WO2023050219A1

WO2023050219A1 - System, device, method and storage medium for plc connection

Info

Publication number: WO2023050219A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/121931
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhenhua Zhou; Wenchao ZOU; Haifeng Wang
Original assignee: Siemens Ltd China; Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Current assignee: Siemens Ltd China; Siemens AG; Siemens Corp
Priority date: 2021-09-29
Filing date: 2021-09-29
Publication date: 2023-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2024-03-29
Also published as: US20240396970A1; EP4381699A4; CN117751558A; US12568143B2; EP4381699A1

Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure provide a system, device, method and computer readable storage medium for PLC connection. The system includes: an automatic converter set on a third-party platform, a local adapter set on a local computer, and at least one intelligent communication interface adapter set on at least one edge device; the local adapter is to access locally stored PLC information; the intelligent communication interface adapter is to access a PLC through a communication protocol connector which is compatible with multiple industrial networks; the automatic converter is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device, and to obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter; based on a preset voting mechanism, to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection and voting, and select an edge device and a PLC to be connected according to the number of votes of each edge devices and each PLC. The technical solutions of the present disclosure can improve the universality of PLC connection.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] SYSTEM, DEVICE, METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR PLC CONNECTION

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to industrial technologies, and more particularly, to a system, device, method and computer readable storage medium for programmable logic controller (PLC) connection.

BACKGROUND

In order to realize the connection and control of a PLC, such as SIMATIC S7 Series PLC, the PLC is usually configured and deployed by a PLC developing system, such as TIA portal. Then, the PLC developing system connects and controls the PLC through an industrial network, or a third party connects and controls the PLC through the industrial network via open-sourced SNAP7 protocol.

At present, PLC connection and control are based on local solutions, which can only be deployed to an edge device or a local industrial computer at most.

Therefore, those skilled in the art are also committed to finding other solutions for PLC connection and control.

SUMMARY

According to examples of the present disclosure, a system, device, method and computer readable storage medium for PLC connection is provided to improve the universality of PLC connection.

The system for PLC connection provided by examples of the present disclosure includes: an automatic converter set on a third-party platform, a local adapter set on a local computer, and at least one intelligent communication interface adapter set on at least one edge device; the local adapter is to access locally stored PLC information; the intelligent communication interface adapter is to access a PLC through a communication protocol connector which is compatible with multiple industrial networks; the automatic converter is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device, and to obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter; based on a preset voting mechanism, to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection and voting, and select an edge device and a PLC to be connected according to the number of votes of each edge devices and each PLC.

In an example, the automatic converter comprises: a registration module is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device, and obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter; a voting system is to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, obtain voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself, as well as a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, and obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC; and an automatic awareness system is to determine a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and the state of each edge device and each PLC, and to connect determined PLC through determined edge device.

In an example, wherein the local adapter, the intelligent communication interface adapter and the automatic converter are encapsulated into a micro service container respectively.

In an example, wherein the third-party platform includes: a cloud based low code platform; the communication protocol is open source SNAP7 protocol; the locally stored PLC information is PLC information in a PLC developing system.

The device for PLC connection provided by examples of the present disclosure includes: a registration module is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device, and obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter; a voting system is to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, obtain voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself, as well as a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, and obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC; and an automatic awareness system is to determine a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and the state of each edge device and each PLC, and to connect determined PLC through determined edge device.

The method for PLC connection provided by examples of the present disclosure includes: obtaining information of each edge device and each PLC connected to a network; triggering each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, and obtaining voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself and a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, so as to obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC; determining a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC, and connecting determined PLC through determined edge device.

In an example, wherein obtaining information of each edge device and each PLC connected to a network comprises: obtaining information of each edge device through each intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device; obtaining locally stored information of PLC through a local adapter set on the local computer, and/or obtaining information of PLC deployed on each edge device through corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device.

In an example, wherein the third-party platform includes: a cloud based low code platform.

Another system for PLC connection provided by examples of the present disclosure includes: at least one memory, to store a computer program; and at least one processor, to call the computer program stored in the at least one memory to perform a method for PLC connection mentioned above.

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, the computer program is to be executed by a processor to implement a method for PLC connection mentioned above.

It can be seen from above mentioned technical solutions in embodiments of the present disclosure, an automatic converter is set on the third-party platform, a local adapter for accessing PLC information is set on the local computer, and an intelligent communication interface adapter for accessing PLC through industrial network protocol is set on the edge device, so that the automatic converter can obtain the information of each edge device and each PLC through the intelligent communication interface adapter and the local adapter, then trigger each edge device and each PLC to conduct connectivity detection and to vote according to a detection result, and then determine the PLC to be connected and the edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes, then through the determined edge equipment to connect the determined PLC, the universality and effectiveness of PLC connection are improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the Detailed Description below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a PLC connection according to embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

The reference numerals are as follows:

Reference numeral	Object
1	third-party platform
10	automatic converter
11	registration module
12	voting system
13	automatic awareness system
2	local computer
20	local adapter
3	edge device
30	intelligent communication interface adapter

40	PLC developing system
41	developing kit
50	PLC
60	industrial network
61	Ethernet/IP
62	ProfiNET
63	OPC UA
64	Modbus TCP
65	PowerLink
66	EtherCAT
70	SNAP7 protocol connector
S21～S23	processes
31	memory
32	processor
33	bus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to improve the universality of connecting and controlling the PLC, it is considered to package the connection to the PLC as a service and enable it to be deployed on any third-party platform, such as cloud based platform, such as low code platform, etc. Therefore, in embodiments of the present disclosure, it is considered to build a bridge between the third-party platform and the PLC, that is, an automatic converter is set on the third-party platform, the automatic converter may obtain information of each edge device and each PLC deployed to each edge device, and set a voting mechanism for each edge device and each PLC, select an edge device and a PLC to be connected based on the number of votes obtained through connection detections.

Reference will now be made in detail to examples, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Also, the figures are illustrations of an example, in which modules or procedures shown in the figures are not necessarily essential for implementing the present disclosure. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the examples.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the system may include an automatic converter 10 set on the third-party platform 1, a local adapter 20 set on the local computer 2, and at least one intelligent communication interface adapter 30 set on at least one edge device 3.

The local adapter 20 may be encapsulated as a micro service container, such as a Docker container, to access locally stored PLC information, for example to access PLC information in a PLC developing system 40 through a developing kit 41 of the PLC developing system, such as the openness component of TIA portal. Generally, the PLC developing system 40 will initialize and configure a corresponding PLC 50 according to the PLC information to complete the deployment of the PLC 50, and release the PLC information after the deployment is completed. Therefore, the local adapter 20 may obtain the PLC information from the PLC developing system 40 before the PLC information is released by the PLC developing system 40.

The intelligent communication interface adapter 30 may be encapsulated as a micro service container, such as a Docker container, to access the corresponding PLC 50 through a communication protocol connector, such as an open source SNAP7 protocol connector 70, which is compatible with multiple industrial networks 60. PLC 50 here may refer to the PLC initialized and configured by the PLC developing system 40. In an example, the intelligent communication interface adapter 30 can analyze attribute code of a target protocol carried in a connection request to select the correct industrial protocol.

SNAP7 is an open source SIMATIC S7 PLC communication protocol, which can be applied to many different programming languages, such as C/C++, c#, Java, JavaScript, etc. The SNAP7 protocol connector 70 can be fully or partially compatible with industrial networks such as Ethernet/IP 61, ProfiNET 62, OPC UA 63, Modbus TCP 64, PowerLink65, Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) 66, etc.

The automatic converter 10 may be encapsulated as a micro service container, such as a Docker container, to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter 30 set on each edge device, and to obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter 20 and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter 30; based on a preset voting mechanism, to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection and voting, and select an edge device and a PLC to be connected according to the number of votes of each of edge devices and PLCs. In an example, the third-party platform may be a cloud based low code platform, such as cloud PaaS (platform as a service) .

In an example, the automatic converter 10 may include a registration module 11, a voting system 12 and an automatic awareness system 13.

The registration module 11 is configured to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter 30 set on each edge device, and obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter 20 or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter 30. Specifically, the information of some PLCs may be obtained locally through the local adapter set on the local computer, and the information of some other PLCs deployed to each edge device may be obtained through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device. For example, before the PLC developing system 40 deploys a PLC, the information of the PLC may be obtained from the PLC developing system 40 through the local adapter 20. After the PLC developing system 40 deploys the PLC, the information of the PLC deployed on an edge device 3 may be obtained through a corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter 30 set on the edge device 3.

In an example, information of edge devices and PLCs connected to an intranet may be automatically identified and registered based on the intranet discovery mechanism. In addition, if a user sets the registration mechanism, such as setting some devices not to be registered, the device identification and registration may be carried out according to the user's settings.

The voting system 12 is configured to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, obtain voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on edge devices or PLCs connected with itself, as well as a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, and obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC.

The automatic awareness system 13 is configured to determine a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and the state of each edge device and each PLC, and to connect determined PLC through determined edge device. For example, the PLC in the state of ready and with the largest number of votes or the number of votes reaching a first set threshold may be regarded as the PLC to be connected, and the edge device in the state of ready and with the largest number of votes or the number of votes reaching a second set threshold may be determined as the edge device to connect to the PLC.

The system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail above, and the method for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter. The method for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented on the system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For details not disclosed in the embodiments of the method of the present disclosure, please refer to the corresponding description in the embodiments of the system of the present disclosure, which will not be repeated here.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a PLC connection according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the method may include the following processes through an automatic converter deployed on a third-party platform.

At block S21, information of each edge device and each PLC connected to a network is obtained.

At this block, the information of each edge device can be obtained through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device, the locally stored information of PLC may be obtained from the local such as the PLC developing system through the local adapter set on the local computer, and the information of the PLC deployed on each edge device may be obtained through the intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device.

At block S22, each edge device and each PLC are triggered for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, and voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on edge devices or PLCs connected with itself and a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC are obtained, so as to obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC.

At block S23, a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC are determined according to the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC, and determined PLC is connected through determined edge device.

In the embodiments, the third-party platform may include a cloud based low code platform, etc.

It should be noted that not all blocks and modules in the above flow and schematic diagrams are necessary, and some blocks or modules can be ignored according to actual needs. The execution sequence of blocks is not fixed and can be adjusted as needed. The division of modules is only functional division for the convenience of describing. In actual implementation, a module can be realized by multiple modules, and the functions of multiple modules can also be realized by one module. These modules can be located in the same device or in different devices.

It can be understood that the hardware modules in above embodiments can be implemented mechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module may include specially designed permanent circuits or logic devices (such as special-purpose processors, such as FPGA or ASIC) to complete specific operations. The hardware module may also include a programmable logic device or circuit temporarily configured by software (such as including a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) for performing specific operations. As for the specific use of mechanical mode, or special permanent circuit, or temporarily configured circuit (such as configured by software) to realize the hardware module, it can be determined according to the consideration of cost and time.

In fact, the system for PLC connection provided by this implementation manner of the present disclosure may be specifically implemented in various manners. For example, the system for PLC connection may be compiled, by using an application programming interface that complies with a certain regulation, as a plug-in that is installed in an intelligent terminal, or may be encapsulated into an application program for a user to download and use.

When compiled as a plug-in, the system for PLC connection may be implemented in various plug-in forms. The system for PLC connection provided by this implementation manner of the present disclosure may also be implemented by using a specific technology, such as a Flash plug-in technology, a RealPlayer plug-in technology, an MMS plug-in technology, a MIDI staff plug-in technology, or an ActiveX plug-in technology.

The method for PLC connection provided by this implementation manner of the present disclosure may be stored in various storage mediums in an instruction storage manner or an instruction set storage manner. These storage mediums include, but are not limited to: a floppy disk, an optical disc, a DVD, a hard disk, a flash memory, a USB flash drive, a CF card, an SD card, an MMC card, an SM card, a memory stick, and an xD card.

Moreover, it should be clear that an operating system operated in a computer can be made, not only by executing program code read by the computer from a storage medium, but also by using an instruction based on the program code, to implement some or all actual operations, so as to implement functions of any embodiment in the foregoing embodiments.

For example, Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another system for PLC connection according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The system may be used to perform the method shown in figure 2, or to implement the system shown in figure 1. As shown in figure 3, the system may include at least one memory 31and at least one processor 32. In addition, some other components may be included, such as communication port, input/output controller, network communication interface, etc. These components communicate through bus 33, etc.

At least one memory 31 is configured to store a computer program. In one example, the computer program can be understood to include various modules of the system shown in Fig. 1. In addition, at least one memory 31 may store an operating system or the like. Operating systems include but are not limited to: Android operating system, Symbian operating system, windows operating system, Linux operating system, etc.

At least one processor 32 is configured to call the computer program stored in at least one memory 31 to perform a method for PLC connection described in examples of the present disclosure. The processor 32 can be CPU, processing unit/module, ASIC, logic module or programmable gate array, etc. It can receive and send data through the communication port.

The I/O controller has an input device, which is used to input, output and display relevant data.

It should be understood that, as used herein, unless the context clearly supports exceptions, the singular forms "a" ( "a" , "an" , "the" ) are intended to include the plural forms. It should also be understood that, "and /or" used herein is intended to include any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The number of the embodiments of the present disclosure are only used for description, and do not represent the merits of the implementations.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific examples. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The examples were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various examples with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

A system for PLC connection, comprises: an automatic converter (10) set on a third-party platform (1) , a local adapter (20) set on a local computer (2) , and at least one intelligent communication interface adapter (30) set on at least one edge device (3) ;

the local adapter (20) is to access locally stored PLC information;

the intelligent communication interface adapter (30) is to access a PLC through a communication protocol connector which is compatible with multiple industrial networks;

the automatic converter (10) is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter (30) set on each edge device, and to obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter (20) and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter (30) ; based on a preset voting mechanism, to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection and voting, and select an edge device and a PLC to be connected according to the number of votes of each edge devices and each PLC.
The system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic converter (10) comprises:

a registration module (11) is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter (30) set on each edge device, and obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter (20) and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter (30) ;

a voting system (12) is to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, obtain voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself, as well as a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, and obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC; and

an automatic awareness system (13) is to determine a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and the state of each edge device and each PLC, and to connect determined PLC through determined edge device.
The system according to claim 2, wherein the local adapter (20) , the intelligent communication interface adapter (30) and the automatic converter (10) are encapsulated into a micro service container respectively.
The system according to claim 2, wherein the third-party platform includes: a cloud based low code platform; the communication protocol is open source SNAP7 protocol; the locally stored PLC information is PLC information in TIA portal.
A device for PLC connection, comprises:

a registration module (11) is to obtain information of each edge device through the intelligent communication interface adapter (30) set on each edge device, and obtain information of each PLC through the local adapter (20) and/or corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter (30) ;

a voting system (12) is to trigger each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, obtain voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself, as well as a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, and obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC; and

an automatic awareness system (13) is to determine a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and the state of each edge device and each PLC, and to connect determined PLC through determined edge device.
A method for PLC connection, comprises:

obtaining information of each edge device and each PLC connected to a network;

triggering each edge device and each PLC for connectivity detection according to a set time interval, and obtaining voting performed by each edge device and each PLC on those connected with itself and a state fed back by each edge device and each PLC, so as to obtain the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC;

determining a PLC to be connected and an edge device to connect to the PLC according to the number of votes and states of every edge device and every PLC, and connecting determined PLC through determined edge device.
A method for PLC connection, wherein obtaining information of each edge device and each PLC connected to a network comprises:

obtaining information of each edge device through each intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device;

obtaining locally stored information of PLC through a local adapter set on the local computer, and/or obtaining information of PLC deployed on each edge device through corresponding intelligent communication interface adapter set on each edge device.
The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the third-party platform includes: a cloud based low code platform.
A system for PLC connection, comprises:

at least one memory (31) , to store a computer program; and

at least one processor (32) , to call the computer program stored in the at least one memory (31) to perform a method for PLC connection according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored, the computer program is to be executed by a processor to implement a method for PLC connection according to any one of claims 6 to 8.