Method and apparatus for programming programmable controllers and generating configuration data from a centralized server

A method for developing programming code for a programmable controller using a server located remotely from the programmable controller and having an engineering tool residing on the server that is invokable by a network-interfacing-application on a first client device and wherein the programmable controller is directly coupled to a second client device which is disposed locally to the programmable controller and adapted to communicate with the server, the method comprising the steps of:

• accessing, via a network, the server with the first client device;
• providing an interface having an editor, the editor provided by the server to the first client device and adapted to receive user interaction for editing the programming code, and access to a compiler located on the server and adapted for use by a user to create programmable controller executable programming code via the first client device, the programming code adapted to cause the programmable controller to control actuators, the actuators being field devices, the engineering tool adapted for creating an XML version of the programming code;
• performing diagnostic tests on the programming code based on testing algorithms stored on the server, the diagnostic tests comprising simulating inputs to the programmable controller and mimicking the response of the programmable controller;
• converting the programming code into a document;
• and
• downloading the document directly into the programmable controller from the server, using the second client device.

A method of programming a programmable controller comprising the steps of:

• connecting a programmable controller directly to a first client device in communication with a server;
• establishing communication between the programmable controller and a the server located remotely from the programmable controller, the server containing programmable controller executable programming code generated via user interaction with a second client device in communication with the server using web-enabled engineering tools residing on the server and provided to the second client device, the programming code adapted to cause the programmable controller to control actuators, the actuators being field devices, the web-enabled engineering tools including an editor provided by the server to the second client device and a compiler located at the server and adapted for creating an XML version of the programming code;
• performing diagnostic tests on the programmable controller programming code based on testing algorithms stored on the server, the diagnostic tests comprising simulating inputs to the programmable controller and mimicking the response of the programmable controller;
• and
• downloading the programming code to the programmable controller via the first client device.

A method for programming a programmable controller comprising:

• maintaining a web-enabled engineering tool residing on a server for creating programmable controller executable programming code on the server for the programmable controller, the web-enabled engineering tool including an editor and a compiler, and the server being located remotely from the programmable controller and the programming code adapted to cause the programmable controller to control actuators, the actuators being field devices, the server accessible via a computer network;
• providing a user of a first client device with access to the web-enabled engineering tool over the computer network, including providing the editor to the first client device;
• performing diagnostic tests on the programmable controller programming code based on testing algorithms stored on the server, the diagnostic tests comprising simulating inputs to the programmable controller and mimicking the response of the programmable controller;
• receiving from the first client device a markup language document containing programming code created by the user with the editor of the web-enabled engineering tool;
• compiling the programming code at the compiler located on the server in response to a user instruction;
• connecting the programmable controller locally and directly to a second client device in communication with the server;
• and
• downloading the programmable controller executable programming code to the programmable controller.

A method for programming a programmable controller comprising the steps of:

• generating programmable controller executable programming code for the programmable controller on a server by accessing an engineering tool residing on the server via user interaction with a first client device, the server being located remotely from the programmable controller and the programming code adapted to cause the programmable controller to control actuators, the actuators being field devices, the engineering tool providing an editor and a compiler and adapted for creating an XML version of the programming code, the user interaction including editing programming code via the editor provided by the server to the first client device;
• performing diagnostic tests on the programmable controller programming code based on testing algorithms stored on the server, the diagnostic tests comprising simulating inputs to the programmable controller and mimicking the response of the programmable controller;
• compiling the programming code at the editor located at the server;
• downloading the compiled programming code to a second client device;
• connecting the second client device to an electronic device that is directly connected to the programmable controller;
• copying the compiled programming code to the electronic device;
• and
• downloading the compiled programming code from the electronic device to the programmable controller.