US 2010/0249951 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing Configuration Changes Across Multiple Components of an Industrial Control System

Abstract

An industrial control system includes an industrial controller and a series of bridge devices logically connected in a cascaded arrangement to facilitate data communication between the industrial controller and an I/O device. The control system further includes a programming interface connected to the industrial controller to provide modifications to the program and component configuration. Modifications are provided to the controller and to the bridge devices across the network in a multiphase operation that includes a first operation that cascades the modifications from the industrial controller and to the bridge devices, and a second operation that cascades a apply command to the industrial controller and to the bridge devices instructing the industrial controller and the bridge devices to update the configuration of each of the devices based on the modifications provided in the first phase only upon acknowledgement that the industrial controller and each of the bridge devices has accepted the modifications.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An industrial control system comprising:

an industrial controller that executes a stored program to control an industrial process, the industrial controller including:
a plurality of components comprising:
(i) a programmable logic controller;
(iii) at least one I/O device communicating with the programmable logic controller and adapted to exchange I/O data between the industrial controller and the industrial process according to configuration data;
(ii) at least one network device communicating between the programmable logic controller and the I/O device according to configuration data;
and
a programming interface executing on the industrial controller and operative to:
(i) provide modifications to at least one of the stored program and configuration data;
and
(ii) provide the modifications of at least one of the stored program and configuration data to the components in a multiphase operation that includes a first phase that provides the modifications to the components, and a second phase that applies the modifications to components for use in controlling the industrial process if and only if all the components indicate that they will be able to support those modifications.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing Configuration Changes Across Multiple Components of an Industrial Control System

Life of this patent

Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing Configuration Changes Across Multiple Components of an Industrial Control System

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19