Control device, control method, and control program

Abstract

The control device (10) controls a first FA system (110) in which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented. The control device (10) acts on behalf of the FA device (20) to perform processing according to a second communication resource management protocol. When a setting change for the FA device (20) constituting the first FA system (110) is requested from a second FA system (120) in which a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol is implemented, the control device (10) determines whether the setting change is permitted in the first FA system (110). When it is determined that the change is permitted, the control device (10) makes a setting change to the FA device (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connection technology for a FA network system in which different communication resource management protocols are implemented.

Background Art

[0002] For a communication network for controlling FA devices, low-latency and highly reliable real-time communication is required. FA is an abbreviation for Factory Automation. TSN is a LAN technology that provides a transmission method such that communication for controlling FA devices that requires real-time performance and best-effort communication that does not require real-time performance do not interfere with each other. TSN is an abbreviation for Time Sensitive Networking. LAN is an abbreviation for Local Area Network. By using TSN, it becomes possible to perform communication for controlling FA devices and best-effort communication on the same network. However, in TSN, strict management of communication resources is required compared to conventional LANs.

[0003] There are multiple methods for FA network systems to which TSN is applied. It is difficult to connect FA network systems of different methods. Patent Document 1 describes that a gateway device mutually converts data formats of different communication protocols and information models to interconnect different types of FA network systems.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent years, standardization called TSN-IA has been promoted for industrial TSN. TSN-IA is an abbreviation for TSN for Industrial Automation. In TSN-IA, NETCONF / YANG, which is a communication resource management protocol using TCP / IP, is adopted. TCP is an abbreviation for Transmission Control Protocol. IP is an abbreviation for Internet Protocol. On the other hand, in an existing FA network system (hereinafter referred to as a local FA network), a lightweight communication resource management protocol integrated with a device control protocol is implemented for embedded devices with scarce computing resources.

[0006] There are significant differences in traffic volume, necessary procedures, etc. between the communication resource management protocol of TSN-IA and the lightweight resource management protocol of the local FA network. Therefore, it is difficult to connect different systems only by converting a simple data format as described in Patent Document 1. For example, assume that there is a request to change the settings of a local FA network from a FA network system in which the communication resource management protocol of TSN-IA is implemented. In this case, if the settings of the local FA network are changed by simply converting the data format, communication that requires real-time performance in the local FA network may not be achievable.

[0007] This disclosure aims to realize a configuration that can connect FA network systems in which different communication resource management protocols are implemented.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] The control device according to this disclosure is a control device that controls a first FA system in which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented. ​When a setting change to the FA devices constituting the first FA system is requested from a second FA system in which a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol is implemented, a mediation unit that determines whether or not the setting change is permitted in the first FA system, A protocol processing unit that acts on behalf of the FA device and performs processing according to the second communication resource management protocol, and when it is determined by the mediation unit that the setting change is permitted, the protocol processing unit that performs the setting change on the FA device is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] In the present disclosure, it is determined whether or not a setting change is permitted in the first FA system, and when it is determined that the setting change is permitted, the setting change to the FA device is performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems caused by differences in the setting change procedures in different communication resource management protocols. As a result, it becomes possible to realize a configuration that can connect an A network system in which different communication resource management protocols are implemented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Embodiment 1. ***Description of the Configuration*** With reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the FA system 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The FA system 100 includes a plurality of FA network systems in which different communication resource management protocols are implemented. In FIG. 1, the FA system 100 includes, as FA network systems, a first FA system 110 and a second FA system 120. The first FA system 110 implements a first communication resource management protocol, which is a lightweight communication resource management protocol integrated with a device control protocol for embedded devices with scarce computer resources. The second FA system 120 implements a second communication resource management protocol, which is a communication resource management protocol of the NETCONF / YANG method.

[0012] The first FA system 110 includes a control device 10 and one or more FA devices 20. The control device 10 is a computer for controlling the FA device 20. As a specific example, the control device 10 is a PLC. PLC is an abbreviation for Programmable Logic Controller. The FA device 20 is a device used in production facilities such as various sensor devices and industrial robots. Here, the control device 10 and the FA device 20 are implemented with the first communication resource management protocol and a function for realizing real-time communication.

[0013] The FA system 100 further includes an engineering tool 130. The engineering tool 130 is a tool for assisting in the design of the control and communication resources of the first FA system 110. The engineering tool 130 includes a control design tool for assisting in control design and a communication resource design tool for assisting in communication resource design.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, the functional configuration of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The control device 10 includes, as functional components, a control processing unit 11, a local protocol unit 12, a real-time communication unit 13, a mediation unit 14, and a proxy function unit 15.

[0015] Based on a control program, the control processing unit 11 transmits and receives control information to and from the FA device 20 of the first FA system 110. At this time, the control processing unit 11 transmits and receives control information to and from the FA device 20 via the local protocol unit 12 and the real-time communication unit 13. Note that the control processing unit 11 executes communication resource setting of the control device 10 for the real-time communication unit 13. The control program includes information related to the network of the first FA system 110, such as communication resource setting information used in the first FA system 110 and connection configuration information of the FA device 20. The control information transmitted to the FA device 20 includes communication resource setting information.

[0016] The local protocol unit 12 is a function that realizes the processing of the first communication resource management protocol. The local protocol unit 12 performs a procedure of framing the control information transmitted and received by the control processing unit 11 according to the procedure of the device control protocol in the first communication resource management protocol.

[0017] The real-time communication unit 13 is a function that realizes real-time communication. The real-time communication unit 13 transmits and receives data frames to and from the FA device 20 based on the communication resource setting of the control device 10 in order to guarantee the real-time nature of the device control protocol in the first communication resource management protocol.

[0018] The mediation unit 14 determines whether to permit the use of the requested communication resources in response to a request for changing the setting of the communication resources received from the second FA system 120.

[0019] The proxy function unit 15 acts on behalf of all the FA devices 20 of the first FA system 110 and performs processing according to the second communication resource management protocol with the communication resource management function of the second FA system 120. The proxy function unit 15 includes a proxy conversion unit 16, an operation processing unit 17, and a stack unit 18.

[0020] The proxy conversion unit 16 performs conversion between the information about the network of the first FA system 110 held by the control processing unit 11 and the information about the network handled by the second communication resource management protocol. Then, the proxy conversion unit 16 discloses the information about the network of the first FA system 110 to the communication resource management function of the second FA system 120.

[0021] The operation processing unit 17 acts on behalf of the FA device 20 and executes processing according to the second communication resource management protocol with the communication resource management function of the second FA system 120.

[0022] The stack unit 18 holds information for executing the second communication resource management protocol, such as different network addresses and different credentials for each of the proxy FA devices 20. The stack unit 18 independently executes, for each of the proxy FA devices 20, TLS, the transmission and reception processing of communication protocols of TCP / IP and IEEE 802.1, and control communication protocols such as DHCP, DNS, IEEE 802.1AB, and IEEE 802.1W. TLS is the abbreviation of Transport Layer Security.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 3, the hardware configuration of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The control device 10 includes a processing device 201, a storage device 202, a bridge 203, a plurality of network interfaces 204, and a setting interface 205. The network interface 204 is connected via a network cable to the FA device 20 and the second FA system 120, or to a network device that relays between the FA device 20 and the second FA system 120. The setting interface 205 is connected via a network cable to the engineering tool 130.

[0024] The functions of the control processing unit 11, the local protocol unit 12, the mediation unit 14, and the proxy function unit 15 are realized by software. Specifically, the storage device 202 stores a program that realizes the functions of the local protocol unit 12, the mediation unit 14, and the proxy function unit 15. When this program is read into and executed by the processing device 201, the functions of the local protocol unit 12, the mediation unit 14, and the proxy function unit 15 are realized. The function of the real-time communication unit 13 is realized by the bridge 203 and a plurality of network interfaces 204.

[0025] ***Description of the operation*** With reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the operation of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The operation procedure of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 corresponds to the control method according to Embodiment 1. Also, the program that realizes the operation of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 corresponds to the control program according to Embodiment 1.

[0026] Here, among the operations of the control device 10, the processing when a communication frame is received from the second FA system 120 will be described.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 4, the overall processing of the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 when a communication frame is received from the second FA system 120 will be described. (Step S1: Device identification processing) The stack unit 18 of the proxy function unit 15 identifies the FA device 20 that communicates on behalf of the device based on the lower layer information of the received communication frame. Specifically, the stack unit 18 identifies the target FA device 20 from the correspondence between the destination address of the communication frame and the virtual address assigned to each target device. Then, the stack unit 18 decrypts the encrypted message using the credential information of the target FA device 20.

[0028] (Step S2: Repeated process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 executes the process of step S3 for each management operation included in the received communication frame. That is, the process of step S3 is repeated as many times as the number of management operations included in the received communication frame.

[0029] (Step S3: Operation processing) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 executes a process corresponding to the target management operation and generates a processing result.

[0030] (Step S4: Result transmission process) The stack unit 18 of the proxy function unit 15 combines the processing results for all management operations and generates a response message of the second communication resource management protocol. The stack unit 18 encrypts the response message using the credential information of the target FA device 20. The stack unit 18 identifies the virtual address of the target FA device 20 using the same correspondence as in step S1, sets the virtual address as the source address, and configures a communication frame. Then, the stack unit 18 transmits the communication frame to the second FA system 120.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, the operation processing according to Embodiment 1 (step S3 in FIG. 4) will be described. (Step S31: Content determination process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 determines whether the content of the management operation is a read process or a write process. When it is a reading process, the operation processing unit 17 advances the process to step S32. On the other hand, when it is a writing process, the operation processing unit 17 advances the process to step S33.

[0032] (Step S32: Read Process) The proxy conversion unit 16 of the proxy function unit 15 executes a read process on behalf of the target FA device 20.

[0033] (Step S33: Configuration Process) The proxy conversion unit 16 of the proxy function unit 15 executes a configuration process on behalf of the target FA device 20.

[0034] (Step S34: Result Generation Process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 generates the result of the process executed in step S32 or step S33 as the process result of the management operation.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 6, the read process (step S32 in FIG. 5) according to Embodiment 1 will be described. (Step S321: Repetition Process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 executes the processes from step S322 to step S325 for each data to be read. That is, the processes from step S322 to step S325 are repeated the number of times of the data to be read.

[0036] (Step S322: Location Identification Process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 identifies which data defined in the first FA system 110 the data to be read defined in the second communication resource management protocol corresponds to and where it is held. Since the data definition of the second communication resource management protocol is uniquely determined, the correspondence relationship of the above-mentioned data and where it is stored can be stored in advance as a fixed table based on the specifications of the first FA system 110. Here, the operation processing unit 17 refers to the table stored in advance to specify data in the first FA system 110 that corresponds to the data to be read as the corresponding data. The operation processing unit 17 also refers to the table stored in advance to specify where the corresponding data is stored.

[0037] The corresponding data is stored in the following locations: (1) the control process used by the control processing unit 11; There are three possible cases: (1) the corresponding data is held as part of a control program, (2) the stack unit 18 of the proxy function unit 15, and (3) the local FA device 20. (1) is a case where the corresponding data is held in the stack unit 18 as information for executing the second communication resource management protocol. (3) is a case where the corresponding data is held in the target FA device 20. If the location where the corresponding data is stored is (1), the operation processing unit 17 advances the process to step S323. If the location where the corresponding data is stored is (2), the operation processing unit 17 advances the process to step S324. If the location where the corresponding data is stored is (3), the operation processing unit 17 advances the process to step S325.

[0038] (Step S323: First acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 accesses the control program held by the control processing unit 11 to acquire the corresponding data. Alternatively, the operation processing unit 17 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the corresponding data and causes the control program to transmit the corresponding data. The operation processing unit 17 sets the acquired corresponding data as a result of the execution of the read process.

[0039] (Step S324: Second acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 can access the stack unit 18 and acquire corresponding data. The operation processing unit 17 sets the acquired corresponding data as the result of the execution of the read process.

[0040] (Step S325: Third acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the corresponding data and causes the FA device 20 to acquire the corresponding data according to the procedure of the device control protocol in the first communication resource management protocol. The operation processing unit 17 sets the acquired corresponding data as the result of the execution of the read process.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 7, the configuration process (step S32 in FIG. 5) according to Embodiment 1 will be described. (Step S331: Repetition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 executes the processes from step S332 to step S341 for each data related to the setting change. That is, the processes from step S332 to step S342 are repeated by the number of data related to the setting change.

[0042] (Step S332: Location identification process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 identifies which data defined in the second communication resource management protocol the data related to the setting change corresponds to in the first FA system 110 and where it is held. As described in the process of step S322 in FIG. 6, the correspondence relationship of the above-described data and where it is held can be held in advance as a fixed table. Therefore, here, the operation processing unit 17 refers to the pre-held table and identifies the data in the first FA system 110 corresponding to the data related to the setting change as the corresponding data. In addition, the operation processing unit 17 refers to the pre-held table and identifies where the corresponding data is held.

[0043] As the locations where the corresponding data is held, as described above, the following three can be considered: (1) the control program used by the control processing unit 11, (2) the stack unit 18 of the proxy function unit 15, and (3) the local FA device 20. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (1), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S333. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (2), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S334. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (3), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S335. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (1), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S333. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (2), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S334. When the location where the corresponding data is held is (3), the operation processing unit 17 proceeds with the process to step S335.

[0044] (Step S333: First acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 accesses the control program held by the control processing unit 11 to acquire the corresponding data. Alternatively, the operation processing unit 17 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the corresponding data and causes the control program to transmit the corresponding data. The operation processing unit 17 delivers the acquired corresponding data to the mediation unit 14.

[0045] (Step S334: Second acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 accesses the stack unit 18 to acquire the corresponding data. The operation processing unit 17 delivers the acquired corresponding data to the mediation unit 14.

[0046] (Step S335: Third acquisition process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the corresponding data and causes the FA device 20 to acquire the corresponding data according to the procedure of the device control protocol in the first communication resource management protocol. The operation processing unit 17 delivers the acquired corresponding data to the mediation unit 14.

[0047] (Steps S336 to S338: Mediation process) The mediation unit 14 determines whether a setting change in the configuration process is permitted in the first FA system 110. Specifically, the mediation unit 14 determines whether a setting change in the configuration process is permitted in the first FA system 110 based on whether the setting change interferes with real-time communication in the first FA system 110. When the setting change interferes with real-time communication in the first FA system 110, the mediation unit 14 determines that it is not permitted. If the mediation unit 14 determines that permission is granted in step S336, the process proceeds to step S339. If the mediation unit 14 determines that permission is granted in step S337, the process proceeds to step S340. If the mediation unit 14 determines that permission is granted in step S338, the process proceeds to step S341. If the mediation unit 14 determines that permission is not granted, the process proceeds to step S342.

[0048] (Step S339: First setting process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 makes a setting change to the FA device 20. Here, the operation processing unit 17 accesses the control program held by the control processing unit 11 and changes the corresponding data. Alternatively, the operation processing unit 17 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the setting change content and causes the control program to change the corresponding data. Then, the operation processing unit 17 sets that the setting change has been successful as a result of the execution of the configuration process.

[0049] (Step S340: Second setting process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 makes a setting change to the FA device 20. Here, the operation processing unit 17 accesses the stack unit 18 and changes the corresponding data. Then, the operation processing unit 17 sets that the setting change has been successful as a result of the execution of the configuration process.

[0050] (Step S341: Third setting process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 makes a setting change to the FA device 20. Here, the operation processing unit 17 notifies the control processing unit 11 of the corresponding data and causes the corresponding data of the FA device 20 to be changed according to the procedure of the device control protocol in the first communication resource management protocol. Then, the operation processing unit 17 sets that the setting change has been successful as a result of the execution of the configuration process.

[0051] (Step S342: Setting impossible process) The operation processing unit 17 of the proxy function unit 15 sets that the setting change cannot be made as a result of the execution of the configuration process.

[0052] In the mediation process (steps S336 to S338 in FIG. 7), the following (A) to (D) are conceivable as cases where the setting change interferes with the real-time communication in the first FA system 110. (A) When the setting change in the configuration process makes the physical port used in the real-time communication in the first FA system 110 unusable. (B) When the setting change in the configuration process changes the communication path used in the real-time communication in the first FA system 110. (C) When the setting change in the configuration process changes the condition for determining the frame of the real-time communication in the first FA system 110. (D) When the setting change in the configuration process changes the communication resources allocated for the real-time communication in the first FA system 110.

[0053] As specific examples of the case of (B), the following two are conceivable. (i) When the setting change changes the routing table that determines the output port based on the Ethernet header including the MAC address learning result. MAC is an abbreviation for Media Access Control. (ii) When the setting change modifies the routing table that determines the output port based on the IP header used for real-time communication.

[0054] As specific examples in the case of (C), the following two can be considered. (i) When the setting change modifies the rewriting process of information elements indicating communication priority in the communication frame, such as the Priority Code Point in the VLAN tag, the Ethertype in the Ethernet header, and the Differentiated Services Code Point in the IP header. (ii) When the setting change modifies the process of determining the communication processing method based on the information elements indicating communication priority in the communication frame of (i).

[0055] As a specific example in the case of (D), the following can be considered. When the setting change modifies the configuration that modifies the GateControlList of the Time Aware Shaper.

[0056] ***Effects of Embodiment 1*** As described above, the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 determines whether a setting change is permitted in the first FA system 110, and when it is determined that the change is permitted, the control device 10 performs the setting change on the FA device 20. This can prevent problems caused by differences in the setting change procedures in different communication resource management protocols. As a result, a configuration that can connect a plurality of A network systems in which different communication resource management protocols are implemented can be realized.

[0057] In addition, the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1 has the proxy function unit 15 proxy all the FA devices 20 in the first FA system 110 and perform processing according to the second communication resource management protocol. This enables connection to the second FA system 120 in which TSN-IA is implemented without making the FA device 20 compatible with TSN-IA. It may be difficult to make all the FA devices 20 of the first FA system 110 compatible with TSN-IA due to constraints on computer resources. Furthermore, to make all the FA devices 20 of the first FA system 110 compatible with TSN-IA, changes to the development assets in the first FA system 110, such as control programs, are also required to make them TSN-IA compatible, which incurs costs. By using the control device 10 according to Embodiment 1, even when there are constraints on computer resources, it becomes possible to connect to the second FA system 120 equipped with TSN-IA while suppressing costs.

[0058] ***Other configurations*** <Modification 1> In Embodiment 1, each functional component was realized by software. However, as Modification 1, each functional component may be realized by hardware. The differences from Embodiment 1 will be described for this Modification 1.

[0059] When each functional component is realized by hardware, the control device 10 includes an electronic circuit instead of the processing device 201 and the storage device 202. The electronic circuit is a dedicated circuit that realizes the functions of each functional component and the storage device 202.

[0060] As the electronic circuit, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel-programmed processor, a logic IC, a GA, an ASIC, or an FPGA is assumed. GA is an abbreviation for Gate Array. ASIC is an abbreviation for Application Specific Integrated Circuit. FPGA is an abbreviation for Field-Programmable Gate Array. Each functional component may be realized by one electronic circuit, or each functional component may be realized by being distributed among a plurality of electronic circuits.

[0061] <Modification 2> As Modification 2, some of each functional component may be realized by hardware and the other each functional component may be realized by software.

[0062] The processing device 201, the storage device 202, and the electronic circuit are referred to as a processing circuit. That is, the functions of the respective functional components are realized by the processing circuit.

[0063] Also, in the above description, the "section" may be read as "circuit", "step", "procedure", "process", or "processing circuit".

[0064] Hereinafter, various aspects of the present disclosure will be collectively described as appendices. (Appendix 1) A control device that controls a first FA system in which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented, When a setting change for the FA devices constituting the first FA system is requested from a second FA system in which a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol is implemented, a mediation unit that determines whether the setting change is permitted in the first FA system, A proxy function unit that acts on behalf of the FA device and performs processing according to the second communication resource management protocol, and when it is determined by the mediation unit that permission is given, the FA A proxy function unit that makes the setting change to the device A control device comprising. (Appendix 2) The mediation unit determines whether the setting change is permitted in the first FA system based on whether the setting change interferes with real-time communication in the first FA system The control device according to Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) When the physical port used in the real-time communication is changed to unusable due to the setting change, the mediation unit determines that the setting change interferes with the real-time communication The control device according to Appendix 2. (Appendix 4) When the communication path used in the real-time communication is changed due to the setting change, the mediation unit determines that the setting change interferes with the real-time communication The control device according to Supplementary Note 2 or 3. (Supplementary Note 5) When the mediation unit determines that the condition for determining the frame of the real-time communication is changed due to the setting change, it determines that it interferes with the real-time communication. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 4. (Supplementary Note 6) When the mediation unit determines that the communication resource allocated for the real-time communication is changed due to the setting change, it determines that the setting change interferes with the real-time communication. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 2 to 5. (Supplementary Note 7) When it is determined that the proxy function unit is permitted by the mediation unit, it identifies the corresponding data in the first FA system corresponding to the data related to the setting change defined in the second communication resource management protocol, and changes the corresponding data to perform the setting change. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6. (Supplementary Note 8) When the proxy function unit is requested to read data about the FA devices constituting the first FA system from the second FA system, it identifies the corresponding data in the first FA system corresponding to the data to be read defined in the second communication resource management protocol, and reads the corresponding data. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 7. (Supplementary Note 9) The proxy function unit identifies the corresponding data from the data managed by the control program for controlling the FA device, the data managed by the proxy function unit, and the data managed by the FA device. The control device according to Supplementary Note 7 or 8. (Supplementary Note 10) The second communication resource management protocol is a communication resource management protocol in the NETCONF / YANG format. The control device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 9. (Appendix 11) A control method for controlling a first FA system in which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented, when a setting change for FA devices constituting the first FA system is requested from a second FA system in which a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol is implemented, the control device of the first FA system determines whether the setting change is permitted in the first FA system, and a proxy function unit that performs processing according to the second communication resource management protocol on behalf of the FA device, and when it is determined that the change is permitted, the control method for performing the setting change on the FA device. (Appendix 12) A control program for controlling a first FA system in which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented, a mediation process for determining whether a setting change for FA devices constituting the first FA system is permitted in the first FA system when the setting change is requested from a second FA system in which a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol is implemented, and a proxy function process for performing processing according to the second communication resource management protocol on behalf of the FA device, and when it is determined that the change is permitted by the mediation process, performing the setting change on the FA device A control program that causes a computer to function as a control device that performs the above.

[0065] The embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure have been described above. Some of these embodiments and modifications may be implemented in combination. Also, any one or some of them may be partially implemented. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications, and various changes can be made as necessary.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0066] ​100 FA system, 110 First FA system, 120 Second FA system, 10 Control device, 20 FA device, 130 Engineering tool, 131 Control design tool, 132 Communication resource design tool, 11 Control processing unit, 12 Local protocol unit, 13 Real-time communication unit, 14 Mediation unit, 15 Proxy function unit, 16 Proxy conversion unit, 17 Operation processing unit, 18 Stack unit, 201 Processing device, 202 Storage device, 203 Bridge, 204 Network interface, 205 Setting interface.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a first FA system on which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented, When a second FA system, which implements a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol, requests a change in the settings for communication resources to FA equipment constituting the first FA system, the arbitration unit determines whether or not the change in settings is permitted in the first FA system. A proxy function unit that acts on behalf of the FA equipment and performs processing in accordance with the second communication resource management protocol, wherein the proxy function unit performs the setting change for the FA equipment when it is determined that permission is granted by the arbitration unit. A control device equipped with the following features.

2. The arbitration unit determines whether the setting change is permitted in the first FA system based on whether the setting change interferes with real-time communication in the first FA system. The control device according to claim 1.

3. The arbitration unit determines that the setting change interferes with the real-time communication if the physical port used for the real-time communication becomes unavailable as a result of the setting change. The control device according to claim 2.

4. The arbitration unit determines that if the setting change alters the communication path used for the real-time communication, the setting change interferes with the real-time communication. The control device according to claim 2.

5. The arbitration unit determines that if the conditions for determining the frames of the real-time communication are changed as a result of the setting change, then it will interfere with the real-time communication. The control device according to claim 2.

6. The arbitration unit determines that if the setting change alters the communication resources allocated for the real-time communication, the setting change interferes with the real-time communication. The control device according to claim 2.

7. When the proxy function unit determines that permission has been granted by the arbitration unit, it identifies the corresponding data in the first FA system that corresponds to the data relating to the configuration change defined in the second communication resource management protocol, and performs the configuration change by modifying the corresponding data. The control device according to claim 1.

8. When the proxy function unit receives a request from the second FA system to read data about the FA equipment constituting the first FA system, it identifies the corresponding data in the first FA system that corresponds to the data to be read as defined in the second communication resource management protocol, and reads the corresponding data. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The proxy function unit identifies the corresponding data from the data managed by the control program for controlling the FA equipment, the data managed by the proxy function unit, and the data managed by the FA equipment. The control device according to claim 7.

10. The second communication resource management protocol is a NETCONF / YANG communication resource management protocol. The control device according to claim 1.

11. A control method for controlling a first FA system on which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented, When the control device of the first FA system receives a request from a second FA system, which implements a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol, to change the settings for communication resources for FA equipment constituting the first FA system, the control device determines whether or not the setting change is permitted in the first FA system. The control device is a proxy function unit that performs processing in accordance with the second communication resource management protocol on behalf of the FA equipment, and a control method which performs the setting change for the FA equipment when it is determined that permission is granted.

12. This is a control program for controlling a first FA system on which a first communication resource management protocol is implemented. When a second FA system, which implements a second communication resource management protocol different from the first communication resource management protocol, requests a change in the settings for communication resources to FA equipment constituting the first FA system, the first FA system performs arbitration to determine whether or not the change in settings is permitted. A proxy function process that performs processing in accordance with the second communication resource management protocol on behalf of the FA equipment, wherein if it is determined by the arbitration process that permission is granted, the proxy function process performs the setting change for the FA equipment. A control program that enables a computer to function as a control device.

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