JPH1124716A - Programmable controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit monitoring and controlling without using a private programming tool mounting a communication processing function corresponding to opening to personal computer or a work station. SOLUTION: At the time of executing a general purpose TML browser to designate the HTML text of a programmable controller 1 at the personal computer or work station 3, a reading request at HTTP is executed to send back the HTML text housed in an HTML text housing means 16 from the HTTP server 15. At the time of displaying monitoring/controlling functions supported by the controller 1 by a menu style and selecting an item to call GGI, the server 15 calls a communication processing means 14 to send a request to an executing state monitoring means 13 and its response is returned to the server means 15 from the means 14 in an HTML text style and sent back to the personal computer 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a programmable controller capable of monitoring and controlling the execution state of a program from a programming tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a conventional programmable controller and a programming tool. In FIG. 4, 1 is a programmable controller (main body), 11 is sequence control means for executing and processing a sequence program of the programmable controller, 12 is data input / output processing means for inputting / outputting data to / from an input / output module, 1
3 is execution state control / monitor processing means for controlling and monitoring the execution state of the programmable controller; 14 is communication processing means for performing communication processing with a programming tool;
2 is a communication cable connecting the programmable controller and the programming tool, and 3 is a personal computer that executes the programming tool.

[0003] A programming tool is executed on the personal computer 3.
A dedicated command for the programmable controller 1 is transmitted from the S232C communication port. Dedicated commands include the model of the program controller, program capacity,
A system information command for reading the version of the control software, setting parameters such as the execution cycle of the sequence program and the execution cycle of the interrupt program, an I / O assignment command for setting the mounting status of the input / output module, and a read / edit command for the sequence program ,
There are a data monitor / setting command, an execution control command of a programmable controller, and the like.

The programmable controller 1 transmits the dedicated command from a programming tool to the communication processing unit 1.
When the command is received in step 4, a request corresponding to the contents of the command is made to the execution state control / monitor processing means 13, and a response obtained from the request is returned from the communication processing means 14 to the programming tool. The programming tool displays the response from the programmable controller 1 and informs the operator of the state of the programmable controller l.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional example, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated program for the programming tool, and the personal computer 3 for executing the programming tool is also a dedicated model which depends on the programming tool. It is necessary to prepare. This may be a constraint for constructing a control system, contrary to the trend of open control devices, and hinders the use of inexpensive open devices, resulting in an economic problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is provided with a communication processing function compatible with openness in a programmable controller or a personal computer or a workstation.
An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable controller that enables monitoring and control without using a dedicated programming tool.

[0007]

The present invention has at least one of a sequence control function, a data input / output function, and an execution state control / monitor function, and is executed by a personal computer or a workstation. In a programmable controller having communication means for communicating with a tool, an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) server processing means and an HTM
Means for storing L (Hyper Text Description Language) text, and capable of processing requests from an HTML browser of the personal computer or workstation.

With such a configuration, a personal computer or a workstation does not require a dedicated programming tool, and a general-purpose HTML browser can monitor and control the programmable controller.

Here, the communication means may be a communication means using an RS232C serial port or a communication means using an Ethernet LAN. Further, such a function of the programmable controller may be configured to be executed by a personal computer or a workstation.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. FIG.
Shows a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a programmable controller (main body), 1
1 is a sequence control means for executing a sequence program execution process of the programmable controller, 12 is an input / output process for inputting / outputting data to / from an input / output module, 13 is an execution state control / monitor means for controlling and monitoring the execution state of the programmable controller, Reference numeral 14 denotes a communication processing unit having a function of performing communication processing with a conventional programming tool; 15, an HTTP server; 16, a text describing a monitoring / control function provided in the programmable controller 1 described in HTML in a menu format. HTML text storage means for storing, 2 is a communication cable for connecting a programmable controller and a personal computer, for example, having an RS232C port, and 3 is a personal computer or a workstation.

[0011] The operation will be described below.
When the ML browser is executed and the HTML text of the programmable controller 1 is designated, a read request in HTTP is made, and the HTML
The HTML text stored in the text storage means 16 is returned. The monitoring / control function supported by the programmable controller 1 is displayed in a menu format by reading the HTML text into the general-purpose HTML browser. By selecting an item displayed as hypertext in the menu, the CGI (CommonGateway) linked to the hypertext is selected.
When the interface is called, the HTTP server 15 calls the communication processing means 14 for performing communication with the conventional programming tool.
4 sends a request to the execution state control / monitor means 13 using a command dedicated to the programmable controller similar to the conventional one, and a response is returned from the communication processing means 14 to the HTTP server means 15 in the HTML text format, and the personal computer or It will be returned to the workstation 3 and displayed on the running general-purpose HTML browser.

This operation will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the system information, I / O, and the like by the HTML text stored in the HTML text storage means 16 of the programmable controller 1.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a case where O assignment, program reading / editing, data monitoring / setting, and execution control of a programmable controller are supported.

In the personal computer or the workstation 3, a general-purpose HTML browser is started and the programmable controller 1 is designated. In step S1, reading of the HTML text is selected, and a request is issued to the programmable controller 1.
Then, the HTML text 16 is returned from the programmable controller 1 in step S2, and a menu is displayed on the general-purpose HTML browser in step S11. The menu includes “System Information”, “I / O”
"Assignment", "Program reading / editing", "Data monitoring / setting", and "Programmable controller execution control" are prepared, and hyperlinks are set in the respective menus. The content of the hyperlink is a CGI call to the communication processing unit 14 of the programmable controller 1 for executing the function of the menu.

For example, when the hyperlink of "system information" is selected, the process proceeds to step S3 because the reading of the HTML text is not performed in step S1. Where CG
Since the call is I, the selection is determined in step S4.
A CGI call for reading system information in step S5 is executed. The CGI call for reading system information calls the system information reading process of the communication processing unit 14 from the HTTP server 15. In the system information reading process, the model, the program capacity, and the version of the control software are read, converted into HTML text in step S10, and returned, and the result is displayed on a general-purpose browser in step S11.

Instead of selecting the hyperlink of "system information", the hyperlink of "I / O assignment", "read / edit program", "data monitor / setting", or "execution control of programmable controller" is used. Is selected, Steps S4 to S4
Instead of proceeding to step 5, the procedure proceeds to step S6, step S7, step S8 or step S9, respectively, but the description is omitted.

By supporting the HTTP server function by the programmable controller in this way, HTM, which is almost standard as a network communication format, is used.
L can be used. In addition, since general-purpose HTML browsers are available in versions that operate on various models from personal computers to workstations, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated programming tool, and a flexible system configuration is possible.

In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the programmable controller 1 and the personal computer or the workstation 3 are connected to the RS2.
Although the connection was made with the communication cable 2 having the 32C port, as shown in FIG.
An Ethernet LAN 4 may be used. By using the Ethernet LAN 4, a plurality of programmable controllers 1A, 1B,...

Further, in FIG. 1, the contents of the HTML text stored in the means 16 for storing the HTML text may be changed by a request from an HTML browser. For this purpose, the communication processing means 14 has a function of changing the HTML text, and
Menus of the HTML text stored in the ML text storage unit 16 include “System Information”, “I / O Assignment”, “Read / Edit Program”, “Data Monitor / Setting”, and “Execution Control of Programmable Controller”. "Menu Change" in addition to HTM
When "change menu" is selected from the L browser, the communication processing means 14 changes the HTML text.
By providing the function of changing the HTML text in the communication processing means 14, the function can be easily extended or added.

In general, instead of configuring the program controller with dedicated hardware, the function of the program controller is configured and executed on a personal computer or a workstation by software. Alternatively, the above-described functions may be configured by software and executed by a personal computer or a workstation.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, a dedicated programming tool becomes unnecessary, and an economical system using inexpensive open devices can be constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B: Programmable controller (main unit) 2: Communication cable 3: Personal computer or workstation 4: Ethernet LAN 11: Sequence control means 12: Data input / output processing means 13: Execution state control / monitor means 14: Communication processing means 15 HTTP server 16 HTML text storage means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A sequence control function, a data input / output function,
And at least one of the execution state control and monitoring functions
A programmable controller having two functions and having communication means for communicating with a programming tool executed on a personal computer or workstation, comprising: an HTTP server processing means and means for storing HTML text; A programmable controller characterized in that it can process requests from browsers. 2. The communication means according to claim 1, wherein said communication means is a communication means using an RS232C serial port.
4. The programmable controller according to 1. 3. The programmable controller according to claim 1, wherein said communication means is communication means using an Ethernet LAN. 4. The programmable controller according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing contents of the HTML text stored in the means for storing the HTML text in response to a request from the HTML browser. 5. A programmable controller, wherein the functions of the programmable controller according to claim 1 are executed by a personal computer or a workstation.