Industrial Controller Proxy Execution for Shared Data Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial controllers face challenges in managing execution of control programs across multiple processing devices, particularly when external computational devices are used, as they operate asynchronously and require shared data management to avoid overwriting data.
Innovation Solution
An inter-processor interface is introduced to manage the execution of control programs on both the industrial controller and external processing devices, establishing communication connections, transmitting data, and managing status bits, ensuring transparent execution details to programmers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If external computational devices are used to perform computations, then computational ability is improved, but data management complexity increases due to asynchronous operation and shared data access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inter-processor interface as an intermediary component that manages communication and data exchange between the industrial controller and external computational devices. This interface handles data transmission, synchronization, and coordination, thereby resolving the data management complexity that arises from asynchronous operation while preserving the enhanced computational ability provided by external devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external computational devices operate asynchronously, then processing flexibility is improved, but data consistency deteriorates due to potential data overwriting
Solution Approach 1:
The inter-processor interface implements feedback mechanisms that monitor and coordinate data access between the industrial controller and external computational devices. Through status bits, acknowledgment signals, and synchronized data exchange protocols, the system maintains data consistency while allowing asynchronous operation, thus preserving processing flexibility without sacrificing reliability.
3Productivity
If shared tags are accessed by both industrial controller and external computational device, then resource utilization is improved, but data integrity worsens due to potential overwriting
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs preliminary actions in the form of data validation checks, access permission protocols, and synchronization routines executed before data access operations. These preliminary measures ensure that shared tags are accessed in a coordinated manner, preventing data overwriting and maintaining integrity while allowing both the industrial controller and external computational devices to utilize shared resources efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial controller that integrates execution of a control program on the industrial controller with execution of additional functions on an external processing device is disclosed. Integrating the external processing device provides an improved system for third party development of control functions which may be unique to specific applications. The system manages communication between the industrial controller and the external processing device, manages access to data stored in the industrial controller, and makes the details of the integration transparent to the programmer.