# US 2019/0171177 A1 · Platform for continued use of existing software for the actuation of industrial field devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0171177 A1 - Document ID: US20190171177A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/251,183 - Filed: 2019-01-18 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: Stefan Hauck-Stattelmann; Stephan Sehestedt; Jeffrey Harding; Heiko Koziolek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190171177A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence} - G05B 15/02: electric - G05B 19/058: {Safety, monitoring} - G05B 19/4185: {characterised by the network communication} - G05B 23/0272: {Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user} - G05B 2219/13125: Use of virtual, logical connections - G05B 2219/14006: Safety, monitoring in general - G05B 2219/25011: Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation - G05B 2219/31088: Network communication between supervisor and cell, machine group - G05B 2219/31093: Communication between sensors, actuators and gateway - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A platform for actuation of at least one industrial field device in an industrial installation having control software includes: an execution environment, in which the control software is runnable; and an external interface for communicating between the control software and the at least one industrial field device. The execution environment has virtual hardware which, from a point of view of the control software, behaves in a manner of the at least one industrial field device. A switching unit is connected between the virtual hardware and the external interface. The switching unit bidirectionally translates data, interchanged between the control software and the virtual hardware, for communication with the at least one industrial field device via the external interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A platform for actuation of at least one industrial field device in an industrial installation having control software, comprising: an execution environment, in which the control software is runnable; and an external interface configured to communicate between the control software and the at least one industrial field device, wherein the execution environment has virtual hardware which, from a point of view of the control software, behaves in a manner of the at least one industrial field device, and wherein a switching unit is connected between the virtual hardware and the external interface, the switching unit being configured to bidirectionally translate data, interchanged between the control software and the virtual hardware, for communication with the at least one industrial field device via the external interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The platform according to claim 1, wherein the execution environment comprises a virtual machine which in turn runs on hardware in a manner mediated by an operating system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The platform according to claim 1, wherein the virtual hardware, the switching unit, and/or the virtual machine interact with the operating system via an additional abstraction layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The platform according to claim 1, wherein the execution environment is configured to execute control software present in a standardized language according to IEC 61131-3 or in a proprietary control program language. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The platform according to claim 1, further comprising an additional gateway which is connected to the external interface via a first interface and to the at least one industrial field device via a second interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The platform according to claim 5, wherein the gateway is configured to bidirectionally translate between a communication standard of the external interface and a communication standard of the field device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The platform according to claim 5, wherein the first interface and the external interface are connected via a network to a shared communication medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The platform according to claim 7, wherein the gateway is configured to monitor at least one measured value determined by the designed field device and to communicate an event via the network when the at least one measured value meets a predetermined criterion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The platform according to claim 7, wherein the gateway is configured to bidirectionally communicate, via the network, with a human-machine interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The platform according to claim 5, wherein the gateway comprises an automation technology control unit configured as a gateway by modifying a firmware thereof to its specific functionality. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The platform according to claim 2, wherein the execution environment and the gateway mediated by a same operating system run on the same hardware. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The platform according to claim 2, wherein the hardware comprises an industrial PC, an automation technology control unit, or a programmable logic controller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The platform according to claim 2, wherein the operating system is real-time-capable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A computer program product containing machine-readable instructions which, if executed on a computer, a control unit, or other hardware, give the computer, the control unit, or the other hardware the functionality of the platform according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A computer program product containing machine-readable instructions which, if executed on a computer, a control unit, or other hardware, give the computer, the control unit, or the other hardware the functionality of the platform according to claim 1 and the functionality of a gateway contained therein. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A computer program product containing machine-readable instructions which, if executed on a computer, a control unit, or other hardware, give the computer, the control unit, or the other hardware the functionality of the platform according to claim 1 or the functionality of a gateway contained therein. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The platform according to claim 4, wherein the proprietary control program language comprises ASEA Master Programming Language or Taylor Control Language.