Knowledge-based programmable logic controller with flexible in-field knowledge management and analytics

An intelligent programmable logic controller comprising:

• one or more processors configured to execute according to a scan cycle;
• a volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising a process image area;
• a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• a plurality of controller components executed by the one or more processors according to the scan cycle, the plurality of controller components comprising:
• a data connector component with a deployment interface configured to receive one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models from an external source via the deployment interface included in the intelligent programmable logic controller,
• a data analytics component with an automated reasoner module configured to execute one or more reasoning algorithms for analyzing data received and transmitted via the data connector component, and
• a contextualization component with a knowledge manager configured to dynamically modify the one or more reasoning algorithms during runtime of a control program based on the one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models.

An article of manufacture for operating an intelligent programmable logic controller over a plurality of scan cycles, the article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

• executing a control program;
• executing one or more reasoning algorithms for analyzing data received and transmitted by the intelligent programmable logic controller;
• receiving one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models from an external source via a deployment interface included in the intelligent programmable logic controller;
• and
• dynamically modifying the one or more reasoning algorithms during runtime of the control program based on the one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models.