Method for automatically modifying a program and automation system

An automation system having stored in memory therein an automatically modifiable program comprising computer-executable program code instructions to be executed by the automation system, comprising:

• an identificator assigned to the automation system for determining a first item of data related to a program component;
• an communication interface for initiating by the automation system a connection between the automation system and a remote database;
• a selector to select a program code object which is stored in the remote database based upon the first item of data;
• a comparator for comparing a second item of data related to the program component of the program with a third item of data related to the selected program code object to determine whether the program code object is updated compared to the program component;
• an initializer for checking whether a modification of the program can be implemented without affecting a running program;
• and
• an integrator for integrating the program code object into the program based upon results from the comparator and initializer for the purpose of modifying the program, wherein the program code object is integrated into the program only if the program code object is updated compared to the program component and modification of the program can be implemented without affecting a running program.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program to be executed on a computer to provide a method for automatically modifying a program of an automation system comprising computer-executable program code instructions for:

• determining a first item of data related to a program component of the program using an identificator assigned to the automation system;
• initiating by the automation system a connection with a remote database;
• selecting a program code object which is stored in the remote database using a selector based upon the first item of data;
• determining a second item of data related to the program component of the program;
• determining a third item of data related to the selected program code object;
• comparing the second item of data to the third item of data to determine whether the program code object is updated compared to the program component;
• checking whether a modification of the program can be implemented without affecting a running program;
• and
• modifying the program with the program code object based upon results from the comparing and the checking steps, wherein the program code object is integrated into the program only if the program code object is updated compared to the program component and modification of the program can be implemented without affecting a running program.