Controller, control system and control method

Abstract

A controller 10 includes a processor 11. The processor (11) generates destination information that associates connection information, which is generated by the construction equipment (40) and corresponds to a station-to-station connection to be executed with the other controller (10) as the destination, with the other controller that is the destination of the station-to-station connection. The processor 11 acquires a plurality of pieces of connection information. The processor (11) classifies, on the basis of the destination information, connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection that is the same as the destination among the plurality of pieces of connection information into destination groups, each corresponding to another controller that is the destination of the station-to-station connection. The processor 11 collectively executes the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into each destination group with the respective controller corresponding to the destination group as a destination.

Description

Cross Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-056326, filed March 30, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a controller, a control system, and a control method. BACKGROUND

[0003] Systems capable of sharing information among a large number of control stations (controllers) are known. See, for example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1. List of Citations

[0004] Patent Literature PTL 1: JP 2009-26063 A SUMMARY

[0005] (Technical Problem)

[0006] Suppose that when one controller communicates with each of a plurality of other controllers, some of the controllers that communicate with the one controller become incommunicable. Under this assumption, when sequentially communicating with each of the other controllers, the controller ends up waiting for a response from a controller that has become incommunicable. While waiting for the response from the controller that has become incommunicable, the controller cannot communicate with other controllers that are still communicable. In other words, the incommunicable controller affects communication with the communicable controllers.

[0007] In view of these points, the present disclosure aims to provide a controller, a control system, and a control method that can reduce the effect of incommunicable controllers on communication with communicable controllers.

[0008] (Solution to Problem)

[0009] (1) A controller according to some embodiments includes a processor. The processor generates destination information that is to be generated by an engineering device and that associates connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections to be performed with respective ones of a plurality of other controllers as destinations. The processor acquires a plurality of pieces of connection information. The processor classifies, based on the destination information, connection information corresponding to the same station-to-station connections as destinations in the plurality of pieces of connection information into destination groups each corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of other controllers as destinations of the station-to-station connections. The processor collectively performs the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each of the destination groups with respective ones of the other controllers as destinations. As a result of classifying the station-to-station connections into the destination groups by destination, the influence of non-communicable controllers on communication of communicable controllers is reduced compared to a case where the station-to-station connections are not classified by destination.

[0010] (2) In the controller of (1), in a case where the processor newly acquires information specifying another controller as a destination of a station-to-station connection corresponding to connection information not associated with another controller in the destination information, the processor can be configured to associate the connection information not associated with another controller with the newly acquired information specifying another controller. As a result of associating the connection information not associated with another controller with information specifying a controller as a destination of a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information, the connection information will be classified into a destination group the next time the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information is performed.

[0011] (3) In the controller of (1) or (2), in a case where a station-to-station connection corresponding to connection information associated with another controller is updated, the processor can be configured to disassociate the other controller from the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection in the destination information. Disassociating the controller from the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection prevents connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with different controllers as destinations from being mixed into a destination group.

[0012] (4) In the controller of any one of (1) to (3), the processor can be configured to generate a link that sequentially connects connection information associated with one other controller in the plurality of pieces of connection information. By linking the connection information, the processor is able to reduce the operational load of collectively performing station-to-station connections for the same destination.

[0013] (5) In the controller of (4), in a case where the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information connected to the link is updated, the processor can be configured to disconnect the connection information connected before the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection and the connection information connected after the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection, with respect to the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection. By the operation as described above, the processor can reconnect the link by changing only the previous link of the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection. As a result, the processor can easily respond to the update of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information connected to the link.

[0014] (6) In the controller according to any one of claims (1) to (5), the processor can be configured to classify the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection having the first controller as a destination into a first destination group, and classify the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection having the second controller as a destination into a second destination group. The processor can be configured to execute the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into the first destination group and the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into the second destination group in parallel, to communicate with the first controller and the second controller in parallel. As a result of separating the communication with the first controller and the communication with the second controller, it is possible to prevent the communication of the first controller or the second controller from affecting the communication of the other controller.

[0015] (7) The control system according to the embodiments includes the controller according to any one of (1) to (6), and an operation monitoring device configured to store the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection performed with each of a plurality of other controllers as a destination, and transmit information identifying another controller as a destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information to the controller.

[0016] (8) The control system according to (7) can further include an engineering device. The engineering device can be configured to notify the controller of the update of the function block corresponding to the station-to-station connection in a case where the function block corresponding to the station-to-station connection is updated. As a result of the engineering device notifying the controller of the update of the function block corresponding to the station-to-station connection, the processor is less likely to miss a possible change of the destination of the station-to-station connection. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection having a different controller as a destination from being mixed into the destination group.

[0017] (9) The control method according to the embodiments includes: generating, by the processor, destination information that is to be generated by the engineering device and that associates connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection to be performed with a respective controller of the plurality of other controllers as a destination; acquiring the plurality of connection information; based on the destination information, classifying connection information of the plurality of connection information corresponding to a same station-to-station connection as a destination into a destination group each corresponding to a respective controller of the plurality of other controllers as a destination of a station-to-station connection; and collectively performing the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each of the destination groups with the respective controller corresponding to the destination group as a destination.

[0018] (Beneficial Effects)

[0019] With the controller, the control system, and the control method according to the present disclosure, the waiting time for communication with the communicable controller is reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of a control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a diagram representing an example of control logic to be executed by a controller as connection information; Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of data connection between controllers; Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an operation of accessing data between controllers; Figure 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration in a case where one controller stops in a control system; Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating grouping of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections in a controller according to a comparative example; Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a mixture of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with a plurality of other controllers as a destination in a first group in Figure 5 Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of grouping of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections in a controller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of a control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] (Configuration Example of Control System 1) ​

[0022] As Figure 1 shown, a control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a controller 10, an operation monitoring device 30, an engineering device 40, and a control network 80. The controller 10 is also referred to as a control station or a field control station (FCS). The operation monitoring device 30 is also referred to as a HIS (human interface station).

[0023] The controller 10 includes a processor 11 and a communication interface 12.

[0024] The processor 11 can be configured to include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a dedicated circuit, or the like. The processor 11 can be configured to include a memory such as a semiconductor memory or an electromagnetic storage medium. The memory can be configured integrally with the processor 11, or can be configured separately from the processor 11.

[0025] The communication interface 12 can include a wired or wireless communication device connected to the control network 80. The communication device can include a communication interface such as a local area network (LAN), an Ethernet Ò (Ethernet is a registered trademark of Japan, other countries, or both), RS-232C, or RS-485. The communication device is not limited to these examples, and can be configured to include various other communication interfaces. The communication interface 12 communicates with the communication interface 12 of the other controller 10 via the control network 80. The communication interface 12 can be configured to include a communication driver. The communication interface 12 can include a plurality of communication channels.

[0026] The operation monitoring device 30 includes a storage area from which other devices such as the controller 10 or the engineering device 40 can indirectly read data and a storage area to which other devices such as the controller 10 or the engineering device 40 can write data. Specifically, the operation monitoring device 30 includes a storage area that can be read by other devices such as the controller 10 or the engineering device 40 via an interface between the operation monitoring device 30 and the other devices, and a storage area that can be written by other devices such as the controller 10 or the engineering device 40 via the interface between the operation monitoring device 30 and the other devices. The operation monitoring device 30 can include a storage area that other devices can read from and write to via the interface.

[0027] The operation monitoring device 30 and the engineering device 40 can be configured to include, for example, a server. Each function of the operation monitoring device 30 and the engineering device 40 can be implemented as a function performed by a separate device or a function performed within a single device.

[0028] (Operation example of the control system 1)

[0029] In the control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the engineering equipment 40 is used to perform the construction task of a customized application for a system, factory, etc., controlled by the control system 1. The application includes control logic to be executed by the controller 10. The control logic includes elements representing function blocks and elements representing relationships between function blocks. For example, in the case of PID control of the water level in a water tank, the function block includes an input element that receives a signal from a water level gauge, a function block that performs PID control, and an output element that outputs a signal for opening or closing a valve that regulates the flow rate to the water tank. In this case, as a relationship between function blocks, the control logic includes the function block that performs PID control reading the input signal from the function block that receives the signal from the water level gauge, and the function block that performs PID control outputting the result of PID calculation based on the input signal from the water level gauge as a signal for opening or closing the valve that regulates the flow rate to the water tank. The function blocks and their relationships are not limited to the examples described above.

[0030] Function blocks may correspond to station-to-station connections. A function block corresponding to a station-to-station connection is a function block that requests controller 10 to set or reference data stored in another controller 10, which is the destination of the station-to-station connection. The destination of the station-to-station connection is another controller 10 that stores data set or referenced by controller 10. Although the control logic is described below as including only function blocks corresponding to station-to-station connections as elements, the control logic may include function blocks that do not correspond to station-to-station connections.

[0031] like Figure 2 As shown, for convenience, the function blocks corresponding to station-to-station connections in the control logic are represented as connection information. The connection information includes information representing the station-to-station connection corresponding to the function block (e.g., strings such as "TAG001_102" or "TAGmmm_102") and information representing data to be set or referenced by the station-to-station connection (e.g., ".PV"). Therefore, the connection information is information corresponding to the station-to-station connection. The connection information is generated by engineering device 40. The generated connection information is loaded as detailed information about the connection block by the controller in which the connection block exists, and the connection information is stored in a database in the controller.

[0032] The controller 10 obtains elements of the control logic from the engineering equipment 40. Specifically, the controller 10 obtains the function block corresponding to the station-to-station connection as the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection.

[0033] The controller 10 stores the connection information corresponding to the acquired station-to-station connections in its internal memory. In this embodiment, the controller 10 acquires connection information corresponding to each of the multiple station-to-station connections. The number of connection information entries acquired jointly is appropriately determined based on hardware specifications and other factors.

[0034] The controller 10 cannot identify the destination of the station-to-station connection by acquiring the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection alone. Therefore, the controller 10 inquires the operation monitoring device 30 of the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the acquired connection information. Since the operation monitoring device 30 identifies another controller 10 as the destination of the station-to-station connection, the operation monitoring device 30 notifies the controller 10 of the destination of the station-to-station connection in response to the inquiry from the controller 10. The controller 10 identifies another controller 10 as the destination of the station-to-station connection by the notification from the operation monitoring device 30, and executes the station-to-station connection.

[0035] Suppose that there are two controllers 10, which are distinguished as a controller 110 and a controller 120, as shown in Figure 3 The controller 110 and the controller 120 are each configured in the same manner as the controller 10, and each include the processor 11 and the communication interface 12. The controller 110 includes a function block 111 that stores first data Dl. The controller 120 includes a function block 121 that stores second data D2.

[0036] The processor 11 of the controller 110 executes a function block 112 for setting the second data D2 in a case where an element of the control logic acquired from the engineering device 40 is the function block for setting the second data D2. Since the second data D2 is not stored in the controller 110 itself, the function block 112 inquires the operation monitoring device 30 of which controller 10 stores the second data D2, and acquires information that identifies another controller 10 in which the second data D2 is stored. Further, since the function block for setting the second data D2 corresponds to the station-to-station connection, a connection block 113 is generated between the function block 112 for setting the second data D2 and the function block 121 that stores the second data D2. The connection block 113 is also referred to as a station-to-station connection block or an ADL. The connection block 113 transmits data to the controller 120 to set the data in the data storage block 121 of the controller 120. The processor 11 of the controller 120 sets the second data D2 received from the controller 110 via the connection block 113 in the data storage block 121.

[0037] The processor 11 of the controller 120 executes the function block 122 for referencing the first data Dl in a case where the element of the control logic acquired from the engineering device 40 is a function block for referencing the first data Dl. Since the first data Dl is not stored in the controller 120 itself, the function block 122 inquires the operation monitoring device 30 of which controller 10 stores the first data Dl and acquires information identifying another controller 10 in which the first data Dl is stored. Further, since the function block for referencing the first data Dl corresponds to a station-to-station connection, a connection block 123 is generated between the function block 122 for referencing the first data Dl and the function block 111 in which the first data Dl is stored. The connection block 123 is also referred to as a station-to-station connection block or ADL. The controller 120 inquires the controller 110 of the value of the first data Dl stored in the function block 111 through the connection block 123. The processor 11 of the controller 110 reads the value of the first data Dl stored in the function block 111 and transmits the value to the controller 120. The function block 122 of the controller 120 is able to reference the first data Dl by acquiring the first data Dl from the controller 110 through the connection block 123.

[0038] When performing a station-to-station connection, the controller 10 is able to perform parallel processing to communicate with a plurality of other controllers 10 using each of a plurality of communication channels of the communication interface 12. The processor 11 of the controller 10 classifies the connection information acquired from the engineering device 40 into respective groups corresponding to each communication channel and performs a station-to-station connection with each other controller 10 in parallel on each communication channel. The number of groups is determined in accordance with the number of communication channels. The number of pieces of connection information to be classified into each group can be appropriately determined in accordance with a hardware configuration such as a memory capacity.

[0039] The processor 11 of the controller 10 causes the first task and the second task to operate. The first task acquires connection information from the engineering device 40 and classifies the acquired connection information into groups. The second task executes station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each group by the first task in parallel using the communication channels corresponding to the groups. The second task outputs the results of the execution of the station-to-station connections to the first task. For example, in the case where the station-to-station connection is a function block of reference data, the second task outputs the value of the reference data and the like to the first task. For example, in the case where the station-to-station connection is a function block of setting data, the second task outputs information such as a report on whether or not the setting of the data is completed to the first task. After the first task acquires the results of the execution of the station-to-station connections corresponding to all of the connection information classified into the groups from the second task, the first task acquires new connection information from the engineering device 40 and executes a station-to-station connection in the case where there is connection information that has not been acquired. The connection information does not necessarily have to be acquired from the engineering device 40 every time. For example, connection information loaded from the engineering device 40 and stored in a database of each controller can be used instead of acquiring the connection information from the engineering device 40 every time.

[0040] When the connection information is acquired from the engineering device 40 and classified into groups, the first task does not identify the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information. The second task acquires the destinations of the station-to-station connections from the operation monitoring device 30 and executes the station-to-station connections. In other words, although the first task cannot identify the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the newly acquired connection information, the first task is able to identify the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the already acquired connection information. Specifically, the first task associates the destinations identified when the second task executes the station-to-station connections with the already acquired connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connections. By associating the destinations with the already acquired connection information, the first task is able to identify the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information.

[0041] Now based on Figure 4The block diagram in FIG. 6 describes the operation of the function block 122 by which the controller 120 refers to the first data Dl stored in the controller 110. The second task of the controller 120 inquires of the operation monitoring device 30 the location where the first data Dl is stored, as indicated by the dashed line (1). The operation monitoring device 30 sends information identifying where the first data Dl is stored in the controller 110 to the second task of the controller 120, as indicated by the dashed line (2). The function block 122 of the controller 120 inquires of the controller 110 information such as the value or string of the first data Dl, as indicated by the dashed line (3). The processor 11 of the controller 110 returns information stored in the function block 111 of the controller 110, such as the value or string of the first data Dl, to the controller 120, as indicated by the dashed line (4). Through the above operation, the controller 120 is able to refer to information stored in the controller 110, such as the value or string of the first data Dl, by executing a station-to-station connection between the controller 110 and the controller 120.

[0042] <Case where the controller 10 becomes unable to communicate>

[0043] As described above, a plurality of controllers 10 are able to refer to and set data stored in other controllers 10 by executing a station-to-station connection between each other. Here, a controller 10 that is the destination of a station-to-station connection can become unable to communicate due to a failure or other reason. The processor 11 of the controller 10 can determine that there is no response from another controller 10 that is the destination of a station-to-station connection in a case where a response is not received after waiting for a predetermined time to elapse after transmitting a request such as for setting or referring to data to another controller 10 that is the destination of a station-to-station connection. The predetermined time can be set in accordance with the configuration of the control system 1. For example, the predetermined time can be set to 20 seconds. The processor 11 of the controller 10 can determine that the controller 10 is unable to communicate in a case where there is no response from another controller 10. In a case where it is determined that the controller 10 that is the destination of a station-to-station connection is unable to communicate, the processor 11 of the controller 10 can output a report indicating that it is not possible to execute a station-to-station connection as the result of execution of a station-to-station connection.

[0044] For example, assume that the control system 1 is divided into a first domain 61 and a second domain 62 connected via the gateway 70 by the control network 80, as shown in FIG. 1. Figure 5The gateway 70 controls communication of the control network 80 between the first domain 61 and the second domain 62. The first domain 61 includes the controller 101, the controller 102, the controller 103, and the operation monitoring device 301. The second domain 62 includes the controller 201, the controller 202, and the operation monitoring device 302. Each of the controllers 101, 102, 103, 201, 202 includes the processor 11 and the communication interface 12, and is configured similarly to the controller 10. Each of the operation monitoring devices 301, 302 is configured similarly to the operation monitoring device 30. In Figure 4 In the example, the processor 11 of the controller 101 performs station-to-station connection with each of the other controllers 102, 103, 201, 202.

[0045] If the controller 201 has become unable to communicate, station-to-station connection between the controller 101 and each of the controllers 102, 103, 202 will be successfully performed, but station-to-station connection between the controller 101 and the controller 201 will not be performed. The controller 101 must wait for a predetermined amount of time to confirm no response from the controller 201.

[0046] Here, the first task of the processor 11 of the controller 101 acquires connection information of the control logic illustrated in FIG. 8, and classifies the connection information into groups. The first task classifies connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with the same destination into the same group. In other words, the first task does not classify connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with different destinations into the same group. Figure 2 The connection information of the control logic illustrated in FIG. 8 is classified into three groups. The first group includes connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with the controller 102 as the destination. The second group includes connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with the controller 103 as the destination. The third group includes connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with the controller 201 as the destination.

[0047] To perform station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each group between the controller 101 and each of the other controllers 102, 103, 201, 202, the second task of the controller 101 uses the communication interface 12 of the controller 101 and communicates with any of the other controllers 102, 103, 201, 202.

[0048] As described above, connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with the same destination is classified into the same group. In this case, when station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into one group are performed, the second task only needs to communicate with one destination. For example, in a case where the destinations of station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into a certain group are unified in the controller 102, the second task can use a single communication channel to maintain connection with the controller 102. This enables station-to-station connections with the controller 102 as the destination to continue to be performed.

[0049] As a comparative example, there can be mixed destinations of station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into each group, as Figure 6"TAG002_103.PV" is connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection with controller 103 as a destination. If the connection information is classified into groups in the order acquired from engineering device 40, different destinations of station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information are mixed together within one group.

[0050] In Figure 6 , for each destination of station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information, the rectangles representing the connection information are distinguished by different hatching. A first group includes a mixture of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with controllers 102, 103, 201, 202 as destinations, respectively. A second group includes a mixture of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with controllers 102, 202 as destinations, respectively. An Nth group includes a mixture of connection information corresponding to station-to-station connections with controllers 201, 202 as destinations, respectively.

[0051] In the comparative example, the second task of processor 11 in controller 101 executes station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into the first group, and uses one communication channel of communication interface 12 as a communication channel corresponding to the first group to sequentially execute station-to-station connections with each of the other controllers 102, 103, 201, 202. The second task organizes station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into the first group by destination, as Figure 7 indicated, and then sequentially executes station-to-station connections with each of controllers 102, 103, 201, 202.

[0052] Suppose controller 201 is unable to communicate. During the station-to-station connection with controller 201, the second task needs to wait for a predetermined period of time to confirm the lack of a response from controller 201, i.e., controller 201 is unable to communicate. The second task is able to complete execution of station-to-station connections corresponding to connection information classified into the first group by acquiring the results of execution of station-to-station connections corresponding to all connection information classified into the first group.

[0053] Here, the communication channel corresponding to the first group continues to be used by the second task until execution of the station-to-station connection corresponding to all the connection information classified into the first group is completed. In addition, the next connection information cannot be classified into the first group. Therefore, while the second task waits for a response from the controller 201 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to all the connection information classified into the first group, the station-to-station connection using the communication channel corresponding to the first group stops. In the case of a station-to-station connection with a destination that is a communicable controller 102, 103, 202, since the controller 201 cannot communicate, execution of their station-to-station connection is delayed.

[0054] In contrast, in the control system 1 of the present embodiment, the processor 11 of the controller 10 classifies connection information into groups so that the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the groups all coincide with the same controller 10, and by making the destinations of the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the groups coincide with the same controller 10, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a delay occurs in the execution of processing with a communicable controller 10 as the destination due to other controllers 10 being unable to communicate.

[0055] As described above, each group into which connection information is classified is associated with each communication channel. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the number of communication channels in the communication interface 12 of the controller 101 is N. In this case, by classifying connection information into N groups from a first group to an Nth group, the processor 11 of the controller 101 is able to associate each group with one communication channel, and execute station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each group in parallel.

[0056] Next, an example of the operation of the control system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0057] The processor 11 of the controller 10 acquires a plurality of pieces of connection information from the engineering device 40. The processor 11 cannot determine the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information at the stage of acquiring the connection information from the engineering device 40.

[0058] The processor 11 inquires the operation monitoring device 30 of the destination of the station-to-station connection whose destination has not yet been determined. The operation monitoring device 30 transmits information identifying another controller 10 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection that has received the inquiry to the controller 10. The processor 11 determines the destination of the station-to-station connection whose destination has not yet been determined based on the information received from the operation monitoring device 30, and executes a station-to-station connection with the controller 10 of that destination.

[0059] The processor 11 generates destination information so that the destination can be determined when the next time a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information is executed. The destination information is information that associates the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection whose destination cannot be determined with another controller 10 determined as the destination of the station-to-station connection whose destination cannot be determined. As a result of executing the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information acquired by the processor 11 from the engineering device 40 once, the connection information is associated with the controller 10 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information in the destination information. The processor 11 can determine the destination of the station-to-station connection by referring to the destination information during the execution of the station-to-station connection the second time or later.

[0060] In the case of acquiring the connection information, the processor 11 confirms whether the destination is associated with the connection information in the destination information. In the case where the destination is associated with the connection information, the processor 11 classifies the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection whose destination is the same controller 10 into a destination group that is one of the first group to the Nth group. The destination group is a group provided for classifying the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection whose destination is the same controller 10. The processor 11 can set any one of the first group to the Nth group as the destination group.

[0061] The processor 11 executes the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified together into the destination group, with the processor taking the controller 10 corresponding to the destination group as the destination.

[0062] In the case where the destination is not associated with the connection information, the processor 11 can classify the connection information into one of the first group to the Nth group as an unidentified group. The unidentified group is a group provided for classifying the connection information not associated with the destination. The processor 11 can set any one of the first group to the Nth group as the unidentified group. Although the connection information corresponding to each station-to-station connection different from the destination is unlikely to be mixed together in the destination group, the connection information corresponding to each station-to-station connection different from the destination is likely to be mixed together in the unidentified group.

[0063] The processor 11 inquires the operation monitoring device 30 of the destination of each piece of connection information classified into the unidentified group, and sequentially executes the station-to-station connection with the controller 10 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to each piece of connection information. The processor 11 can identify the destination of the station-to-station connection for which the destination cannot be determined by inquiring the operation monitoring device 30 of the destination of the station-to-station connection for which the destination cannot be determined. The processor 11 can generate destination information that associates the controller 10 identified as the destination of the station-to-station connection with the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection for which the destination cannot be determined. In other words, in a case where the processor 11 newly acquires information that specifies another controller 10 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to connection information that is not associated with another controller 10 in the destination information, the processor 11 can associate the connection information that is not associated with another controller 10 with the newly acquired information that specifies another controller 10. As a result of associating the connection information that is not associated with another controller 10 with the information that specifies the controller 10 that is the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information, the connection information is classified into the destination group at the time of next execution of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information.

[0064] After completion of execution of the station-to-station connections corresponding to all the connection information classified into the destination group, the processor 11 can classify new connection information into the group. The processor 11 can newly classify connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection that has the same controller 10 as the destination into the group that has been set as the destination group, and thus continue to use the destination group corresponding to the same controller 10. The processor 11 can set the group that has been set as the destination group to a destination group corresponding to a different controller 10, and can reclassify connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection that has the different controller 10 as the destination into the group. The processor 11 can set the group that has been set as the destination group to the unidentified group, and can newly classify connection information that is not associated with another controller 10 into the group.

[0065] For example, the processor 11 can classify the connection information acquired from the engineering device 40 into a plurality of destination groups including a first group to an Nth group, as shown in Figure 8 Figure 8 ​In the example of FIG. 10, the processor 11 sets the first group as a destination group corresponding to the controller 102, and classifies connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the controller 102 as a destination into the first group. The processor 11 sets the second group as a destination group corresponding to the controller 103, and classifies connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the controller 103 as a destination into the second group. The processor 11 sets the third group as a destination group corresponding to the controller 201, and classifies connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the controller 201 as a destination into the third group. The processor 11 sets the Nth group as a destination group corresponding to the controller 202, and classifies connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the controller 202 as a destination into the Nth group.

[0066] Assuming that the controller 201 is unable to communicate. The processor 11 attempts to communicate with the controller 201 to perform the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into the third group. However, the processor 11 does not receive a response from the controller 201 that is unable to communicate, and thus is unable to perform the station-to-station connection with the controller 201. On the other hand, assuming that the controllers 102, 103, and 202 are able to communicate. The processor 11 is able to successfully communicate with each of the controllers 102, 103, and 202 that are able to communicate, in order to perform the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into the first group, the second group, and the Nth group. Thus, it is possible to avoid a delay in the station-to-station connection with each of the controllers 102, 103, and 202 that are able to communicate, due to the controller 201 that is unable to communicate.

[0067] The processor 11 can execute station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each group in parallel as communication with a plurality of other controllers using communication channels corresponding to each group. For example, in a case where the processor 11 acquires connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection with the first controller as a destination and connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection with the second controller as a destination, the processor 11 can classify the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the first controller as a destination into a first destination group, and classify the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the second controller as a destination into a second destination group. The first controller and the second controller are names given for the convenience of distinguishing the controllers 10. The first destination group and the second destination group are names given for the convenience of distinguishing the destination groups. The processor 11 can communicate with the first controller on a first communication channel to execute station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the first destination group. The processor 11 can communicate with the second controller on a second communication channel to execute station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the second destination group. In other words, the processor 11 is able to execute station-to-station connections in parallel by communicating with each of the first controller and the second controller on the first communication channel and the second communication channel, respectively.

[0068] As a result of separating the communication channel for communication with the first controller and the communication channel for communication with the second controller, it is possible to prevent the inability to communicate of the first controller or the second controller from affecting the communication of the other party.

[0069] <Flowchart Example>

[0070] Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the processor 11 of the controller 10 classifying connection information according to the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information, and executing station-to-station connections with the controller as the destination will be described. The processor 11 of the controller 10 may, for example, execute a control method of the example process of the flowchart shown. The control method can be implemented as a control program executed by the processor 11 of the controller 10. The control program can be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium. Figure 9

[0071] ​The processor 11 determines whether the connection information is associated with the controller 10 as a destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information based on the destination information (step S1). In other words, the processor 11 determines whether the destination of the connection information is known. In a case where the connection information is not associated with the controller 10 (step S1: No), the processor 11 classifies the connection information into the unidentified group (step S2). In a case where the connection information is associated with the controller 10 (step S1: Yes), the processor 11 classifies the connection information into the destination group corresponding to the controller 10 as a destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information (step S3).

[0072] The processor 11 executes the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information classified into the unknown group or the destination group (step S4). The processor 11 determines whether the station-to-station connection is successful (step S5). Specifically, in a case where the processor 11 successfully communicates with the controller as a destination of the station-to-station connection, the processor 11 can determine that the station-to-station connection is successful. For example, in a case where the return code from the communication driver is SUCCEED, the processor 11 can determine that the station-to-station connection is successful. In contrast, in a case where the return code from the communication driver indicates that the communication is timed out, the processor 11 can determine that the station-to-station connection is failed.

[0073] In a case where the station-to-station connection is successful (step S5: Yes), the processor 11 determines whether the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection is associated with the controller 10 in the destination information (step S6). In a case where the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection is not associated with the controller 10 in the destination information (step S6: No), the processor 11 acquires the destination obtained by inquiring the operation monitoring device 30 at the time when the station-to-station connection is executed as the destination of the executed station-to-station connection (step S7). In the destination information, the processor 11 associates the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection with the controller 10 as a destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information (step S8). After executing the process in step S8, the processor 11 ends the execution of the process of the flowchart in Figure 9 In a case where the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection is associated with the controller 10 in the destination information (step S6: Yes), the processor 11 terminates the process of the flowchart in Figure 9 without executing the process for associating the controller 10 with the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection.

[0074] In a case where the station-to-station connection is not successful (step S5: No), the processor 11 disassociates the connection information corresponding to the executed station-to-station connection and the controller 10 as the destination of the station-to-station connection (step S9). After executing the process in step S9, the processor 11 ends the process of the flowchart. Figure 9

[0075] <SUMMARY>

[0076] As described above, the control system 1 according to the present embodiment classifies the connection information corresponding to each station-to-station connection into the destination group corresponding to the destination of the station-to-station connection. Therefore, even if there is a controller 10 that cannot communicate, the possibility of delay occurring in communication such as a station-to-station connection with the controller 10 that cannot communicate is less compared to a case where the connection information is not classified by the destination of the station-to-station connection as in the comparative example. In other words, the influence of the controller 10 that cannot communicate on communication with the controller 10 that can communicate is reduced.

[0077] (Other Embodiments)

[0078] An example configuration of the control system 1 according to another embodiment will be described below.

[0079] <Operation in a case where the engineering device 40 updates a station-to-station connection>

[0080] In the control system 1, the engineering device 40 can also accept an operation input from a user and update a station-to-station connection based on the input of the user. Updating the station-to-station connection can change the destination of the station-to-station connection. In a case where the station-to-station connection is updated, the engineering device 40 can notify the controller 10 of which station-to-station connection is updated. Based on the notification of the update of the station-to-station connection, the processor 11 of the controller 10 determines whether the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection is associated with the controller 10 in the destination information.

[0081] In a case where the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information associated with another controller 10 in the destination information is updated, the processor 11 can disassociate the other controller 10 from the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection.

[0082] ​In a case where the station-to-station connection is updated, the destination of the station-to-station connection can be changed to a different controller 10. If the controller 10 that was the destination of the station-to-station connection before the update is associated with the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection, the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the different controller 10 as the destination can be mixed together when the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection is sorted into the destination group. Therefore, the disassociation of the controller 10 from the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection prevents the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the different controller 10 as the destination from being mixed into the destination group. Furthermore, as a result of the notification of the update of the station-to-station connection by the engineering device 40 to the controller 10, the processor 11 of the controller 10 is less likely to miss a possible change in the destination of the station-to-station connection. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with the different controller 10 as the destination from being mixed into the destination group.

[0083] <Operation in a case where the destination of the station-to-station connection is changed although the station-to-station connection is not updated>

[0084] In a case where the station-to-station connection is updated by the engineering device 40 as described above, the engineering device 40 notifies the controller 10 of the update of the station-to-station connection. However, the destination of the station-to-station connection can also be changed although the engineering device 40 does not update the station-to-station connection. For example, if the controller 101 executes the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV" and the location of "TAG001_102" is moved from the controller 102 to the controller 103, the destination of the station-to-station connection is changed although the station-to-station connection is not updated. In this case, a configuration can be employed such that when the controller 101 executes the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV", "TAG001_102.PV" is sorted into the group with the controller 103 as the destination instead of being sorted into the group with the controller 102 as the destination.

[0085] First, when the location of "TAG001_102" is the controller 102, the controller 101 successfully performs a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV". Then, the controller 101 associates the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV" with the controller 102 as the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information in the destination information. Even if the location of "TAG001_102" moves from the controller 102 to the controller 103, the controller 101 is not notified of such a change in the location of "TAG001_102.PV". As a result of the controller 101 not knowing the change in the location of "TAG001_102", the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV" is handled by the controller 102 as the destination. However, since the actual location of "TAG001_102" has moved to the controller 103, the execution of this station-to-station connection fails.

[0086] In the case where the station-to-station connection fails, the controller 101 disassociates the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV" from the controller 102. This operation corresponds to the case where "NO" is determined in step S5 and the process in step S9 is executed in the flowchart of the above-described Figure 9

[0087] In the case where the controller 101 next performs a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV", the station-to-station connection is performed without a destination associated with the connection information, and the controller 101 inquires the location of "TAG001_102" to the operation monitoring device 30. The controller 101 recognizes that the controller 103 is the location of "TAG001_102.PV" through the information from the operation monitoring device 30, and newly associates the connection information denoted as "TAG001_102.PV" with the controller 103 as the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information in the destination information.

[0088] <Destination determination through chaining>

[0089] In the above-described embodiment, the processor 11 generates the destination information that associates each piece of connection information with the controller 10 as the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information. In another embodiment, the processor 11 can generate a chain that connects the connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection with a specific controller 10 as the destination in order. The chain indicates the connection between two pieces of information.

[0090] For example, in the connection information that has not been classified into groups, as in Figure 8 ​As shown, the processor 11 can generate a link that connects "TAG004_102.PV" which is connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection with the controller 102 as a destination to "TAG001_102.PV" which is connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection with the controller 102 as a destination. The processor 11 can follow the link to acquire connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection for the same destination.

[0091] When the destination information associates each piece of connection information with the controller 10 as a destination of a station-to-station connection corresponding to the piece of connection information, the processor 11 needs to sequentially determine the destination in the destination information associated with the connection information in order to acquire connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection for the same destination. By following the link, the processor 11 can omit determination of whether the connection information is associated with a different destination. By generating a link that sequentially connects connection information, the processor 11 can thereby reduce an operational load for acquiring connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection for the same destination.

[0092] In a case where a station-to-station connection corresponding to one of the pieces of connection information connected by the link is updated, the processor 11 can connect the pieces of connection information connected by the link before the piece of connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection and the pieces of connection information connected by the link after the piece of connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection to discontinue the link of the piece of connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection. In other words, by changing only the previous link of the piece of connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection, it is possible to reconnect the link. Thus, even in a case where sequential links are generated for connection information, the processor 11 can easily respond to an update of a station-to-station connection.

[0093] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0094] List of Reference Signs 1: Control system 10, 101, 102, 103, 110, 120, 201, 202: Controller 11: Processor 12: Communication interface 30, 301, 302: Operation monitoring device 40: Engineering device 61: First domain 62: Second domain 70: Gateway 80: Control network 111, 121: function blocks (D1: first data, D2: second data) 112: function block 113, 123: connection blocks 122: function block

Claims

1. A controller, comprising: The processor is configured as follows: Destination information is generated, which is connection information generated by the engineering equipment and associated with the corresponding controller among a plurality of other controllers that is the destination of the station-to-station connection. Retrieve multiple connection information Based on the destination information, the station-to-station connections with the same destination among the multiple connection information are classified into destination groups. Each destination group corresponds to the corresponding controller among the multiple other controllers that serves as the destination of the station-to-station connection. The corresponding controllers associated with the destination groups are used as the destinations, and station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into each destination group are jointly executed.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein, In the case where the processor newly acquires information about another controller that is the destination for a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information not associated with another controller in the destination information, the processor is configured to associate the connection information not associated with another controller with the newly acquired information of the designated other controller.

3. The controller according to claim 2, wherein, If a station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information associated with the other controller is updated, the processor is configured to deassociate the other controller from the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection in the destination information.

4. The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The processor is configured to generate links that sequentially connect the multiple connection information entries to connection information associated with another controller.

5. The controller according to claim 4, wherein, If the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information connected to the link is updated, the processor is configured to connect the connection information connected before the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection and the connection information connected after the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection, so as to delink the connection information corresponding to the updated station-to-station connection.

6. The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The processor is configured to: The connection information corresponding to the station-to-station connection that takes the first controller as the destination is classified into the first destination group. The connection information for station-to-station connections that specify the second controller as the destination is classified into the second destination group, and The station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the first destination group and the station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information classified into the second destination group are executed in parallel to communicate with the first controller and the second controller in parallel.

7. A control system comprising a controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and an operation monitoring device configured to store connection information corresponding to a station-to-station connection executed with each of the plurality of other controllers as the destination, and to send information identifying another controller as the destination of the station-to-station connection corresponding to the connection information to the controller.

8. The control system according to claim 7, further comprising: Engineering equipment, among which, The engineering equipment is configured to notify the controller when the function block corresponding to the station-to-station connection is updated.

9. A control method executed by a processor, the control method comprising: Generate destination information, which is generated by the engineering equipment and associated with the corresponding controller among the plurality of other controllers that is the destination of the station-to-station connection to be performed with the corresponding controller among the plurality of other controllers as the destination; Retrieve multiple connection records; Based on the destination information, the station-to-station connections with the same destination among the multiple connection information are classified into destination groups. Each destination group corresponds to the corresponding controller among the multiple other controllers that serves as the destination of the station-to-station connection. Using the corresponding controllers associated with the destination groups as the destinations, station-to-station connections corresponding to the connection information categorized into each destination group are jointly executed.

Images