name targeted for communications and buffer area;
• a communication establishment device that receives a request for establishment of communications for identifying the variable name targeted for communications from other communication units;
• and
• a variable solution device that obtains the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table by making an inquiry to the controller with predetermined timing, and stores and retains the table that associates the variable name with the obtained real address.

A method of solving variables in a programmable controller that comprises a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the method characterized in that:

• the controller has a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data;
• the communication unit has a communication establishment device that receives a request for establishment of communications for identifying a variable name targeted for communications from other communication units, and a table that associates and stores a variable name targeted for communications and buffer area;
• the communication unit makes an inquiry to the controller about the real address corresponding to the variable name stored in the table;
• the controller, in response to the inquiry, refers to the variable table and sends back the real address corresponding to the variable name;
• and
• the communication unit creates and stores a table that associates the returned real address with the variable name targeted for communications.

A communication unit that not only connects to, by way of a system bus, a controller comprising a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored with a variable name corresponding to the data, but also communicates with other communication units through a network, the communication unit having:

• in the communication unit,
• a communication establishment device of receiving a table that associates and stores a variable name targeted for communications with the other communication units and buffer area, and a request for establishment of communications for identifying the variable name targeted for communications from the other communication units;
• and
• a variable solution device that obtains the real address corresponding to the variable name included in the request for establishment of communications by making an inquiry to the controller with timing after communication establishment device receives the request for establishment of communications, and stores and retains the table that associates the variable name and the obtained real address.

A method of solving variables in a programmable controller comprising a controller that operates and executes a programmed program and a communication unit that communicates with other communication units through a network, the method characterized in that:

• the controller has a variable table that associates and stores a real address of the memory in which data is stored and a variable name corresponding to the data;
• the communication unit has a communication establishment device of receiving a request for establishment of communications for identifying a variable name targeted for communications from other communication units, and a table that associates and stores the variable name targeted for communications and buffer area;
• the communication unit makes an inquiry to the controller about the real address corresponding to the variable name included in the request for establishment of communications by receiving the request for establishment of communications for identifying the variable name targeted for communications from the other communication units;
• the controller, in response to the inquiry, refers to the variable table and sends back the real address corresponding to the variable name;
• and
• the communication unit creates and stores the table that associates the returned real address with the variable name targeted for communications.