Industrial Add-On Function Interface for Library Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional industrial control systems face challenges in integrating with open system libraries and require extensive and disruptive processes for code tailoring, limiting the ability to reuse logic and invoke functions efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The system facilitates the creation and management of add-on functions within industrial devices, allowing users to define and execute logic or link to functions with the same signature in a library, using an electronic processor to detect function calls, determine function names, and provide operations for execution, thereby enabling integration with libraries like C/C++ and reducing implementation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional industrial control systems integrate with open system libraries, then functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (add-on function mechanism) between the industrial control system and open system libraries. This intermediary handles function registration, validation, and execution, allowing integration with C/C++ and other libraries without requiring complex direct integration. The intermediary abstracts the complexity by providing standardized interfaces and automatic function management.
Solution Approach 2:
The add-on function mechanism provides universal integration capability that works with multiple types of libraries and programming languages. A single standardized interface allows integration with C/C++ libraries, application-specific libraries, and custom user-defined functions, eliminating the need for separate integration approaches for different library types.
2Manufacturing precision
If custom code is tailored for specific controllers, then control precision and functionality are improved, but implementation time and disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows pre-definition and registration of add-on functions before they are needed in control routines. Functions can be registered, validated, and made available in advance through configuration files or programming interfaces, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site code tailoring and enabling faster deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into modular components where custom logic is separated into independent add-on functions. These functions can be developed, tested, and deployed independently, reducing implementation disruption and allowing incremental updates without affecting the entire control system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If add-on functions are extensively implemented, then functionality and adaptability are improved, but memory usage and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential and frequently used functions into the core add-on function mechanism, while less commonly used functionality remains in external libraries. This selective extraction minimizes the memory footprint of the core system while maintaining access to extensive functionality when needed, balancing adaptability with resource constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for facilitating add-on functions for employment with an industrial device. One system includes an electronic processor configured to detect an add-on function call from a user program executing within the industrial device. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a function name of an add-on function associated with the add-on function call. The electronic processor is also configured to provide a set of operations for executing the add-on function, based at least in part on the function name of the add-on function.