Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for iterative and interactive scheduling of an I/O station for an automation control system, the apparatus (100) comprising: selection device (110) adapted to specify a selection of signals for the I/O station in the form of (i) signal data and (ii) planning data for the I/O station based on user input; database device (120) adapted to provide property data for a plurality of I/O devices and I/O systems; configuration device (130) adapted to determine, based on the signal data, the planning data, and the property data, a system configuration for the I/O station that includes at least one I/O device among the plurality of I/O devices, wherein the configuration device (130) is further adapted to perform a technical check of the specific construction rules of the respective I/O system of the system configuration and to change the system configuration in case of failure of the technical check; and display device (140) adapted to display the system configuration

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function connection unit for connecting functional modules. The functional connection unit includes a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol, and a service module that includes a service terminal configured to connect to at least one functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals to communicate according to the first communication protocol. The service module also includes a communication terminal to communicate according to a second communication protocol. The service module is configured to supply parameter data available at the communication terminal according to the second communication protocol to the service terminal according to the first communication protocol. The function connection unit is configured to parameterize at least one functional module based at least in part on the parameter data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function connection unit for connecting functional modules. The functional connection unit includes a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol, and a parameter memory that includes parameter data for device specific parameterization of at least one functional module. The parameter memory is configured to connect to a functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals. The function connection unit is configured to read the parameter data from the parameter memory. The function connection unit is also configured to parameterize at least one functional module in a device-specific fashion based at least in part on the read parameter data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function connection unit for connecting functional modules. The functional connection unit includes a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol, and a service module that includes a service terminal configured to connect to at least one functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals to communicate according to the first communication protocol. The service module also includes a communication terminal to communicate according to a second communication protocol. The service module is configured to supply parameter data available at the communication terminal according to the second communication protocol to the service terminal according to the first communication protocol. The function connection unit is configured to parameterize at least one functional module based at least in part on the parameter data.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a function connection unit for connecting functional modules. The functional connection unit includes a plurality of functional module terminals configured to connect to the functional modules and to communicate according to a first communication protocol, and a parameter memory that includes parameter data for device specific parameterization of at least one functional module. The parameter memory is configured to connect to a functional module terminal of the plurality of functional module terminals. The function connection unit is configured to read the parameter data from the parameter memory. The function connection unit is also configured to parameterize at least one functional module in a device-specific fashion based at least in part on the read parameter data.

Abstract: In order to be able, for control of an automation system, to project, establish, process and/or simulate device functions of the control devices used in a simple and flexible way, the invention provides a method by means of which at least one software module is made available in an execution environment (350) with a program function (301-305b, 311-315, 321a-324) that can be executed in the execution environment (350), where the program function (301-305b, 311-315, 321a-324) is a representative function of the device function (201-205b, 211-215) that is stored in an associated control device (101-105, 121-125) of the control system, the device function and the program function are at least partially identical, the device function comprises at least one first variable function parameter, and the program function comprises at least one second variable function parameter that is assigned to the first function parameter of the device function, the second function parameter is adjusted as a function of user inputs,

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for parameterizing operating means connected to a data transmission medium. In this case, for at least several of the connected operating means, in each case, a device description will be stored in a central facility, each device description containing at least one function and the parameter set belonging thereto. In addition, a list of several predefined device functions will be stored in memory, for which the corresponding parameter set will be assigned each time to the operating means that support the device function. If a device function is selected, then in response to the selected device function, at least one operating means that supports this device function will be parameterized.

Abstract: A method and communication system that provide an inexpensive approach that enables the times of events that are detected in IO device to be determined in a higher-level controller. The higher-level controller has a system clock and is connected to an IO link device to which multiple first IO devices are able to be connected. In addition, a second IO device is connected to the IO link device. The clock of the second IO device is synchronized by a synchronization device with the system clock of the higher-level controller. The status data that are provided by at least one of the first IO devices and the current time data that the second IO device supplies are transmitted simultaneously to the IO link device. The IO link device assigns the status data received to the received current time data, then transmits these data to the higher-level controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which a cycle-oriented control program generated for a programmable logic controller (110) is at least partially converted into a code that may be executed by a logic component (80) of a communications module (10), such that at least the converted program segment of the cycle-oriented control program may be executed in a cycle-free manner. Cycle-free or virtually cycle-free means that at least some of the implemented control functions and system functions may be executed in a parallel fashion and therefore more quickly than would be the case if the cycle-oriented control program were executed by the PLC (110).

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for accessing a functional module (118, 128, 138) of an automation system, wherein the automation system comprises a device in the form of higher-level device (200) and at least one lower-level device (110, 120, 130) arranged under this higher-level device and wherein the functional module (118, 128, 138) is in the form of part of the one or more lower-level devices (110, 120, 130) and for executing at least one device function. In addition, a device in the form of the higher-level device (200) for performing the method in an automation system is also proposed, wherein at least one device (110, 120, 130) comprising a functional module (118, 128, 138) for executing at least one device function is arranged under the higher-level device.

Abstract: Methods for accessing a control module that can be executed in a control device of an automating system are provided. The method includes the steps of providing the control module in the control device; providing a first interface module in the control device; providing a second interface module in the control device; connecting the control device with an operating device via a network; transferring the second interface module from the control device to the operating device, whereby the operating device comprises input and output devices for operation by a user; executing the second interface module by the operating device; and transferring data between the first and the second interface modules.

Abstract: A method and communication system that provide an inexpensive approach that enables the times of events that are detected in IO device to be determined in a higher-level controller. The higher-level controller has a system clock and is connected to an IO link device to which multiple first IO devices are able to be connected. In addition, a second IO device is connected to the IO link device. The clock of the second IO device is synchronized by a synchronization device with the system clock of the higher-level controller. The status data that are provided by at least one of the first IO devices and the current time data that the second IO device supplies are transmitted simultaneously to the IO link device. The IO link device assigns the status data received to the received current time data, then transmits these data to the higher-level controller.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for testing the functionality of a system element to be used inside a control and/or data processing system as well as, in essentially the opposite direction, for designing a system model having at least one transmission function for modeling a control and/or data transmission system with at least one system element. A data-processing device for performing this method is also disclosed, which device comprises a signal unit that can be coupled to a constructed system element for producing a control and/or data transmission system, for reading out, querying or receiving a signal output of the system element in response to a predetermined signal voltage applied at the system element, an evaluation unit for evaluating the signal output as a function of the input signal in order to analyze the system element, and a processing unit for associating the analyzed system element with a transmission function.

Abstract: The invention relates to an input/output channel control block that comprises a number of successive input/output modules. The first is a control master module and the subsequent ones are expansion slave modules. Each expansion slave module comprises a processing logic unit as well as respective first signal port and a respective equal number of second signal ports and an equal number of third signal ports which are arranged at identical positions of each expansion slave module. The first signal port is connected to the processing logic unit, to which at least one fourth signal port for connecting an input/output bus terminal subscriber belongs, and a respective second signal port is connected to a third signal port. The control master module likewise possesses a number of third signal ports and a control logic unit for data exchange with a data bus and for targeted driving of the signal ports.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method according to which a cycle-oriented control program generated for a programmable logic controller (110) is at least partially converted into a code that may be executed by a logic component (80) of a communications module (10), such that at least the converted program segment of the cycle-oriented control program may be executed in a cycle-free manner. Cycle-free or virtually cycle-free means that at least some of the implemented control functions and system functions may be executed in a parallel fashion and therefore more quickly than would be the case if the cycle-oriented control program were executed by the PLC (110).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for parameterizing operating means connected to a data transmission medium. In this case, for at least several of the connected operating means, in each case, a device description will be stored in a central facility, each device description containing at least one function and the parameter set belonging thereto. In addition, a list of several predefined device functions will be stored in memory, for which the corresponding parameter set will be assigned each time to the operating means that support the device function. If a device function is selected, then in response to the selected device function, at least one operating means that supports this device function will be parameterized.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method for accessing a functional module (118, 128, 138) of an automation system, wherein the automation system comprises a device in the form of higher-level device (200) and at least one lower-level device (110, 120, 130) arranged under this higher-level device and wherein the functional module (118, 128, 138) is in the form of part of the one or more lower-level devices (110, 120, 130) and for executing at least one device function. In addition, a device in the form of the higher-level device (200) for performing the method in an automation system is also proposed, wherein at least one device (110, 120, 130) comprising a functional module (118, 128, 138) for executing at least one device function is arranged under the higher-level device.

Abstract: Methods for accessing a control module that can be executed in a control device of an automating system are provided. The method includes the steps of providing the control module in the control device; providing a first interface module in the control device; providing a second interface module in the control device; connecting the control device with an operating device via a network; transferring the second interface module from the control device to the operating device, whereby the operating device comprises input and output devices for operation by a user; executing the second interface module by the operating device; and transferring data between the first and the second interface modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to an input/output channel control block that comprises a number of successive input/output modules, wherein the first is an input/output control master module (100) and the subsequent ones are input/output expansion slave modules (200), wherein each expansion slave module comprises a processing logic unit (215) as well as respective first signal port (211) and a respective equal number of second signal ports (212) and an equal number of third signal ports (213) which, in particular, are always arranged at identical positions of each expansion slave module, wherein the first signal port is connected to the processing logic unit, to which at least one fourth signal port for connecting an input/output bus terminal subscriber belongs, and a respective second signal port is connected to a third signal port, and wherein the control master module likewise possesses a number of third signal ports (113) and a control logic unit (105) for data exchange with a data bus and for targeted driving of

Abstract: The invention proposes data correlation methods for testing the functionality of a system element to be used inside a control and/or data processing system as well as, in essentially the opposite direction, for designing a system model having at least one transmission function for modeling a control and/or data transmission system with at least one system element.