Embedded database systems and methods in an industrial controller environment

A method for exchanging data between an industrial control component and a database, comprising:

• adapting at least one control component in the industrial controller to process a plurality of database languages through use of controller schema, wherein a protocol converter in the control component translates data between the database protocols and one or more industrial control protocols;
• exchanging data with the control component in accordance with the one or more database languages, wherein the control component exchanges control data from/to a programmable logic controller (PLC).

A database and industrial control system, comprising:

• means for adapting an industrial control system to automatically translate control data between an industrial protocol and a plurality of database protocols, wherein the control data is received from a programmable logic controller;
• and
• means for exchanging the control data between an industrial control component and a database utilizing the database protocols.

A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:

• a first data field representing at least one of a row and a column expression relating to a database component associated with one or more database protocols;
• and
• a second data field representing an industrial control data format derived from the first data field by utilizing at least one of a controller tag element and controller schema.