JPH03218146A - Communication program development device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate newly and revise a communication program, to generate a specification sheet automatically and to improve the efficiency of development of the communication program by having only to input a message or a parameter through the provision of a specification design section and a specification sheet generating section in the inside of the device. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a specification design means 11 designing a message specification, an input/output specification and a parameter specification or the like required for communication program generation, a storage section 12 storing each design specification information, and a means 14 selecting a basic program corresponding to each specification of design specification information stored in a basic program storage section 13 and generating the communication program. Then a generation communication program storage section 15 storing the communication program and a specification sheet generating means 16 generating at least a message specification sheet and a program specification sheet from each design specification information and the communication program are provided. When a message or a parameter to be revised is inputted, the message specification, the input/output specification and the parameter specification are decided and the communication program is automatically generated or revised.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a communication program development device that generates a communication program for controlling message transmission, input/output, etc. between electronic devices, and particularly relates to a communication This invention relates to a communication program development device that can create not only programs but also specifications, thereby improving program development efficiency.

(Prior Art) For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation of each manufacturing apparatus 1 installed in a factory or the like is generally constantly monitored and controlled by a manufacturing control computer 2. Further, the manufacturing management computer 2 transmits the monitoring and management results to an external host computer 3 if necessary.

In such a system, various messages 4 such as processing start/end, processing conditions, equipment alarms, etc. are transmitted between the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing control computer 2. These messages are transmitted while being incorporated into a message message 5 of a specified length that conforms to the standard proposed by, for example, sEb1x (American Semiconductor Materials Standards Committee). However, the types and number of messages 4 to be transmitted are frequently changed depending on the specifications and capabilities of the manufacturing apparatus 1.

In addition, in data transmission between the manufacturing equipment 1 and the manufacturing control computer 2, various communication parameters such as processing delay time and the number of retries when the line is in use must be changed as necessary. .

As described above, since it is necessary to frequently change the communication program that controls communication between the manufacturing equipment and the manufacturing control computer 2, a communication program development device 6 as shown in FIG. 3 is generally proposed. .

That is, when creating a new communication program or changing a current communication program, the operator, before operating the communication program development device 6, consults, for example, the communication message specification or program design specification of manufacturing equipment N1. Create. When each specification is completed, program creation using the communication program development device 6 is started.

That is, while looking at the CRT device 7, the operator gives instructions for changes using, for example, a keyboard or the like, according to the description in the previously prepared specifications. Then, the communication program development device 6 creates a new communication program or changes the current communication program according to instructions from the CRT device 7.

Once a new communication program is obtained, it is sufficient to record it once on, for example, a floppy disk 8, and then write it into the manufacturing apparatus 1 and the manufacturing management computer 2.

However, the communication program development apparatus as described above still has the following problems.

That is, as described above, when creating a new communication program or changing a current communication program, it is necessary to create a specification sheet. Then, the communication program is modified in accordance with the specifications that have been created in principle.

However, creating or changing this specification is extremely troublesome work for the operator.

In addition, if you notice an error in the previously created specifications while operating the communication program development device 6, or if you notice further improvements, you can first make changes or improvements to the communication program and update the specifications. There are many cases where there is a delay in making changes to match the communication program, or there are cases where people simply forget to make the changes.

As a result, there is a concern that the actual communication program and the contents of the specifications do not match.

Furthermore, if different operators change the communication program, the format of the specifications cannot be unified, making it extremely difficult for people who read the specifications later to read the specifications.

Furthermore, for people who are not familiar with creating and changing communication programs, it is extremely difficult to create specifications for changes and then change the actual communication program in accordance with these specifications.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) As described above, in the conventional communication program development device,
When a new request or a change request arises, the specifications are created and then the actual program changes are made, which makes the change process very complicated and makes it difficult to match the contents of the actual communication program and the specifications. There is also a concern that the numbers may not match.

By providing a specification design section and a specification creation section inside the device, the present invention allows a new communication program to be created or changed simply by inputting a message or parameter. Corresponding specifications can be automatically created, even when creating communication programs. To provide a communication program development device which allows even a person who is not familiar with changes to easily create and change a communication program and greatly improves communication program development work efficiency.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention generates a communication program that controls message transmission, human power/output control, and various communication parameters between electronic devices. The communication program development device includes a specification design means for designing various specifications such as message specifications, input/output specifications, parameter specifications, etc. required for communication program generation, and each design specification information designed by this specification design means. A communication program that selects a basic program corresponding to each specification of the design specification information stored in the design specification information storage unit and the basic program storage unit to be stored, and generates a communication program using the selected basic program. a generation means, a generated communication program storage unit that stores the communication program generated by the communication program generation unit, each piece of design specification information stored in the design specification information storage unit, and a generated communication program storage unit that stores the communication program generated by the communication program generation unit; and a specification creation means for creating at least a message specification and a program specification from a communication program.

(Function) With this configuration, for example, when a message or parameter to be changed is input, message design specifications, parameter design specifications, and input/output design specifications are determined.
Communication programs are automatically created and modified based on these design specifications.

Then, specifications corresponding to the new communication program are automatically created.

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication program development apparatus according to an embodiment. This communication program development device is roughly divided into a specification design section 11 that designs various specifications such as message specifications, input/output specifications, and parameter specifications necessary for communication program generation; A basic program for creating a communication program corresponding to each specification of the design specification information stored in the design specification information storage unit 12 that stores each design specification information and the basic program storage unit 13 is selected, and this selected basic program is selected. A communication program generation unit 14 that generates a communication program using a basic program, a generated communication program storage unit 15 that stores the communication program generated by the communication program generation means 14, and a design specification information storage unit 12 that stores the communication program. The communication program includes a specification creation section 16 that creates each specification from each piece of design specification information and the communication program stored in the generated communication program storage section 15.

Further, the specification design section 11 to which the data terminal 17 consisting of the CRT display 17a and the keyboard 17b is connected includes a communication message specification design section 11a, a program manual/
An output specification design section 1lb and a parameter specification design section 11C are incorporated.

Further, the specification creation section 16 includes a communication message specification creation section 16a and a program specification creation section 16b. Further, a printer 18 is connected to the specification creation section 16 for printing out each of the created specifications.

Further, the generated communication program storage section 15 is connected to an object program storage section 20 that stores a communication program generated through a compiler 19 that translates the stored communication program into machine language.

Next, the operation of the communication program development apparatus configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the flowchart starts, in step S1, communication message input operation guidance is displayed on the CRT display 17a of the data terminal 17. When the operator manually enters a change or new message at 82 from the keyboard 17b,
The communication message specification design unit 11a decodes the message input in S3. If the message is a message that occurs due to an event change in the equipment (electronic equipment) and indicates the start/end of processing or a failure of the manufacturing equipment, the message specifications for communicating with a higher-level computer such as a manufacturing control computer Design the message format (message format). Then, in S4, the message design specification information designed in this way is temporarily stored in the design specification information I12 storage section 12.

Next, in S5, the program human power/output specification design department 1l
b determines the input/output specifications of the communication program to be created based on the previously input communication message. The determined input/output design specification information is stored in the design specification information storage section 12 in S6.

Next, in S7, the CRT display 17a of the data terminal 17
Displays parameter setting operation guide.

In S8, parameters such as the processing delay time and the number of retries when the line between the manufacturing equipment and the manufacturing control computer is in use, which are given to the communication program to be created, are entered on the keyboard of the data terminal 17. 17b
When inputted manually, the parameter specification design section 11c stores the input parameters in the design specification information storage section 12 as parameter design specification information.

When the required design specification information is stored in the design specification information storage unit 12, the communication program generation unit 1 is stored in the SIO.
4 selects a predetermined basic program corresponding to, for example, a message design specification stored in the design specification information storage unit 12 from among the plurality of types of basic programs stored in the basic program storage unit 13. Then, in S12, the corresponding basic program is read from the basic program storage section 13.

Then, in step 512, a new communication program is created and the current communication program is changed or added in accordance with the instruction to change the basic program using each piece of design specification information in the design specification information storage section 12, and a new communication program is created. generate. The communication program generated in step 313 is temporarily stored in the generated communication program storage section 15.

Next, in S14, the communication message specification creation unit 16a of the specification creation unit 16 creates a communication message specification in a predetermined format based on the content of the message design specification information stored in the design specification information storage unit 12. do. On the other hand, the program specification creation unit 16b includes the design specification information unit 12
A communication program specification is created in a predetermined format using the message design specification information, program manual/output design specification information, and parameter design specification information of , and the communication program in the generated communication program storage section 15.

In addition, each created specification sheet can be printed on the printer 1 as needed.
It is printed out at 8.

Furthermore, the generated communication program is stored in the object program storage section 20 of the target manufacturing apparatus via the compiler 19.

With the communication program development device configured in this way, the communication program for communicating various data between the manufacturing equipment and the manufacturing control computer may be affected by changes or additions to messages, parameters, etc. When it becomes necessary to change or create a new communication program, the operator only needs to input the changed or added messages and parameters. Then, message design specifications, parameter design specifications, and accompanying eight force/output design specifications are automatically determined, and a communication program is automatically generated based on each of the determined specifications. Furthermore, each specification is also created dynamically.

Therefore, even a person (a skilled programmer) who is not well versed in everything from designing communication message specifications to creating communication programs and creating each specification can create, change, and add communication programs in a short time without errors. Therefore, the efficiency of communication program development work is greatly improved.

Furthermore, when a series of communication program creation and modification tasks are completed, the communication message specification and communication program specification, which contain specifications that match the final communication program, are automatically obtained, making it easy for the operator to eliminates the need to create each specification. Therefore, the work efficiency of creating and changing communication programs is further improved.

Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the final communication program and the specifications do not match, which is the case with conventional devices. Therefore, a third party can use the specifications with peace of mind, and the reliability of the entire program development apparatus can be greatly improved.

Furthermore, since the format of the specifications is completely unified, the specifications can be made very easy to read.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the communication program development device of the present invention, a specification design section and a specification creation section are provided inside the device, and a new communication program can be developed simply by inputting messages and parameters, for example. Specifications that are created or changed and that correspond to new communication programs can be automatically created. Therefore, even if a person is inexperienced in creating and changing communication programs, he or she can easily create and change communication programs, and the efficiency of communication program development work can be greatly improved.

Furthermore, since the contents of the communication program and the specifications are always matched, the reliability of the entire program development apparatus can be greatly improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication program development device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the device, and FIG. 3 is a general communication program development device and its FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a manufacturing apparatus using a 11... Specification design section, 12... Design specification information storage section, 13... Basic program storage section, 14... Communication program generation section, 15... Generated communication program storage section, 16...・Specification document creation department, 17...Data terminal, 18...Printer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A communication program development device that generates a communication program that controls message transmission, input/output control, and various communication parameters between electronic devices, including message specifications and input/output necessary for generating the communication program. A specification design means for designing various specifications such as output specifications and parameter specifications, a design specification information storage section for storing each design specification information designed by this specification design means, and a basic program storage section. communication program generation means for selecting a basic program corresponding to each specification of the design specification information and generating a communication program using the selected basic program; and a communication program generated by the communication program generation means. Creating at least a message specification and a program specification from a generated communication program storage unit to be stored, each design specification information stored in the design specification information storage unit, and a communication program stored in the generated communication program storage unit. A communication program development device comprising a specification creation means for