Industrial control device configuration and discovery
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. Callaghan, Michael D. Yoke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject disclosure pertains to the communications configuration of programmable logic controller modules in an industrial automation environment. Systems and methods are provided that automatically enables a programmable logic controller module to operate on a communications network once communicatively coupled thereto. Other control modules, a personal computer, or the like can access and/or otherwise interact with a module as soon as it coupled to a network. Accordingly, manual module configuration it is not required prior to access and interaction in an industrial control system.
Claims20
A system for automatic configuration of industrial modules in an industrial automation environment, comprising:
- an industrial controller comprising a backplane;
- an Input/Output (I/O) module attached to the backplane, wherein the I/O module is a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) device that at least one of monitors or controls at least one industrial device associated with an industrial process and publishes notifications of changes related to the at least one industrial device;
- and
- a program module attached to the backplane, wherein the program module is a UPnP control point that discovers and controls the I/O module.
A method for automatically configuring industrial modules in an industrial automation environment, comprising:
- attaching a program module to a backplane of an industrial controller;
- self-assigning a first control and information protocol (CIP) address to the program module;
- attaching an Input/Output (I/O) module to the backplane of the industrial controller;
- self-assigning a second CIP address to the I/O module;
- employing the I/O module as a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) device, comprising:
- at least one of monitoring or controlling at least one industrial device associated with an industrial process;
- publishing notifications of changes related to the at least one industrial device;
- employing the program module as a UPnP control point, comprising discovering and controlling the I/O module.
A system for automatic module configuration in an industrial automation system, comprising:
- an industrial controller rack comprising a backplane that communicatively couples at least two industrial modules according to a control and information protocol (CIP);
- wherein the at least two industrial modules comprise:
- an Input/Output (I/O) module that is installed in the backplane, self-assigns a CIP address and announces its presence on the backplane with an announcement, wherein the announcement includes information indicating an industrial device associated with an industrial process that is at least one of controlled or monitored by the I/P module;
- and
- a program module that receives the announcement and subscribes to receive updates from the I/O module regarding changes to the industrial device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.