JPH03113506A - Program control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily add the new control information to a host controller by providing a program control mechanism into a communication controller and therefore acquiring the information on the program state, etc., via the host controller without applying no contrivance to a main controller nor performing the program control via the host controller. CONSTITUTION:When a higher controller 11 gives a request to a main controller 2 for transfer of a program, etc., a communication controller 6 describes the information necessary for a program control table out of the program to be transferred. Thus the control of the program is performed within the controller 6. Then the program control table is retrieved within the controller 6 with a request received from the controller 11 for the program information. As a result, the corresponding program information is transmitted. Thus the program control is attained to the controller 11 without remoceling the controller 2 nor providing an information control function to the controller 11.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention utilizes a program management method % type % (conventional [Technology] Figure 2 is a block diagram of a conventional programmable controller. In the figure, (1) is a programmable controller, (2) is a main control device that performs main control of the programmable controller (1), and (3) is a programmable controller. A central processing unit (4) is provided in the main control device of the controller (1) and decodes and executes instructions; (4) is a memory that is also provided in the programmable controller (1) and stores programs, data, etc.; is an external input/output interface that outputs the calculation results of the main control device to the outside and performs manual input from the outside, (6) is a communication control device for communicating with the upper control device (11), etc., and (7) is a communication A central processing unit installed in the control device ([i) that decodes and executes instructions, (8) is a memory that stores programs and transmitted/received data, and (9) is actually a host controller (11), etc. Communication interface for connecting via communication line, (1
0) is also provided in the communication control device (6) and is a 2-board memory for exchanging programs and data with the main control device (2), and (11) is for controlling the programmable controller (1). The upper control device is connected via a communication line.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of the memory (8), in which (8a) is a communication control area for temporarily storing control information for communication control and transmitted/received data.

4 and 5 are diagrams showing the contents of the two-board memory (1a), and FIG. 4 shows the contents when a program download request is made from the communication control device (6) to the main control device (2), Similarly, FIG. 5 shows the contents when a program control request such as program start/stop is made from the communication control device (6) to the main control device (2).

Next, download the program (hereinafter referred to as D) for operation.
/L) will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. 7 as an example.

First, in step 411, the communication control device 6) checks whether there is a D/L request from the higher-level control device (process 1). At this time, the D/L issued from the host controller (11)
The contents of the request are stored in the 2-boat memory (1) when making a D/L request from the communication control device (6) to the main control device (2) shown in Figure 4.
The content is the same as 0). When there is a D/L request in step 411, each information of the D/L request code, program No. 1, first step No. 0, number of steps, and D/L program is stored in the 2-board memory (10) according to the contents shown in FIG. is set, and a D/L request is made to the main controller (2) (step 412).

On the other hand, the main controller (2) checks in step 301 whether there is a D/L request from the communication controller (6), and if there is a D/L request, it is set in the 2-board memory (10) in step 302. Transfers the program to the actual program storage area according to the request. When the transfer is completed, the main control device (2) notifies the communication control device (6) of the completion (step 303).

Communication control device (6) waiting for completion in step 413
At the time of receiving the completion from the main control device (2), in step 414, it notifies the higher-level control device (11) of completion.

Similarly, when starting/stopping a program, a request code representing a request for starting/stopping as shown in Fig. 5 is used.
The number of the target program is sent to the upper control device (11)
This is done by setting the contents from the communication control device (6) in the two-board memory (10) and requesting the main control device (2).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, conventional programmable controllers do not have a means to manage program information downloaded to the main control device or to transfer management information to the communication control device.
If program management information is required in a higher-level control device, it is necessary to provide program information management means and program information transfer means in the main control device or higher-level control device. There was a problem in that the hardware configuration and software configuration of the control device had to be modified.

This invention was made to solve the above problems, and allows program management to be performed between the host controller and the host controller without modifying the main controller or providing an information management function to the host controller. The purpose is to obtain a program management method that can be performed using

(Means for Solving the Problems) A program management system according to the present invention includes a main controller that performs control operations according to a program transferred and stored from a higher-level controller, and a program management system between the main controller and the higher-level controller. Equipped with a programmable controller consisting of a communication control device that performs transfer control, and the communication control device has a memory for transferring programs from the host control device to the main control device, and program information for managing each transfer program for each program. The system is provided with a program management table stored in the host controller, and a program information transmitting means for searching and transmitting the corresponding program information from the program management table in accordance with a program information request from a host control device.

[Effect]

In this invention, when a program transfer request is issued from a higher-level control device to a main control device, the communication control device transfers the program by setting the necessary information in the program management table from the program. Management is performed, and in response to a program information request from a higher-level control device, the communication control device transmits the corresponding program information by searching a program management table.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The groove structure of the programmable controller is similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operations of the main control device and the communication control device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of the memory of the communication control device.

In Fig. 3, (8a) is the communication control area m where control information for communication control and temporary storage of transmitted and received data is performed, and (8b) is the D/L area where program No. 61 is stored.
(8c) is an area for storing the program status;
8d) is an area for storing the number of steps of the program.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, program D/L will be explained using the flowchart of FIG. Communication control device (6) is in step 2
At 01, it is checked whether the D/L request is from the upper control device (11). At this time, the content of the D/L request issued from the host controller (11) is as shown in FIG.
) is the same as the content of the D/L request from the main controller. If there is a D/L request in step 201, the existence of the program (8b) on the memory (8) is set to "Yes", then the initial state is set to the state of the program (8C), and then the number of steps (8d) is set. The number of steps is set to (step 202). Next, in step 203, the 2-port memory (
10), set each information of the program to D/L the D/L request code, program number, and first step number according to the contents of Fig. 4, and send the D/L to the main controller (2).
Request L.

On the other hand, the main control device (2) checks whether there is a D/L request from the communication control device (6) in step 101, and performs a D/L request.
If requested, 2-port memory (10) is added in step 102.
Transfer the program to the actual program storage area according to the request set above. When the transfer is completed, the main control device (2) notifies the communication control device (6) of the completion (step 103).

Communication control device (6) waiting for completion in step 204
Upon receiving the completion from the main control device (2), sends a completion notification to the upper control device (11) (step 205).
.

Additionally, for starting/stopping a program, etc., the host controller (11) transmits a request code representing a request for starting/stopping, etc. as shown in FIG. ), this is done by changing the state of the program (8C) in the program management table, setting the contents from the host controller (11) in the 2-port memory (10), and requesting the main controller (2).

Furthermore, in response to a request for program information from the host control device (11), the communication control device (6) responds by returning the contents of the program management table in the memory (8).

In the above embodiment, the information in the program management table is only the presence or absence of the program, the state of the program, and the number of steps, but it also includes the program name uniquely assigned by the upper control device, program protection information, etc. You can manage it.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a program management mechanism in the communication control device, it is possible to monitor the program status without modifying the main control device or without performing program management in the upper control device. information can be obtained by the higher-level control device, and new management information can be easily added to the higher-level control device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the main control device and the communication control device in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the programmable controller, and FIG. 3 is a memory of the communication control device in the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of the 2-boat memory at the time of a D/L request, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of the 2-boat memory at the time of a program start/stop request, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the contents of the memory of a communication control device in a conventional programmable controller.
The figure shows a flowchart showing the operations of a main control device and a communication control device of a conventional programmable controller. (1) is a programmable controller, (2) is a main controller, (3) is a central processing unit, (4) is a memory, (6)
is a communication control unit, (7) is a central processing unit, (8) is a memory, (10) is a 2-board memory, and (11) is a host control unit. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A programmable controller comprising a main control device that performs control operations according to a stored program transferred from a higher-level control device, and a communication control device that controls transfer of programs between the main control device and the higher-level control device,
The communication control device includes a memory for program transfer from the host control device to the main control device, a program management table storing program information for each program to manage each transferred program, and a program information request from the host control device. 1. A program management method comprising program information transmitting means for searching and transmitting corresponding program information from a program management table.