Programmable controller and programming tool for communication with legacy equipment

A method of communication between a peripheral equipment and a programmable logic controller executing high-level language program, and controlling devices, the method comprising:

• transmitting, by the peripheral equipment, a request for data read or data write related to a target device among devices controlled by the programmable logic controller, the request including a name of the target device that is not supported by the high-level language program;
• receiving, by the programmable logic controller, the request transmitted by the peripheral equipment;
• reading, by the programmable logic controller, a symbol table to determine a physical address in a memory of the programmable logic controller related to the target device;
• wherein the symbol table defines a physical address in the memory of the programmable logic controller for each of said name of said target device that is not supported by the high-level language program and
• reading from or writing to the determined physical address.

A programmable logic controller that executes high-level language program for controlling devices, the programmable logic controller comprising:

• a request receiving unit which receives a request for reading or writing related to a target device among devices controlled by the programmable logic controller, the request being transmitted by a peripheral equipment and including a name of the target device that is not supported by the high-level language program;
• a symbol table reading unit which reads a symbol table to determine a physical address in a memory of the programmable logic controller related to the target device, wherein the symbol table defines a physical address in the memory of the programmable logic controller for each of the name of the target device that is not supported by the high-level language program;
• and
• a physical address reading or writing unit which reads from or writes to the determined physical address,
• wherein the programmable logic controller comprises at least one hardware component.