Selective software distribution for an industrial plant
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMasatoshi Sasaki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller corresponding to production equipment, requiring upgrade can be selected automatically, thereby reduction in operating rate can be reduced. When software is upgraded, version upgrade software relating to a predetermined action description and version information are transferred to a controller management apparatus (S1). A version change determination unit selects a controller including the predetermined action description described in the version information (S2 and S3). The selected controller downloads the new version of software to change the software (S4 and S5) after stopping operation of the production equipment. On the other hand, a controller not selected does not download the software, and the operation of the production equipment is not stopped.
Claims15
A production system that has a plurality of pieces of production equipment controlled by controllers, comprising:
- a plurality of controllers each including:
- a command storing unit that stores a command to operate the production equipment;
- and
- a software storing unit that stores software to control the production equipment on a basis of the command;
- and
- a controller management apparatus including:
- an acquisition unit that acquires a new version of software relating to a specific command;
- a selection unit that selects a controller storing a command corresponding to the specific command to control the production equipment;
- and
- a transmission unit that transmits the new version of software to the selected controller,
- wherein the selected controller further includes a download unit that downloads the transmitted new version of software.
-5. (cancelled)
(canceled)
A method for controlling a production system comprising:
- acquiring, by a controller management apparatus that manages a plurality of controllers arranged to control a plurality of pieces of production equipment with a command, a new version of software relating to a specific command,
- selecting, by the controller management apparatus, a controller having a command corresponding to the specific command from among the plurality of controllers;
- transmitting, by the controller management apparatus, the new version of software to the selected controller;
- downloading the new version of software by the selected controller;
- and
- rewriting a software stored in the selected controller with the downloaded new version of software by the selected controller.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.