System and method for automatically updating the memory map of a programmable logic controller to customized hardware

A programmable logic controller (PLC), comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory medium coupled to the processor, comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:
• automatically detect at least one programmable hardware element (PHE) coupled to the PLC;
• and
• automatically update a memory map based on a hardware I/O interface of the at least one PHE, wherein the at least one PHE provides a customizable interface between one or more devices and programs executing on the PLC;
• use the memory map to facilitate communication between programs executing on the PLC and the PHE, wherein said using the memory map comprises the utilizing a scanning architecture, wherein said utilizing the scanning architecture comprises retrieving and storing information from and to the memory map a plurality of times to update information to and from the at least one PHE.

A computer-accessible memory medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to implement:

• automatically detecting at least one programmable hardware element (PHE) coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC);
• and
• automatically updating a memory map based on a hardware I/O interface of the at least one PHE, wherein the at least one PHE provides a customizable interface between one or more devices and programs executing on the PLC;
• using the memory map to facilitate communication between programs executing on the PLC and the programmable hardware element, wherein said using the memory map comprises the utilizing a scanning architecture, wherein said utilizing the scanning architecture comprises retrieving and storing information from and to the memory map a plurality of times to update information to and from the at least one PHE.

A system, comprising:

• means for automatically detecting at least one programmable hardware element coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC);
• and
• means for automatically updating a memory map based on a hardware I/O interface of the at least one programmable hardware element PHE, wherein the at least one PHE provides a customizable interface between one or more devices and programs executing on the PLC;
• means for using the memory map to facilitate communication between programs executing on the PLC and the PHE, wherein said using the memory map comprises the utilizing a scanning architecture, wherein said utilizing the scanning architecture comprises retrieving and storing information from and to the memory map a plurality of times to update information to and from the at least one PHE.