초록 ▼

A digital computer implemented software system is provided for enabling on-line programming changes of industrial logic controllers using a software package of the type utilizing graphical flowcharts is provided, allowing a user to modify a program and transfer industrial process state information w

A digital computer implemented software system is provided for enabling on-line programming changes of industrial logic controllers using a software package of the type utilizing graphical flowcharts is provided, allowing a user to modify a program and transfer industrial process state information while the program is controlling equipment. A control program has predetermined stop points of execution. Each stop point is assigned a unique index used to retrieve instruction addresses from an array. Each stop point also is associated with industrial process state information. By substituting new addresses pointing to stop points in a new program for the executing program addresses and transferring the state information, the executing program is replaced by a new program when execution continues on the next CPU scan. On-line programming changes take effect by replacing the executing code when all programs have reached a stop point, and by restarting a second program from the corresponding stop point in the second program.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of on-line programming changes to a computer implemented software system for programming industrial logic controllers, of the type using a graphical flowchart representation of a controller program, comprising the steps of:(a) identifying a set of stop-points wit

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of on-line programming changes to a computer implemented software system for programming industrial logic controllers, of the type using a graphical flowchart representation of a controller program, comprising the steps of:(a) identifying a set of stop-points within an executing first control program, said stop points having unique addresses, said addresses maintained in a first stop-point table, said first stop-point table having industrial process state information associated therewith; and(b) replacing said first stop-point table with a second stop-point table when execution of said executing first control program reaches one of said stop points, said second table containing stop point addresses identified with a second control program and associated with said industrial process state information.