JP2001282315A - Server device for control - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a control system capable of editing the picture data of a display device for control from a remote place and easily managing the picture data. SOLUTION: A client device 9 performs access through an Internet 8 to a public server part 78 of a host computer 7 for control, and receives an applet for editing the picture data stored in a picture data memory 75 of the host computer 7 for control. A virtual machine 91 of the client device 9 executes the applet while receiving a file necessary for the execution of the applet from a public server part 78, and edits the picture data. When the end of edition is instructed, the virtual machine 91 instructs the update of the picture data of the picture data memory 75 according to the edited result to the public server part 78 based on the applet. Thus, the picture data of the picture data memory 75 of the host computer 7 for control can be updated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control server device used in a control system having a control display device such as a programmable display device and for editing screen data of the control display device from a remote place. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, programmable logic
The controller (hereinafter abbreviated as PLC) is, for example,
It is widely used as a control device for controlling various target systems such as a belt conveyor type automatic assembling machine. Further, in recent years, with the complexity of the target system, a plurality of PLCs have been used in cooperation with each other. The display of data from each PLC or the control instruction to the PLC is performed not only by a display device arranged in the vicinity of the PLC or the like, but also, for example, by installing the display device at a location away from these display devices. In some cases, a control system is constructed so that the control host computer can display or operate the computer.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, in a conventional control system 501, a PLC 503 is positioned as a center of control, and each PLC 503 includes a device 521 of a target system 502, a display and A programmable display 505 for giving a control instruction is connected. Further, another PLC 503 and a control host computer 507 are connected to the PLC 503 via a serial cable 504.
Between the host 503 and the control host computer 507 and each P
The transfer of control data between the LCs 503 is performed by the PLC
503 is performed using the communication function.

In this configuration, the display processing unit 571 of the control host computer 507 communicates with the PLC 503 to receive data indicating the status of the target system 502, displays the data on the screen according to the status, and allows the user to input data. In response, control data is sent to the PLC 503, and the target system 502 is controlled according to the control data. Similarly, the programmable display 505 displays / controls the status of the target system 502 while communicating with the PLC 503 based on the screen data.

[0005] Here, the programmable display 505 is used.
Screen data that defines the display / control operation of the control host computer 507 in many cases.
2, the technician who can edit the screen data is not always near the control host computer 507. Therefore, when the technician edits the screen data from a remote place, the drawing processing unit 5 similar to the drawing processing unit 572 of the control host computer 507 is used.
A terminal device 509 in which the communication processing unit 91 and the communication processing unit 592 are installed in advance is prepared, and the drawing processing unit 591 creates screen data in accordance with an instruction of a technician, and stores the screen data in the screen data memory 593. Further, the communication processing unit 592 reads the screen data from the screen data memory 593 in accordance with the instruction of the technician, and reads out the modem 594 and the public telephone line 508.
-Transmission is made to the drawing processing unit 572 via the modem 573.

[0006]

However, in the above configuration, the screen data is stored in the control host computer 50.
7 is edited by the terminal device 509 having the same drawing processing unit 591 and communication processing unit 592 as the terminal device 50.
It is necessary to install a program for realizing each of the processing units 591 and 592 in advance in 9. As a result, it takes time to install the program,
A terminal device capable of editing screen data is limited.

The control host computer 507
Is a general-purpose computer arranged in the vicinity of the target system 502, and has a higher computing capability and a higher storage capacity than a portable computer. Therefore, the drawing processing unit 572 of the control host computer 507 also requires a relatively large amount of work or storage memory, and in order to obtain a reaction speed that is easy to operate,
Requires relatively high computing power. As a result, the terminal device 509 having the same image processing unit 591 also needs high computing power and a large storage capacity.

In addition, in the above configuration, after the screen data is stored in the screen data memory 593 of the terminal device 509, the communication processing unit 592 transmits the screen data. As a result, the storage locations of the screen data are dispersed, and it becomes difficult to manage the screen data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to realize a control system capable of editing screen data of a control display device from a remote place and easily managing the screen data. Is to do.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control server device for controlling or displaying the status of a device by acquiring or changing the status of the device based on screen data. A control server device used in a control system provided with the device and having screen data storage means for storing the screen data,
In order to solve the above problems, the following means have been taken.

That is, a translation means for translating an applet having a predetermined procedure so as to be independent of the machine type into a machine language for its own device, an input / output means which can be controlled by the translation means, and A terminal-side communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal device having a download unit that downloads a file determined to be necessary when executing the applet, and the terminal unit-side communication unit communicating with the terminal-side communication unit by cooperating with each other. An operation of displaying the screen corresponding to the screen data of the screen data storage means on the input / output means, an operation of editing the screen data in response to an input to the input / output means, and an operation of Each applet group that causes the terminal side communication means to instruct the screen data storage means to update the screen data is stored in a file. An applet storing means for transmitting a file in which the applet is stored to the download means via the terminal-side communication means, and the screen data storing means based on the screen data update instruction from the translating means. Server means for updating the screen data.

In the above configuration, when editing the screen data, the server means of the control server reads the applet from the applet storage means and transmits the applet to the download means of the terminal device via the terminal-side communication means. On the other hand, the translation means of the terminal device communicates with the terminal-side communication means based on the applet and causes the input / output means to display a screen corresponding to the screen data of the screen data storage means.
Further, the translating means edits the screen data according to the input to the input / output means based on the applet. Further, the translation means instructs the terminal-side communication means to update the screen data of the screen data storage means according to the editing result based on the applet. On the other hand, when the screen means for updating the screen data is instructed by the translation means for executing the applet, the server means of the control server apparatus changes the screen data stored in the screen data storage means of the control server apparatus in accordance with the instruction. Update. The edited screen data is transmitted to, for example, a control display device via a wireless / wired communication path, or the control server device stores the screen data on a recording medium, and displays the recording medium on the control display device. The data is transmitted to the control display device by being read by the device, and the control display device performs display / control according to the screen data.

In the above configuration, the translation means of the terminal device translates and executes the applet, thereby performing each operation for editing the screen data. Therefore, if the terminal device has general-purpose translation means, even if the screen data editing program is not installed in the terminal device in advance, the user of the terminal device can operate the screen data indicated by the screen data without any trouble. You can edit screen data while watching.

Also, since the screen data to be updated is screen data in the control server device, unlike the case where each terminal device creates and uploads the screen data, the screen data is centralized by the control server device. Can manage.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the trouble of managing the update of the screen data.

In addition, of the display operation, the editing operation, and the instruction operation, all the operations that can be executed by the translation unit are stored in any of the files that can be output by the applet storage unit. In, for example,
There is also a file describing only operations that are not currently required to be executed by the translation means, such as a display operation of a component not currently displayed. On the other hand, the download unit downloads a file necessary for the execution of the applet by the translation unit among all the files. Therefore, compared to the case where all the operations executable by the terminal device are downloaded to the terminal device,
The amount of data to be downloaded can be significantly reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control server device according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising an authentication unit for authenticating the terminal device or a user of the terminal device. I have.

In the above configuration, when the editing of the screen data is requested from the terminal device, the authentication means of the control server device, for example, compares the combination of the identification code and the password received from the terminal device with the combination stored in advance. The terminal device or the user of the terminal device is authenticated, for example, by comparison, and access from the terminal device for which authentication has failed is rejected. As a result, a safe control system can be realized despite the fact that screen data can be edited from a remote location.

Further, in the control server device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the terminal-side communication means may include:
It is characterized by communicating with the terminal device.

In the above configuration, since the terminal-side communication means communicates with the terminal device via the Internet, the terminal-side communication means communicates with the terminal device according to the distance to the terminal device as in the case of communication via a circuit-switched public telephone line. No communication costs are required. In addition, the control system support personnel operate the terminal device from a place that can be connected to the Internet, for example, as in the case of editing with a control host computer arranged near the control display device, the control display device. Edit screen data of the device. As a result, the control system can be maintained without disposing the support personnel of the control system near the control display device.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
The following is a description based on FIG.
That is, the control system 1 according to the present embodiment can display screen data for controlling display / control of a programmable display device arranged near a control target even from a remote location without preparing a dedicated application program on the client side. An editable system, for example, as shown in FIG.
Logic controller (PLC) 3 for controlling the
And a programmable display (control display device) 5 which is operated by an operator of the target system 2 in the vicinity of the target system 2 in many cases, a network 6 connecting the programmable displays 5 to each other, A control host computer (control server device) 7 connected to the control device 6 and a client device (terminal device) 9 connectable to the control host computer 7 via the Internet 8 are provided.

The programmable display 5 is, for example,
A display device that can control input and screen display based on screen data determined by combining processing instruction words (tags), and is a PLC-side communication processing unit 51 connected to the serial cable 4 or the network 6. Communication processing unit 52 and a protocol conversion unit 5 for relaying communication between the two.
3, a display data memory 54 for storing the screen data, and a display processing unit 55 for performing a display process based on the screen data, the operation of the operator, the communication result, and the like.

In the present embodiment, the display processing unit 55
A plurality of unit screens can be switched, and each unit screen is
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a static figure B such as a nameplate that does not change the display content, or a part figure J (J1) that changes the display state such as a shape, color, and blinking state such as a switch, a lamp, or a meter. ) Is formed on the base screen. On the other hand, the screen data for displaying the screen is
As shown in FIG. 3, a file number F of the base screen and an event name N for specifying the operation content to be executed on the base screen
And a tag W including one or a plurality of pieces of reference information R referred to for each execution event. When the tag W is a display tag WL that displays a component graphic J corresponding to the content of a predetermined device address in a predetermined screen area (display coordinate range), as shown in FIG. A range (X / Y), a device address A, and a file number FL referred to at the time of display, such as a graphic file indicating ON and a graphic file indicating OFF when the component graphic J is a switch, are included. When the tag is an input tag, as shown in FIG. 5, the reference information R includes a valid input coordinate range (XY) and a device address A in which an input result is written.

On the other hand, the display processing unit 55 of the programmable display device 5 extracts, at a predetermined time interval, the display tag WL in which the file number F of the base screen is the base screen currently displayed from the screen data memory 54. Then, the content of the device address A of each display tag WL is read from the memory 3a of the PLC 3, and the part graphic J corresponding to the content is displayed on the screen. For example, in FIG. 2, the display tag WL1 stored in the screen data memory 54 indicates the display of the switch, and corresponds to the device of the device address A1. When executing the display tag WL1, the display processing unit 55 determines that the switch is OFF because the content of the device address A1 is “0”, and the memory 55a of the display processing unit 55.
Among the files stored in the file FL1 are displayed in the display coordinate range (X, Y). As a result, in the coordinate range (X / Y), O
The component graphic J1 indicating the switch in the FF state is displayed.
As described above, when the display processing unit 55 executes the display tag in the screen data at a predetermined time interval, the state of the device is reflected on the screen of the programmable display 5.

When an input operation such as a push operation on a touch panel (not shown) is received by the operator, the display processing unit 55, based on the screen data in the screen data memory 54, A search is made for a matching input tag WT, and according to the input result, the input tag W
The content of the device address A indicated by T is changed. For example, if the effective input coordinate range (X · Y) is set to the same coordinate range as the above-described part graphic J1 and the input data WT1 for changing the content of the same device address A1 is included in the screen data, the operator is prompted by the user. When the part graphic J1 on the display screen shown in FIG. 2 is pressed, the input tag WT1 is found as a result of the search by the display processing unit 55. In this case, the display processing unit 55
Rewrites the content of the device address A1 corresponding to the input tag WT1, for example, by giving an instruction to the PLC side communication processing unit 51 or the network side communication processing unit 52. Further, after the input operation, the display processing unit 55 sets the display tag WL1
Is processed, the content of the device address A1 is changed to "1", so that the display processing unit 55, as shown in FIG.
2 is displayed on the screen. As a result, the display processing unit 55
The content of the device address can be rewritten according to the input operation, and the screen display can be updated according to the content of the device address.

The device address A is an address for specifying a device to be controlled.
Programmable display 5 or P such as memory 3a of LC3
It shows an area of a storage device provided in the LC3 or the control host computer 7 or the like. For example, as described later in detail, the PLC side communication processing unit 51 and the network side communication processing unit 52 By communicating with the programmable display 5, the contents of each address can be obtained or the contents can be changed. The acquisition / change of the contents may be instructed each time, or a cache is prepared in the programmable display 5, and when the contents are acquired / changed, the cache is accessed and at a predetermined time interval or at a predetermined time. Communication may be performed for each event to synchronize with the entity of the device address A.

On the other hand, the control host computer 7 has a display processing unit 7 for monitoring and controlling the entire control system 1.
1, a common protocol interface (IF) unit 72 connected to the network 6, and a server that communicates with each programmable display 5 via the common protocol IF unit 72 and the network 6 and responds to requests from the display processing unit 71 and the like. A unit 73 and an input / output unit 74 serving as an interface with the user, such as a display, a mouse, or a keyboard, are provided. In many cases, the target system 2 and the The status of the PLC 3 or the programmable display 5 can be displayed and controlled by the input / output unit 74.

The control host computer 7
A screen data memory (screen data storage means) 75 for storing screen data of the programmable display 5;
a (registered trademark) language, an applet memory (an applet storage unit) 76 storing an applet group for editing the screen data, and an applet memory 76
Virtual machine 7 for running applets stored in
7, the virtual machine 77 and the client device 9
And a public server unit 78 for transmitting an applet to a virtual machine 91 (to be described later). The screen data edited by execution of the applet and centrally stored in the screen data memory 75 is stored in the server unit 73. Are distributed to each programmable display 5 via the common protocol IF unit 72 and the network 6. The public server unit 78 corresponds to a terminal-side communication unit, a server unit, and an authentication unit described in the claims.

Here, the applet memory 76 stores a plurality of applets as files, respectively.
The virtual machine 77 is an interpreter that translates an applet described in Java language, converts the translated applet into a machine language of a CPU that implements the virtual machine 77, and sequentially executes the machine language. In addition, the virtual machine 77 transmits the applet B to the public server unit 78 when another applet β is required at the time of execution of a certain applet α, such as when a certain applet includes a reference instruction of another applet.
To obtain the applet β. If the applet once obtained by the virtual machine 77 is stored, reading the applet eliminates the need to obtain the same applet again, so that the transmission time of the applet can be reduced.

Further, another applet β can be executed in place of the currently executed applet α by executing a control syntax in the applet α, calling a function, or transmitting a message to an object. As described above, the virtual machine 77 can receive applets from the public server unit 78 as needed, and can operate each applet in cooperation.

On the other hand, all the operations that may be executed when the virtual machine 77 edits the screen data in the screen data memory 75 are described in any of the files stored in the applet memory 76. Here, among the operations that may be executed when editing, the display operation of the screen data includes, for example, obtaining the screen data stored in the screen data memory 75 by instructing the public server unit 78 or the like. And an operation of displaying an icon indicating the tag in the display coordinate range (X, Y) of the tag on the screen of the input / output unit 74 for each tag included in the screen data. The file storing the applet may be divided for each tag type, or the operations related to a plurality of tag types may be stored together in one file.

The editing operation includes, for example, an operation of displaying a palette of icons corresponding to the tag type on the input / output unit 74 and an operation of selecting an icon in the palette by the input / output unit 74. The operation includes an operation of arranging the icon on the screen of the output unit 74 or an operation of changing the display position of the icon according to a drag and drop operation of the icon by the input / output unit 74. Further, the operation includes prompting the user to input a device address related to the input tag or the display tag, and changing the device address related to each tag according to the input result. The editing result may be stored in the memory of the virtual machine 77, for example, as a field value of the object, or may be transmitted to the public server unit 78 by, for example, transmitting the editing result to the public server unit 78 each time editing is performed. 78 may be stored in the memory.

Further, the screen data updating operation may be, for example, an operation of sending a screen data correction instruction to the public server unit 78 according to the editing result, or generating the screen data according to the editing result. Alternatively, the operation may be an operation of instructing the public server unit 78 to replace the screen data in the screen data memory 75. In any case, the public server unit 78 sends the screen data memory 7
5 can be updated.

When the applet according to this embodiment is executed by the virtual machine 77, the user arranges icons indicating tags at desired positions on the screen and associates each icon with the address of the device. Just
Screen data can be created. Therefore, the display and operation of each programmable display 5 can be determined (changed) more easily than when the display program of the programmable display 5 is modified, and the user of the control system 1 (the control host computer 7 or the client device) can be determined. 9) can match the actual situation of the target system 2, the proficiency of the operator of the programmable display 5, or the user's preference.

The public server unit 78 is, for example, a WWW server (HTTP server). The public server unit 78 is not only a virtual machine 77 in the control host computer 7 but also a client device via a communication path such as the Internet 8. 9 and can transmit the applet in the applet memory 76 to the virtual machine 91 of the client device 9.

On the other hand, the client device 9 includes, in addition to the virtual machine 91, a browser 92 realized by, for example, general-purpose browser software. The browser 92 communicates with a device connected to the Internet 8. The virtual machine 91 can execute the received applet. In addition, the browser 92
For example, a document such as an HTML document can be received from a server device using the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol and can be viewed. Note that the virtual machine 91 corresponds to a translation unit and a download unit described in the claims.

In the above configuration, in step 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as S1) shown in FIG. 7, while the control system 1 is operating, the browser 92 of the client device 9
When the user accesses the public server unit 78 of the control host computer 7 via the Internet 8 and requests editing of screen data of a certain programmable display device 5, the public server unit 78 receives the request from the client device 9 in S2. Confirm that the identification number and password are a predetermined combination,
It authenticates whether or not the editing of the screen data is permitted to the client device 9 or a user thereof, and rejects access from the client device 9 that is not permitted.

If the authentication is successful, in S3, the public server unit 78 executes, for example, a URI (Universal Resource Identifier).
screen data requested by the client device 9 on the basis of the CGI (Common Gat).
eway Interface) and BGI (Binary Gateway Interface)
According to a procedure such as e), an applet for displaying / editing the designated screen data is read from the applet memory 76 and transmitted to the client device 9 via the Internet 8. Further, the browser 92 causes the virtual machine 91 to execute the applet.

On the other hand, when the virtual machine 91 of the client device 9 executes the applet, the screen corresponding to the screen data is input and output by the client device 9 in the same manner as when the virtual machine 77 of the control host computer 7 executes the applet. The data is displayed on the display screen of the input / output unit 93, and the screen data is edited in response to an input from an input unit such as a mouse or a keyboard of the input / output unit 93. Here, the virtual machine 91 does not download an unnecessary applet such as an applet for displaying a tag that is not included in the screen data to be edited, and when a new applet is needed, the virtual machine 91 again executes the processing of S3. Then, it communicates with the public server unit 78 to acquire an applet. As a result, the control host computer 7 and the client device 9
The amount of data transmitted between and is significantly reduced as compared with a case where all applets are transmitted or a case where all editing programs created for screen data are transmitted. In addition,
Similarly to the virtual machine 77, the virtual machine 91 caches the applet and, when the same applet is needed, refers to the cache.
The amount of transmitted data can be reduced.

Here, the virtual machine 91 of the client device 9 communicates with the public server unit 78 via the Internet 8 whose data transmission speed is lower than that in the control host computer 7, so that it is necessary for downloading. The time is longer than that of the virtual machine 77 in the control host computer 7 even if the amount of data is the same,
The response time to the user is prolonged. Therefore, if unnecessary download of an applet or retransmission of the same applet is prevented to reduce the amount of data transmission, a response time is shortened, and a more convenient screen data editing system can be realized.

When the editing is completed, the virtual machine 91
Is the virtual machine 7 of the control host computer 7
Similarly to 7, the public server unit 78 is instructed to update the screen data (S5), and the public server unit 78 updates the screen data in the screen data memory 75 according to the instruction (S6).
The updated screen data is delivered to the programmable display 5 in S7, and the programmable display 5 starts displaying according to the screen data in S8.

As described above, in the control system 1 according to the present embodiment, the applet memory 76 stores the applet group for editing the screen data stored in the screen data memory 75 of the control host computer 7, The public server unit 78 distributes the applet via the Internet 8. As a result, even when the screen data editing program is not installed in the client device 9 in advance or is located at a remote location, the client device 9 operates in the same manner as the control host computer 7. Can be edited. As a result, installation labor, time and cost can be reduced.

Even if the version of the editing applet is upgraded, it is only necessary to update the applet in the applet memory 76, and there is no need to distribute a new version of the editing program to each client device 9. As a result, the time and effort for upgrading can be greatly reduced.

The applet is an applet for editing screen data stored in the screen data memory 75 of the control host computer 7. The screen data in the screen data memory 75 is updated in accordance with the editing result. You. As a result, the screen data management program and the screen data are prepared in each client device 9, and the management of the screen data becomes easier as compared with the case where each of the client devices 9 independently edits the screen data.

In addition, the screen data is transmitted to the client device 9.
Instead, it is stored in the control host computer 7, so that the storage capacity required for the client device 9 can be reduced.
The client device 9 can be realized even with a client device (Thin Client) having a smaller computing capacity and a smaller storage capacity than the control host computer 7.

While the virtual machine 91 of the client device 9 is editing screen data, the virtual machine 77 of the control host computer 7 or the virtual machine 91 of another client device 9 edits the same screen data. As in the case, if a plurality of screen data are to be edited at the same time, the result of editing by at least one virtual machine 77 (91) is not reflected on the screen data in the screen data memory 75. Therefore, for example, when the applet executed on the virtual machine 91 or the like starts editing the screen data, the public server 7
8 and starts editing after confirming that the other person has not edited the screen data to be edited, and notifies the public server unit 78 that the other person does not edit the screen data. For example, it is preferable to control not to edit the screen data at the same time. In this case, the applet updating the screen data and updating the screen data communicates with the public server unit 78 to notify that the editing of the screen data has been completed, that is, that another person may edit the screen data. I do.

Further, since the control host computer 7 and the client device 9 communicate with each other via the Internet 8, even if both are installed separately, the nearest Internet service provider ( If a public line is connected to ISP), mutual communication becomes possible. Therefore, the communication fee can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the mutual connection is made via a circuit-switched public telephone line.

In addition, since communication is performed via the Internet 8, the client device 9 and the system including the control host computer 7, the programmable display 5 and the PLC 3 may be installed in different countries. However, the user of the client device 9 can edit the screen data without any trouble as in the case of operating the control host computer 7. Here, the optimal screen is
Because it depends on the taste and proficiency, it cannot be determined uniquely and is often changed relatively frequently. However, in the present embodiment, even when the user of the client device 9 is in a different country from the system, the client device 9 generates appropriate screen data in response to a request from an operator of the system, Can support operators. Therefore,
Even if the operator does not create the screen data, these requests can be flexibly responded without arranging many support personnel near the system. As a result, it is possible to keep the screen data in an optimal state, although the time for support can be reduced.

In the above description, the case where the control display device is the programmable display device 5, that is, the case where the screen data is composed of a combination of tags has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the screen data specifies the control / display operation by the control display device, the same effect can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, the control host computer 7 communicates with the programmable display 5 to
Although the screen data of the programmable display device 5 is updated, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control host computer 7 can update the PL data as in the conventional control system shown in FIG.
Screen data may be transmitted to the programmable display 5 via C3.

In this case, however, since the control host computer 7 needs to communicate with the PLC 3 using a dedicated protocol unique to the model of the PLC 3, a communication program for the control host computer 7 is created. It takes time and effort.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the programmable display device 5 which is indispensable for the control system 1 and has more computing capacity and storage capacity than the PLC 3 performs protocol conversion, the control host computer 7 Is a PLC
Regardless of the model, you can communicate using a common protocol.
The time required for creating the communication program can be greatly reduced. Note that, even though the programmable display 5 is connected as shown in FIG. 11, it is necessary to communicate with the PLC 3 using a dedicated protocol. Therefore, the programmable display 5 is connected to the control host computer 7 and the PLC.
3 does not increase the trouble of creating a communication protocol for the programmable display 5.

Specifically, in the control system 1 according to the present embodiment, if the display contents or the control contents are the same, the PL
Regardless of the model of C3, a protocol (common protocol) for transmission on the network 6 is defined so that the data strings 61 (see FIG. 9) transmitted on the network 6 at the time of display / control are the same. The programmable display 5 arranged at the center of the communication mutually converts the dedicated protocol specified for each PLC 3 model and the common protocol, and connects the PLC 3 connected to itself with the control host computer 7. Or another programmable display 5
Relays communication with Thus, even when the PLCs 3 connected to the programmable displays 5 employ different dedicated protocols, the programmable displays 5 and the control host computer 7 can communicate with each other using the common protocol.

The target system 2 is, for example, a device to be controlled, such as a valve or a motor, which operates in accordance with an instruction, or a flow sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like.
The target system 2 includes a device 21 such as a sensor for detecting the state of each unit. The PLC 3 controls each device 21 according to a control program stored in advance while communicating with each device 21. Note that the control program is, for example, a control host computer 7.
Is transmitted to each PLC 3 by distributing via the programmable display 5 or the like.

Here, the PLC 3 has been developed from a sequencer. For example, not only the control program differs for each PLC 3 model, such as for each manufacturing company or each product type, but also for each PLC 3 model. Many have a dedicated protocol. Therefore, PLC3 is
Programmable display 5 via serial cable 4
The PLC 3 communicates with the programmable display 5 using a communication protocol that allows the PLC 3 to communicate.

In the above dedicated protocol, when data reading is instructed, as shown in FIG. 8, the control code (ES) indicating that the code transmitted next is an instruction.
C), a command code (RD) for instructing the PLC 3 to read data, and a read start address (X000).
A data string 41 including 1), a read size (5), and a control code (RET) indicating the end of transmission is transmitted. However, among the PLCs 3, the command system including the command code includes, of course, the order of the addresses and sizes, the control codes themselves, or the expression format for expressing the addresses and sizes (the bit width for indicating numerical values). And code types used to indicate characters) are often different from each other.

On the other hand, the network 6 according to the present embodiment
Is a LAN (Local Area Network) such as Ethernet (trademark: Xerox Corporation), for example.
The programmable displays 5 and the control host computer 7 communicate with each other using the TCP / IP protocol.
Thus, for example, even when a control host computer (not shown) used by a developer of the control system 1 is connected via a telephone line from a location different from the operating company of the control system 1, Any communication device that can communicate using TCP / IP can freely participate in the network 6 without hindering data transmission between other communication devices.
In the TCP / IP protocol, when transmitting the data string 61, each module such as the TCP module and the IP module adds a transmission header. Data string 6
"1" is replaced with "the upper layer is TC
This is used to mean "a data string to be transmitted to a higher layer by a TCP module on the receiving side, which requests transmission to the P module."

In the present embodiment, in the common protocol defined for transmission on the network 6, the data string 61 is, for example, as shown in FIG. It includes identification data 62 for identifying a program or the like, and a data body 63. Further, as display / control data, for example, a data body 63r for transmitting a command to instruct data reading to the PLC 3 includes a common code 64 indicating the content of the command.
And a read start address 65a and a read size 65b as related information 65 attached to the common code 64. Further, the data body 63w at the time of instructing the data writing includes, as the related information 65,
Write start address 65c and write data 65
d.

The common code 64 includes, among instructions that can be understood by each PLC 3, instructions having the same contents as each other.
The codes are unified regardless of the command code of LC3. Further, for example, the order in which the data in the related information 65 is transmitted, such as the read start address 65a and the read size 65b, and the expression format at the time of transmission are unified irrespective of the PLC3 model. Thereby, in the common protocol, the command to be executed can be uniquely specified regardless of the PLC 3 connected to the programmable display device 5, and the data sequence 61 transmitted through the network 6 at the time of display / control is the display content. Or if the control contents are the same,
Regardless of the model of the PLC 3, the same data string is obtained.

Here, as described above, the PLC-side communication processing unit 5 shown in FIG.
1. A network-side communication processing unit 52 and a protocol conversion unit 53 are provided. When the dedicated protocol and the common protocol are different from each other, the protocol conversion unit 53 converts the two protocols into each other. Thereby, the programmable display 5 relays the communication according to the dedicated protocol and the communication according to the common protocol as necessary, and connects the P connected to itself or another programmable display 5.
The status of the LC 3 can be displayed on the screen, and an instruction to each PLC 3 can be output according to the operation of the operator.

The protocol conversion section 53 includes a data transfer format FMT indicating the format of the data stream 41 transmitted by the dedicated protocol, a command code in the dedicated protocol, and A command conversion table TBL indicating the correspondence with the common code is stored.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the data transfer format FMT includes, for example, actual data such as data contents to be read / written, data size, or addresses to be read / written in the data string 41. Is a skeleton-like data string with the part that changes depending on the data content transmitted to the undefined part, and the undefined part is
Only uses are defined. If the command code area is undefined, if the data transfer format FMT extracted from the data string to be actually transmitted becomes common among a plurality of commands, the command code area is also undefined. The data transfer format may be shared between these instructions.

The command conversion table TBL includes:
As shown in FIG. 10, the correspondence between the common code 64 and the command code of the PLC 3 connected to the serial cable 4 is stored, and the protocol conversion unit 56 can convert one code into the other code. .

The combination of the data transfer format FMT and the command conversion table TBL is set according to the communication protocol of the PLC 3 before the programmable display 5 and the PLC 3 communicate data relating to display / control. PL adopted
When C3 is connected, the protocol information is switched. For example, when changing from the PLC 3 of the model A to the model B, the command conversion table TBLa shown in FIG. 10 is switched to the command conversion table TBLb.

The communication protocol may be selected by the user by operating the control host computer 7 or the programmable display 5, for example. Further, the programmable display 5 sends out a command capable of specifying the communication protocol of the PLC 3 to the PLC 3 while sequentially selecting the communication protocols that the programmable display 5 itself can send, and automatically determines the communication protocol based on a response code from the PLC 3. May be. Further, the programmable display device 5 may store the above protocol information for all communication protocols adopted by the PLC 3 connectable to itself,
Only the communication protocol of the currently connected PLC 3 may be stored, and may be downloaded from the control host computer 7 or via a recording medium by various methods as necessary.

As described above, by generating the data string 41 to be transferred to and from the PLC 3 in real time during the operation of the control system 1, the programmable display 5 can ask where the input data has come from. No, PL
The data can be transferred to C3, and even if the PLC 3 is changed, the control system 1 can respond immediately without stopping.

Here, the programmable display 5 is an essential component of the control system 1. In recent years, in order to display a high-resolution image, the programmable display 5 has a storage capacity of, for example, about several megabytes, and It has a sufficient calculation speed. Therefore, the programmable display device 5 can perform the protocol conversion with sufficient margin. Further, a PL is provided between the programmable display 5 and the control host computer 7.
Since C3 is not interposed, PLC3 can concentrate on controlling the target system 2. Therefore, by connecting each PLC 503 to each other and connecting the programmable display 505 to each PLC 503, the PLC 503 processes most of the communication in the control system 501, compared to the conventional configuration shown in FIG. , The storage capacity and processing capacity of the PLC can be reduced. As an example of the processing with a large communication amount, there is a processing of downloading screen data from the control host computer 7 to the programmable display 5 when converting a product manufactured by the target system 2 or the like. However, in the control system 1 according to the present embodiment, since the screen data does not pass through the PLC 3, even when downloading the screen data, the PLC 3 can continue to operate normally with a small load.

Further, irrespective of the type of the PLC 3, communication between each programmable display 5 and the control host computer 7 is performed by a common protocol. Therefore, a plurality of types of PLCs 3 can be mixed in the same control system 1, and the range of model selection can be widened. Further, as in a conventional control system 501 shown in FIG.
In order to mix the PLCs 503a having different communication protocols, the control system 501 is divided into sub-networks having different communication protocols and the converter 510 is arranged between the sub-networks. The communication protocol is common. Therefore, for example, devices connected to the network 6 such as hubs, bridges, and routers can be freely diverted, and the degree of freedom regarding the arrangement of these devices and the PLC 3 can be improved. In addition, since the converter 510 is unnecessary, the manufacturing cost of the entire control system 1 can be reduced.

In addition, the control system 1 according to the present embodiment
Then, the programmable display 5 which is indispensable to the control system 1 performs protocol conversion, so that devices such as the programmable display 5 and the control host computer 7 connected to the network 6 can use the common protocol regardless of the PLC 3 model. Can communicate with each other. Therefore, the common protocol IF unit 72 and the server unit 73 of the control host computer 7 can communicate with each programmable display 5 or communicate with the PLC 3 via the programmable display 5 only by communicating with the common protocol.

More specifically, the server unit 73 identifies a data transmission destination (IP address) such as a write request or a read request based on the device address. It transmits to the above-mentioned IP address by a common protocol. On the other hand, if the device address is determined to be PLC3, the server unit 73 determines that the programmable display 5 to which the PLC3 is connected
The data is transmitted to the P address. The correspondence between each programmable display 5 and the IP address may be specified, for example, by the user of the control host computer 7 or by the control host computer 7 when each programmable display 5 is connected to the network 6. Is vacant I
It is determined by assigning a P address and stored in a storage area (not shown) of the server unit 73. For example, when the device address of each programmable display 5 and the device address of the PLC 3 connected to the programmable display 5 are determined for each programmable display 5, for example, the control host computer 7 executes the programmable display. The correspondence table stored in the display unit 5 is read out, and when the correspondence table can be set from the control host computer 7, the correspondence table is distributed to the programmable display unit 5 to determine the correspondence table.
Therefore, the server unit 73 of the control host computer 7 can determine the IP address to which the read request or the write request is transmitted by referring to the correspondence table of the device addresses and the correspondence table of the IP addresses.

The above members 51 to 55, 71 to 78
And 91 to 93 are those in which arithmetic means such as a CPU is a ROM
And a functional block realized by executing a program stored in a storage unit such as a RAM or the like, and controlling an input / output unit such as a touch panel or a liquid crystal display device, or a communication circuit such as an interface circuit. Therefore, the computer having these means simply reads a recording medium (for example, a CD-ROM or the like) on which the above program is recorded, and executes the program, so that the programmable display 5 according to the present embodiment, the control host computer 7 and the client device 9 can be realized. In particular, the virtual machine 91 of the client device 9
And the browser 92 can be realized by general-purpose browser software preinstalled in many computers,
Moreover, most computers have an input / output unit 93. Therefore, these computers can operate as the client device 9 without installing a special program. For example, the serial cable 4, the network 6, the Internet 8, or
If a program for downloading a program via another communication path is installed in the computer in advance, the program can be distributed to the computer via the communication path.

[0071]

As described above, the control server device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the translation means for executing the applet, the input / output means, and the download means for downloading the file necessary for executing the applet. The terminal-side communication means capable of communicating with the terminal device having the terminal-side communication means cooperate with each other, so that the translation means communicates with the terminal-side communication means to input the screen corresponding to the screen data in the screen data storage means. An operation to be displayed on the output unit, an operation to edit the screen data according to the input to the input / output unit, and an instruction to update the screen data in the screen data storage unit to the terminal-side communication unit according to the editing result. The applet group for performing the operation is stored in a file in each of the applet storage means, and the download means is transmitted to the download means via the terminal-side communication means. Transmits the file applet is stored, based on the screen data update instruction from said translation means, a configuration in which a server means for updating the screen data of the screen data storing means.

In the above configuration, the translation unit translates and executes the applet while the download unit of the terminal device downloads necessary files. Therefore, each operation for screen data editing is performed. Therefore, if the terminal device is provided with a general-purpose translation means, even if the screen data editing program is not installed in the terminal device in advance, without transmitting too much data, the user of the terminal device, There is an effect that the screen data can be edited while looking at the screen indicated by the screen data.

Since the screen data to be updated is screen data in the control server device, unlike the case where individual terminal devices create screen data and upload it, the screen data is centralized by the control server device. Can manage.
As a result, there is an effect that the trouble of managing the screen data update can be reduced.

As described above, the control server device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the same as the first aspect, except that the control server device further comprises an authentication unit for authenticating the terminal device or a user of the terminal device. It is.

In the above configuration, when editing of screen data is requested from the terminal device, the authentication means of the control server device authenticates the terminal device or the user of the terminal device, and the access from the terminal device whose authentication has failed. Reject. As a result, there is an effect that a safe control system can be realized, although the screen data can be edited from a remote place.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the terminal-side communication means communicates with the terminal device via the Internet. It is a configuration to do.

In the above configuration, since the terminal side communication means communicates with the terminal device via the Internet, it is less expensive than when communicating over a circuit-switched public telephone line. Without disposing them near the control display device, the control system can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a control system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between screen data and a display screen in the control system, and is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a switch is in an OFF state.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of a tag included in the screen data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of a display tag among the tags.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data structure of an input tag among the tags.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between screen data and a display screen in the control system, and showing a case where a switch is turned ON.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control system.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data transfer format used in a dedicated protocol in the control system.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data transfer format used in a common protocol in the control system.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conversion table used when the programmable display device mutually converts between a dedicated protocol and a common protocol.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a conventional technique and showing a main configuration of a control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 control system 5 programmable display (control display device) 7 control host computer (control server device) 8 Internet 9 client device (terminal device) 21 device 75 screen data memory (screen data storage means) 76 applet memory (applet) Storage means) 78 public server unit (terminal-side communication means; server means;
Authentication means) 91 virtual machine (translation means; download means) 93 input / output unit (input / output means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kentaro Iekkoya 8-2-252 Nanko-Higashi, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi Digital Co., Ltd. -2-52 Digital Co., Ltd. F-term (reference)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A control system provided with a control display device for controlling or displaying the state of a device by acquiring or changing the state of a device based on the screen data, and storing the screen data. A control server device having a screen data storage means, a translation means for translating an applet consisting of a predetermined procedure so as to be independent of a model into a machine language for its own device, an input / output controllable by the translation means Means, and a terminal-side communication means capable of communicating with a terminal device having a download means for downloading a file determined to be necessary when the translation means executes the applet. Communicates with the terminal-side communication means and displays a screen corresponding to the screen data of the screen data storage Means for displaying the data on the screen, editing the screen data in response to the input to the input / output means, and instructing the terminal-side communication means to update the screen data in the screen data storage means in accordance with the editing result. Applet storage means for storing each applet group in a file, and transmitting the file in which the applet is stored to the download means via the terminal-side communication means, and the screen data from the translation means. A control means for updating the screen data in the screen data storage means based on an update instruction. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit for authenticating the terminal device or a user of the terminal device.
The control server device described in the above. 3. The control server device according to claim 1, wherein said terminal-side communication means communicates with said terminal device via the Internet.