Intelligent binding and selection of hardware via automation control objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12164282-B2
Application number	US-202318344657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2023
Priority date	Sep 27, 2018
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods and devices for facilitating object-based industrial automation control. An automation control library comprised of a plurality of objects may be maintained in association with one or more industrial automation applications. Code defining the execution of an industrial automation process may be received. A plurality of objects in the object library for implementing the industrial automation control process may be identified. The plurality of identified objects may be matched to one or more hardware components based on one or more operational requirements included in the code, and available hardware resources for performing the automation control process.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for facilitating object-based industrial automation control, the system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memories operably coupled to the one or more processors and having stored thereon software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive code defining instructions for execution of an industrial automation control process;
bind a plurality of objects for implementing the industrial automation control process to the code, wherein each of the plurality of objects corresponds to an aspect of the industrial automation control process;
match a first object of the plurality of objects to a first controller capable of executing a first operation of the code associated with the first object;
match a second object of the plurality of objects to a second controller capable of executing a second operation of the code associated with the second object;
select the first controller and the second controller;
deploy the code to the first controller for execution of the first operation; and
deploy the code to the second controller for execution of the second operation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software instructions comprise further software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
identify first controller requirements associated with the first object;
determine that the first controller meets the first controller requirements, wherein the matching the first object to the first controller is based at least in part on the determination that the first controller meets the first controller requirements;
identify second controller requirements associated with the second object; and
determine that the second controller meets the second controller requirements, wherein the matching the second object to the second controller is based at least in part on the determination that the second controller meets the second controller requirements.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first controller requirements comprise a minimum scan rate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software instructions comprise further software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a first indication from the first controller that the first controller is available for executing the industrial automation control process; and
receive a second indication from the second controller that the second controller is available for executing the industrial automation control process,
wherein the selecting the first controller and the second controller is based at least in part on the first indication, the second indication, and load balancing criteria.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software instructions comprise further software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive self-describing data from the first controller, wherein the matching the first object to the first controller is based at least in part on the self-describing data.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software instructions to select the first controller and the second controller comprises further software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a user selection of the first controller, the second controller, or both the first controller and the second controller.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the code comprises a plurality of placeholders, and
the software instructions to bind the plurality of objects comprise further software instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
replace a first placeholder of the plurality of placeholders with the first object; and
replace a second placeholder of the plurality of placeholders with the second object.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media device having program instructions stored thereon to facilitate object-based industrial automation control, wherein the program instructions, upon execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive code defining instructions for execution of an industrial automation control process;
bind a plurality of objects for implementing the industrial automation control process to the code, wherein each of the plurality of objects corresponds to an aspect of the industrial automation control process;
match a first object of the plurality of objects to a first controller capable of executing a first operation of the code associated with the first object;
match a second object of the plurality of objects to a second controller capable of executing a second operation of the code associated with the second object;
select the first controller and the second controller;
deploy the code to the first controller for execution of the first operation; and
deploy the code to the second controller for execution of the second operation.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions comprise further program instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
identify first controller requirements associated with the first object;
determine that the first controller meets the first controller requirements, wherein the matching the first object to the first controller is based at least in part on the determination that the first controller meets the first controller requirements;
identify second controller requirements associated with the second object; and
determine that the second controller meets the second controller requirements, wherein the matching the second object to the second controller is based at least in part on the determination that the second controller meets the second controller requirements.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media device of claim 9 , wherein the first controller requirements comprise a minimum scan rate.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions comprise further program instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a first indication from the first controller that the first controller is available for executing the industrial automation control process; and
receive a second indication from the second controller that the second controller is available for executing the industrial automation control process,
wherein the selecting the first controller and the second controller is based at least in part on the first indication, the second indication, and load balancing criteria.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions comprise further program instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive self-describing data from the first controller, wherein the matching the first object to the first controller is based at least in part on the self-describing data.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage media device of claim 8 , wherein the program instructions to select the first controller and the second controller comprise further program instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
receive a user selection of the first controller, the second controller, or both

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Stump Andrew R
• Josipovic Srdjan
• Ericsson Matthew R
• Kalan Michael D
• Carrara Anthony
• Como Christopher W
• Billi-Duran Sharon M

Classifications

• G05B2219/13052

  Display of ladder diagram · CPC title

• G05B19/05

  Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts · CPC title

• G05B19/041

  Function-oriented details · CPC title

• G05B2219/13172

  Remote programming from computer · CPC title

• G05B19/418 Primary

  Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM] · CPC title