Web-Based Controller Programming With Centralized Version History
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for programming industrial automation controllers require a locally available development environment, leading to inconsistencies in version history and increased effort due to hardware-specific dependencies when developing programs externally.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an integrated web server to provide a web-based development environment, allowing programming through any web-enabled device, where high-level language programs are translated and executed on the controller, with version management ensuring consistent program history across multiple controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a locally available development environment is used for programming the controller, then the programming can be performed with dedicated tools, but a computer equipped with the development environment must be available and version consistency cannot be guaranteed across multiple developers
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is equipped with an integrated web server that provides a web-based development environment accessible via standard web browsers. This universal interface allows any computer with a web browser to function as a programming station, eliminating the need for dedicated development environment installations while ensuring consistent access to the same programming interface and version history across all developers.
Solution Approach 2:
The development environment, previously separated as an external tool, is merged into the controller itself through the web server. This integration ensures that the programming interface, compilation tools, and version management are centrally located within the controller, guaranteeing that all developers access the same authoritative version history regardless of which computer they use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If programs are developed externally without a local development environment, then programming can be performed on any computer, but hardware-specific libraries and components must be transferred to external computers increasing effort and data volume
Solution Approach 1:
The controller's web server acts as an intermediary that hosts the development environment and hardware-specific libraries centrally. Instead of transferring libraries to external computers, the web server delivers the necessary compilation environment and hardware abstraction layers through the web interface, eliminating large data transfers while maintaining hardware-specific functionality through server-side processing.
3Productivity
If multiple developers access the controller from different PCs, then collaborative programming is enabled, but consistent version history is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The web-based development environment implemented on the controller provides a centralized version management system that all developers access through the web interface. This system offers feedback mechanisms including version history tracking, change logging, and conflict detection that ensure all developers work from the same baseline and can see each other's changes, maintaining consistent version history across collaborative development.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for programming and operating a control system (10) of an industrial automation facility, in which a program for the control system (10) is developed with a development tool. The method is characterised by the following steps: transmission of data from a web server (101) built into the control system (10) to a computer (40) which is connected to the control system (10) via a network (30), the data comprising a web-based development environment; representation of the development environment in a web browser (41) embodied on the computer (40); development and/or processing of a program (410) for the control system (10) by a user; conversion of the program (410) developed and/or processed by the user into a high-level language program (413) by means of a conversion module (412) embodied in the web browser (41); transmission of the high-level language program (413) to the control system (10); conversion of the high-level language program (413) into a binary program (111) inside the control system (10); and implementation the binary program (111) by means of the control system (10). The invention also relates to a control system (10) for an industrial automation facility.