JPH11282789A - Fa controller and fa controller structure information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make operation management of an FA controller and equipment structure management easy. SOLUTION: A nonvolatile memory (history-stored WOROM24) for storing an identification number and a various kinds of information is mounted upon an FA controller and, a management server on a network connected to the network of the FA controller is provided with a means (an information table transmission program 22e) for automatically transferring the identification number and a various kinds of information stored in the nonvolatile memory, when a power source of the FA controller is turned on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an FA controller (programmable logic controller, CNC, robot, etc.) used for factory automation and an FA controller configuration information management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 12 shows an example of a conventional FA controller device configuration management system. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1 denotes an FA controller installed on the user side;
0 indicates a server on the manufacturer side.

The FA controller 1 is connected to devices such as a switch 2, a motor 3, and a bar code reader 4 used by the FA controller 1 for input / output via a lower communication cable 10. Modems 5 and 51 are connected to the FA controller 1 and the server 50, respectively.
The FA controller 1 via the public line 100 using
And the server 50 on the manufacturer side perform data communication.

In order to receive maintenance support from the manufacturer, the user enters the identification number of the FA controller 1, the unique model name of the user setting, the user name, the user address, etc. in the user registration form, and mails the user registration form to the manufacturer. There is a need to.

[0005] The FA controller 1 transmits maintenance information such as the power-on time together with the identification number and the device name set by the user through communication via the public line 100 to the server 5 of the manufacturer.
Send to 0. The server 50 stores the date of manufacture of each FA controller 1 using the identification number of the FA controller 1 as a key.
A database 60 for storing device data such as version and maintenance information such as device name and power-on time transmitted from the FA controller is constructed. The maker can perform maintenance support for the FA controller 1 with reference to the device data and the maintenance information stored in the database 60 constructed in the server 50.

[0006] The maintenance information collecting system as described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-195826.
In this publication, in addition to maintenance information, the owner name,
This also indicates that customer information (user information) such as a telephone number is also transmitted by modem from the user device to the manufacturer.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-327736 discloses that a LAN (local area network) is constructed on the user side by a plurality of user terminals and one server.
The unique information such as the device name of each user terminal is transferred to the server via a LAN communication line, and the client management information including the unique information of the user terminal is transmitted from the server to the maker's host machine using a public line or the like. A user management system is shown.

[0008]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the maintenance information collecting system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6 (1999) -1994, maintenance information is periodically transmitted from a device on the user side to a manufacturer, and customer information such as an owner name and a telephone number is also transmitted by modem in addition to the maintenance information. Therefore, it is not necessary to register device configuration information by mailing a user registration form, but a modem must be provided for each user device to connect the user device to the public line. Registration to the maker server after connection is performed manually, and there has been a problem such as forgetting to connect to the maker server.

Further, in the conventional maintenance information collection system and the user management system, there is a possibility that the configuration information set by the manufacturer may be falsified on the user side. Maintenance information and user management information can no longer be obtained,
Proper maintenance cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an FA controller and an FA controller device configuration management system capable of reliably and easily implementing the configuration information management of the FA controller. The purpose is to:

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, an FA controller according to the present invention transmits an FA controller configuration information including an identification number of the FA controller and various user maintenance information to a maker server. In the FA controller used in the controller configuration information management system, a memory for storing an identification number and user maintenance information is a non-volatile memory that can be additionally written only once.

The FA controller according to the next invention is characterized in that a user maintenance information registering means for adding user maintenance information to the non-volatile memory and, if there is a change in the user maintenance information in the non-volatile memory, when the power is turned on, An information automatic transmission means for reading out the identification number and the user maintenance information from the nonvolatile memory and automatically transmitting the same.

The FA controller according to the next invention has an F
A has a non-volatile operation status storage memory for registering the operation status of the controller, the operation status storage memory includes an update flag for determining whether or not the user maintenance information in the non-volatile memory has been changed, The update flag is read when the power is turned on, and the identification number of the nonvolatile memory and the user maintenance information are automatically transmitted only when the update flag is on.

In the FA controller according to the next invention, the operation status storage memory stores data indicating the operation status of the FA controller and an operation status transmission flag, reads the operation status transmission flag when the power is turned on, and turns the transmission flag on. Only in the case of (1), the operation status data registered in the operation status storage memory is automatically transmitted.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, an FA controller configuration information management system according to the present invention comprises:
In a FA controller configuration information management system for transmitting FA controller configuration information including an FA controller identification number and various user maintenance information from a FA controller to a maker server, a plurality of FA controllers according to the invention described above; It has a user-side management host server that is communicably connected to the FA controller and automatically transmits the identification number and user maintenance information transmitted from the FA controller to the maker server via a communication line such as an ISDN or a subscriber telephone network. Then, the FA controller configuration information of the maker server is automatically updated.

The FA controller configuration information management system according to the next invention is an FA controller
A device configuration management relay server is disposed between the controller and the management host server, and performs a relay process between a unique network and a higher-level communication.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an FA controller and an FA controller configuration information management system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments of the present invention described below, the same components as those of the above-described conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described conventional example, and description thereof will be omitted.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 shows a first embodiment of an A controller management system. A plurality of FA controllers 20 are connected to an upper communication cable (LAN) 30 such as an Ethernet / intranet.
Is connected to the management host server 40 on the user side,
A two-layer CIM has been constructed.

The FA controller 20 has an identification number of its own device, a unique model name set by a user, a power-on time, an identification number of a connected device such as a switch 2, a motor 3, and a bar code reader 4 connected to its own device. User maintenance information such as a user-set device name, a user name (administrator name), a user address, and a user-set device name;
Data indicating the operation status of the A controller 20 is transmitted to the management host server 40 via the upper communication cable 30.

The management host server 40 is communicably connected to a maker's server 50 via a communication line 45 such as an ISDN, a digital private line, or a subscribed telephone network. The management host server 40 temporarily stores the user maintenance information and the operation status data transmitted from each FA controller 20 in the memory 41, and transmits the user maintenance information and the operation status data in the memory 41 to the manufacturer via the communication line 45. Is automatically transmitted to the server 50 on the regular side.

The server 50 includes the FA controller 20,
Each identification number of the connected device (2, 3, 4) is used as a key
A The device data such as the manufacturing date and version of the controller 20 and the FA transmitted from the management host server 40.
The controller 20, a database 6 for storing user maintenance information such as identification numbers of connected devices (2, 3, 4) and unique model names, and operation status data such as power-on time.
0 is constructed.

FIG. 2 shows a birdware configuration of the FA controller 20 used in the above-described FA controller management system. The FA controller 20 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21, a program ROM 22 for storing an execution program for the FA controller 20, a RAM 23 used as a working memory for storing data necessary for executing the program, and the like. History storage WOROM (WriteOnce) for storing controller identification information, manufacturing information, and user maintenance information
ROM) 24, and an operation status storage memory 25 composed of a nonvolatile memory for storing operation status data such as power-on time.
And a higher-level communication interface 26 for data communication with the management host server 40, and connected devices (2, 3, 4)
And a lower communication interface 27 for communication with

The history storage WOROM 24 is a non-volatile memory which can be additionally written only once, and its memory data configuration is shown in FIG. In the history storage WOROM 24, the controller identification information and the character code designation of the keyword (ASCII
CODE or UNCODE), a maker name (keyword 1), a manufacturing date (keyword 2), a controller type (keyword 3), and a temporary device name (keyword 4) are written in an unchangeable manner. An administrator name), a user address as a keyword 6, and a device name set by a user as a keyword 7 can be added. When the device name set by the user is written as the keyword 7, the temporary device name of the keyword 4 becomes invalid.

In this embodiment, the format of the ROM header code is a 1-byte identifier (FD: controller identifier, FD: keyword character code designation) and 15 bytes.
The keyword format is composed of a hexadecimal keyword character string byte number (01 to EF) and a keyword (arbitrary character string of the keyword byte number). The number of bytes is given "FF". Keyword character code specification is "01" as "ASC
II CODE ”and“ 02 ”can be“ UNCODE ”.

The operation status storage memory 25 stores an operation status transmission flag and a WOROM update flag for determining whether or not the contents of the history storage WOROM 24 have been updated, in addition to the data indicating the operation status of the FA controller 20. Areas are allocated. The operation status transmission flag is turned on and off according to the mode setting by the manufacturer or the user, and is turned on when the operation status data is transmitted to the manufacturer.

The program ROM 22 stores a control program 22 as an execution program of the FA controller 20.
a, a keyword registration program (user / maintenance information registration means) 22b for adding a keyword character string to the history storage WOROM 24;
4, a keyword table creation program (means) 22c for creating a keyword table and writing the keyword table in the information table of the RAM 23, and an operation status data transfer program 22d for writing the contents of the operation status storage memory 25 to the information table of the RAM 23 And R
An information table transmission program (information automatic transmission means) 22e for automatically transmitting the information table of the AM 23 to the management host server 40 is stored.

When the power is turned on, the FA controller 20
The WOROM update flag of the operation status storage memory 25 is read, and only when the update flag is ON, the keyword table creation program 22c is called and executed. Then, the information table transmission program 22e is called and executed, and the information table in the RAM 23 is automatically transmitted to the management host server 40 by the information table transmission program 22e. The contents of the information table here, in other words, the management host server 4
The data to be automatically transmitted to 0 is an identification number registered in the history storage WOROM 24 and various information (user maintenance information).

When the power is turned on, the FA controller 20 reads the operation status transmission flag of the operation status storage memory 25, and only when the operation status transmission flag is on, the operation status data registered in the operation status storage memory 25. By the operation status data transfer program 22d.
The information table of the RAM 23 is written to the information table of M23, thereafter, the information table transmission program 22e is called and executed, and the information table of the RAM 23 is automatically transmitted to the management host server 40 by the information table transmission program 22e. The contents of the information table here, in other words, the data automatically transmitted to the management host server 40 are the operation status data written in the operation status storage memory 25.

Next, the operation will be described. First, a keyword registration process for registering a keyword in the history storage WOROM 24 will be described with reference to FIG. The keyword registration process is performed by the keyword registration program 22a, and the keyword registration program 22a is executed by interruption at any time when the FA controller 20 is executing the control program.

When a keyword and contents (for example, "MACHINE-NAME" and "FAC1") are input or obtained at an arbitrary time according to the user's judgment (step S10), the keyword and contents are converted into a character string (for example, "MACHINE-NAME = FAC1") (step S11).

Next, the number of bytes of the converted character string is calculated (step S12), the read counter of the history storage WOROM 24 is set to "0" (step S13), and one byte (hexadecimal data) is read from the history storage WOROM 24. (Step S14), and checks the read hexadecimal data (step S15). If the read hexadecimal data is "F0" to "FE", it is regarded as a ROM header code area, and 16 bytes are added to the read counter of the history storage WOROM 24 (step S1).
6) If "01" to "EF", it is determined that the area is the ROM header code area, and one byte is added to the read counter of the history storage WOROM 24 (step S17).

If the read hexadecimal data is "00" or "FF", it is determined that the read counter has reached the head address of the non-data area and the number of bytes of the keyword and the character string of the content and the character string are stored in the history WOROM24
(Step S1)
8). In this way, the user information is stored in the history storage WORO.
When added to M24, the WOROM update flag stored in the operation status storage memory 25 is turned on (step S19).

FIG. 5 shows the overall processing flow of the FA controller 20. When the power supply of the FA controller 20 is turned on, first, the hardware (H / W) is initialized (step S21), and then, an information table to be transmitted to the device configuration management host server is initialized.

Next, WORO in the operation status memory 25
The M update flag is read (step S23), and WOR
If the OM update flag is on, that is, if the content of the keyword in the history storage WOROM 24 has been updated (Yes at Step S23), the keyword table creation program 22c is automatically executed. (Step S24).
As a result, the keywords (contents) of the history storage WOROM 24 are written out to the information table of the RAM 23.

When the keywords (contents) of the history storage WOROM 24 are written in the information table of the RAM 23, the information table transmission program 22e is automatically executed (step S25). Thereby, the configuration information and the user information of the FA controller configured by the keyword are transmitted to the management host server 40. When the transmission is completed, the WOROM update flag in the operation status memory 25 is turned off (step S26).

Next, the operation status transmission flag is read from the operation status memory 25 (step S27). If the operation status transmission flag is ON, the contents of the operation status storage memory 25 are stored in the RAM 23 by the operation status data transfer program 22d. Transfer to the information table (Step S2
8).

The contents of the operation status storage memory 25 are stored in the RAM 2
3 is transferred to the information table, and then the information table transmission program 22e is automatically executed (Step S).
29). Thereby, the contents of the operation status storage memory 25,
For example, the power-on time data is transmitted to the management host server 40. When the data transmission to the management host server 40 is completed, the execution of the control program 22a is started (step S30). When both the WOROM update flag and the operation status transmission flag are off, the control program 22a is executed immediately after the power is turned on.

FIG. 6 shows the flow of a keyword table creation process by the keyword table creation program 22c (corresponding to step S24 in FIG. 5). The keyword table creation process is a process of writing device configuration information (user maintenance information) based on keywords stored in the history management WOROM 24 into an information table for transmitting data to the management host server 40. Is initialized (step S40).

Next, one byte is read from the history storage WOROM (step S41), and the following processing is executed based on the read byte value. The value of this byte is "FD"
, One byte is read from the parameter (step S42), and if the value of the parameter is "01", the keyword character string code is set to ASCII (step S42).
43) If "02", the keyword character string code is set to UNCODE (step S) 44. If the byte value is "FD", the subsequent parameter is registered in the keyword table as the identification number of the FA controller 20 (step S45).

On the other hand, when the byte values are "01" to "E
F ", the keyword is extracted (step S4).
6) If the keyword is new (step S47 affirmative), the keyword is created in the table (step S47).
48), the contents of the keyword are extracted and registered in the key table. If the keyword already exists, the content of the keyword is extracted and registered in the keyword table (step S49), and the content of the keyword is updated. If the value of the byte is “00” or “FF”, the keyword table creation procedure ends.

This keyword table creation processing is performed according to FIG.
Is executed while analyzing the format of the history storage WOROM data shown in FIG. History storage WO
The ROM 24 has an initial value of "FF", and is shipped with basic configuration information written by a maker when the FA controller 20 is manufactured.

FIG. 7 shows the information table transmission program 22
5 shows an information table transmission process flow according to step e (corresponding to steps S25 and S29 in FIG. 5). In this information table transmission process, the FA control roller 10 transmits the data of the information table to the management host server 40 through the upper communication I / F 26.

In the case of Ethernet, a management host server detection packet is broadcast to detect the management host server 40 (step S50), and a response packet of the management host server 40 is detected within a predetermined time. (Step S51, Step S52),
The data transmission of the information table to the management host server 40 is started (step S53).

It should be noted that, in advance, the I
The P address may be registered in the operation status storage memory 25 or the history storage WOROM 24, and this IP address may be used when performing communication.

FIG. 8 shows a management host server information table processing flow executed on the device management host server. First, an information table group transmission packet is initialized (step S60), and a reception of a detection packet of the management host server transmitted from the FA controller 20 via the communication I / F is waited for (step S61). If so, the response packet is transmitted to the FA controller 20 (step S62), and the reception of the information table packet is waited (step S63).

If the time expires during the reception waiting (Yes at step S64), the process returns to step S61, and if no timeout occurs (Yes at step S64), the received information table packet is registered in the information table group transmission packet (step S65). ), And transmits the information table group transmission packet to the maker server 50 at a remote place via the communication line 45. If a timeout occurs in this transmission (Yes at Step S67), the process returns to Step S61, and if not (Yes at Step S67), the management host server information table process ends.

As described above, when the content of the keyword in the history storage WOROM 24 of the history storage WOROM 24, that is, the user maintenance information is updated, the updated content is automatically transmitted by the FA controller 20 itself when the power is turned on. Never forget to be notified of the updated user maintenance information.
By using the configuration 24, the configuration information of the maker setting is not falsified, the configuration information of the FA controller is reliably and reliably managed, and appropriate maintenance can be performed.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 9 illustrates the F
9 shows a second embodiment of the A controller management system. In FIG. 9, the parts corresponding to FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to the reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the CIM configuration is
The controller 20, the device configuration management relay server 70, and the higher-level management server 40 form a three-layer structure. The device configuration management relay server 70 and the higher-level management server 40 are connected to a higher-level communication cable (L
AN) 30 and the device configuration management relay server 70 and the FA controller 20 are connected by an FA controller communication cable 75 unique to the manufacturer.

FIG. 10 shows a birdware configuration of the FA controller in this embodiment. The FA controller 20 according to the present embodiment is different from the higher-level communication I / F 26 in that an FA controller communication I / F 2
8 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The transmission of the information table of the FA controller 20 is performed from the FA controller communication I / F 28 to the device configuration management relay server 70, and the device configuration management relay server 70 manages the information table from the FA controller 20 as a higher-level server. To the application server 40. The information table transmission process in the FA controller 20 in this case is shown in FIG.
The processing is performed according to the processing flow shown in FIG. In this processing flow, it is checked whether the FA controller communication I / F 28 is in a communicable state (step S71). If communication is possible, the information table is stored in the FA controller communication I / F 28.
The data is sent to the device configuration management relay server 70 from F28 (step S72).

Also in this embodiment, the history storage WOROM
When the content of the keyword in the history storage WOROM 24, that is, the user maintenance information is updated, the FA controller 20 automatically transmits the updated content when the power is turned on. Does not occur, and the history storage WO
By using the ROM 24, the configuration information set by the manufacturer is not falsified, the configuration information management of the FA controller is performed reliably and reliably, and appropriate maintenance can be performed.

This embodiment is particularly useful in a large-scale FA controller system.

[0054]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the FA controller of the present invention, the memory for storing the identification number of the FA controller and the user maintenance information is a non-volatile memory that can be additionally written only once. The configuration information of the manufacturer setting is not falsified,
The configuration information management of the A controller is reliably and reliably performed, and appropriate maintenance can be performed.

According to the FA controller of the next invention, the user maintenance information registering means adds the user maintenance information to the non-volatile memory, and if the user maintenance information in the non-volatile memory is changed, the information automatic transmission means Reads the identification number and the user maintenance information from the non-volatile memory when the power is turned on, and automatically transmits the identification number and the user maintenance information.

According to the FA controller of the next invention, when the power is turned on, the update flag stored in the operation status storage memory is read, and only when the update flag is on, the identification number of the nonvolatile memory and the user maintenance information are read. Is automatically transmitted, the identification number and the user maintenance information are automatically transmitted when the power is turned on only when the user maintenance information is changed.

According to the FA controller according to the next invention, the operating status transmission flag is read when the power is turned on, and the operating status data registered in the operating status storage memory is automatically and accurately transmitted only when the transmission flag is on. You.

According to the FA controller configuration information management system according to the next invention, a plurality of FA controllers are connected to the user management host server, and each FA controller manages the FA controller identification number and user maintenance information. Sent to the host server for
The management host server transmits the identification number and the user maintenance information transmitted from the FA controller to the ISDN,
Since the data is automatically transmitted to the maker server via a communication line such as a subscribed telephone network, the FA controller configuration information of the maker server is automatically transmitted without connecting a modem or the like to the FA controller and without forgetting to notify user maintenance information. Be updated.

According to the FA controller configuration information management system according to the next invention, the device configuration management relay server is disposed between the FA controller connected to the original network and the management host server, and relays between the original network and the upper-layer communication. Since the process is performed, even if the number of FA controllers is large, the FA controller configuration information management is performed without increasing the load on the management host server.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an FA controller device configuration management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of history management WOROM data in an FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a keyword registration process in the FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an overall processing flow of the FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a keyword table creation process in the FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an information table transmission process in the FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an information table process of the management host server in the FA controller device configuration management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the FA controller device configuration management system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 2 of an FA controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an information table transmission process in the FA controller (Embodiment 2) according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a system configuration diagram showing a conventional FA controller device configuration management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Lower communication cable, 20 FA controller, 2
1 Central Processing Unit (CPU), 22 Program RO
M, 23 RAM, 24 history storage WOROM, 25
Operating status storage memory, 26 higher-level communication interface,
27 lower communication interface, 28 FA controller communication I / F, 30 upper communication cable, 40 management host server, 41 memory, 45 communication line, 50
Manufacturer server, 60 database, 70 device configuration management relay server, 75 FA controller communication cable.

Claims (6)

[Claims] An FA controller used in an FA controller configuration information management system for transmitting FA controller configuration information including an FA controller identification number and various user maintenance information to a maker server, comprising: an identification number and user maintenance information; The memory for storing the data is a non-volatile memory that can be additionally written only once. 2. A user maintenance information registering means for adding user maintenance information to the non-volatile memory, and, if there is a change in the user maintenance information in the non-volatile memory, an identification number from the non-volatile memory when the power is turned on. 2. The FA controller according to claim 1, further comprising information automatic transmission means for reading and automatically transmitting the user maintenance information. 3. A non-volatile operating status storage memory for registering the operating status of the FA controller, wherein the operating status storage memory is used to determine whether or not the maintenance status has been changed to the user maintenance information in the non-volatile memory. The update flag is read out when the power is turned on, and only when the update flag is turned on, the identification number of the nonvolatile memory and the user maintenance information are automatically transmitted. FA controller. 4. The operation status storage memory stores data indicating the operation status of the FA controller and an operation status transmission flag, reads out the operation status transmission flag when the power is turned on, and operates only when the transmission flag is on. The FA controller according to claim 3, wherein the operation status data registered in the status storage memory is automatically transmitted. 5. An FA controller configuration information management system for transmitting FA controller configuration information including an identification number of an FA controller and various user maintenance information from the FA controller to a maker server. A plurality of FA controllers according to, and communicably connected to the plurality of FA controllers,
A management host server on the user side for automatically transmitting the identification number and user maintenance information transmitted from the FA controller to the maker server through a communication line such as an ISDN or a subscribed telephone network. An FA controller configuration information management system wherein information is automatically updated. 6. A device configuration management relay server is disposed between an FA controller connected via a unique network and the management host server, and performs relay processing between the unique network and a higher-level communication. 6. The FA controller configuration information management system according to 5.