Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sets of compatible firmware versions (e.g., cross-compatibility solution) for flashing (e.g., programming or re-programming) different devices of a network of devices (e.g., an industrial automation system) when using a flashing application. Providing the compatible firmware versions of such network of devices may facilitate flashing the devices with compatible firmware, based on a topology of the network of devices, to prevent functional errors in the network of devices. The present systems and methods may also be applicable to determining and providing cross-compatibility solution between different firmware, as well as software, used by different devices of a network of devices.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) allows add-on bus profiles and add-on controller profiles to be defined using an industrial domain-specific language (DSL) script. These add-on profiles can then be added to the IDE's device profile library for use in industrial control projects. This mitigates the need to write new source code to create these profiles and to release an updated version of the IDE software to make these profiles available for use. Industrial DSL scripting can also be used to define a physical and logical topology of an industrial control system within the IDE system as part of the control system project that will be deployed to the control system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sets of compatible firmware versions (e.g., cross-compatibility solution) for flashing (e.g., programming or re-programming) different devices of a network of devices (e.g., an industrial automation system) when using a flashing application. Providing the compatible firmware versions of such network of devices may facilitate flashing the devices with compatible firmware, based on a topology of the network of devices, to prevent functional errors in the network of devices. The present systems and methods may also be applicable to determining and providing cross-compatibility solution between different firmware, as well as software, used by different devices of a network of devices.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) provides a development framework for designing, programming, and configuring multiple aspects of an industrial automation system using a common design environment and data model. Projects creating using embodiments of the IDE system can be built on an object-based model rather than, or in addition to, a tag-based architecture. To this end, the IDE system can support the use of automation objects that serve as building blocks for this object-based development structure. These automation objects represent corresponding physical industrial assets and have associated programmatic attributes relating to those assets, including data logging and device configuration parameters. Functional relationships between automation objects can be defined to yield object hierarchies, and object attributes can be propagated across objects up and down the hierarchy.

Abstract: An industrial product inventory system generates a browsable inventory of a customer's industrial products based on product information retrieved from identity objects stored on the products. The system can also register this product information with a service provider that can provide product notifications and services based on analysis of the registered product information. These services can include verification of product authenticity, product or firmware upgrade notifications, security notifications, or other such services.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) includes analytic features that generate control project telemetry data based on analysis of a control system design and uses this project telemetry data as the basis for control system design guidance and recommendations. The IDE system can analyze the control system design and identify industrial devices use by the control project, device features that are utilized by the control project, resource utilizations, and other such project telemetry. The IDE system can generate recommendations for improving the control system design based on this project telemetry. The project telemetry data can also be provided to product vendors, offering insights into how the vendors' products are being used by end customers.

Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) provides a development framework for designing, programming, and configuring multiple aspects of an industrial automation system using a common design environment and data model. Projects creating using embodiments of the IDE system can be built on an object-based model rather than, or in addition to, a tag-based architecture. To this end, the IDE system can support the use of automation objects that serve as building blocks for this object-based development structure. These automation objects represent corresponding physical industrial assets and have associated programmatic attributes relating to those assets, including data logging and device configuration parameters. Functional relationships between automation objects can be defined to yield object hierarchies, and object attributes can be propagated across objects up and down the hierarchy.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sets of compatible firmware versions (e.g., cross-compatibility solution) for flashing (e.g., programming or re-programming) different devices of a network of devices (e.g., an industrial automation system) when using a flashing application. Providing the compatible firmware versions of such network of devices may facilitate flashing the devices with compatible firmware, based on a topology of the network of devices, to prevent functional errors in the network of devices. The present systems and methods may also be applicable to determining and providing cross-compatibility solution between different firmware, as well as software, used by different devices of a network of devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sets of compatible firmware versions (e.g., cross-compatibility solution) for flashing (e.g., programming or re-programming) different devices of a network of devices (e.g., an industrial automation system) when using a flashing application. Providing the compatible firmware versions of such network of devices may facilitate flashing the devices with compatible firmware, based on a topology of the network of devices, to prevent functional errors in the network of devices. The present systems and methods may also be applicable to determining and providing cross-compatibility solution between different firmware, as well as software, used by different devices of a network of devices.

Abstract: An industrial controller within an industrial automation environment is provided. The industrial controller includes a plurality of control devices, and an update controller which is configured to identify control devices that are on a linear topology, identify control devices on the linear topology that require a reset after updating, and identify a hierarchy of the control devices. The update controller is also configured to update control devices within a first level of the hierarchy, and reset the control devices within the first level of the hierarchy after all of the control devices within the first level of the hierarchy have completed updating. The update controller is further configured to concurrently update control devices within a second level of the hierarchy, and concurrently reset the control devices within the second level of the hierarchy after all of the control devices within the second level of the hierarchy have completed updating.

Abstract: A method for updating firmware within an industrial automation environment comprising a plurality of industrial components is provided. The method includes providing an industrial system firmware update menu from an update server to a user through a web interface within an application running on a user device, and receiving one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu from the user through the web interface. The method also includes processing the one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu to determine required firmware update files and a firmware update schedule, and transferring the required firmware update files to the industrial components in an order specified by the firmware update schedule.

Abstract: A communications application that acts as a data server between one or more industrial devices and a client-side application is capable of detecting and uploading device description files from the industrial devices themselves. Upon discovery of an industrial device communicatively connected to a client device's communication port, the communications application determines whether a device description file for the discovered device is registered. If no device description file is registered for the industrial device, or if the discovered file is newer than a previously registered file, the communications application initiates an upload of the device description file from the industrial device if the file is stored on the device. Upon completion of the upload, the device description file is registered, thereby allowing the communications application to display information about the device and to manage data exchange between the industrial device and the client-side application.

Abstract: A method for updating firmware within an industrial automation environment comprising a plurality of industrial components is provided. The method includes receiving a configuration template corresponding to the industrial automation environment through a user interface, and determining available firmware updates from a product compatibility and download center. The method also includes processing the configuration template and available firmware updates to determine required firmware update files and a firmware update schedule, and transferring the required firmware update files to the industrial components in an order specified by the firmware update schedule.

Abstract: A method for updating firmware within an industrial automation environment comprising a plurality of industrial components is provided. The method includes providing an industrial system firmware update menu from an update server to a user through a web interface within an application running on a user device, and receiving one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu from the user through the web interface. The method also includes processing the one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu to determine required firmware update files and a firmware update schedule, and transferring the required firmware update files to the industrial components in an order specified by the firmware update schedule.

Abstract: Technology for editing PLD code to be programmed into a PLD are provided. The technology includes an interface, a storage system, and a processing system configured to obtain a PLD code, with the PLD code comprising one or more logic instruction blocks and corresponding block parameters for each logic instruction block, with the PLD code being intended for programming into the PLD, compare the one or more logic instruction blocks of the PLD code to a subset of the library of logic instruction blocks applicable to the PLD according to the library of PLD devices, determine inconsistent logic instruction blocks of the one or more logic instruction blocks, indicate the inconsistent logic instruction blocks, and correct the inconsistent logic instruction blocks using the subset of the library of logic instruction blocks.

Abstract: Technology for editing PLD code to be programmed into a PLD are provided. The technology includes an interface, a storage system, and a processing system configured to obtain a PLD code, with the PLD code comprising one or more logic instruction blocks and corresponding block parameters for each logic instruction block, with the PLD code being intended for programming into the PLD, compare the one or more logic instruction blocks of the PLD code to a subset of the library of logic instruction blocks applicable to the PLD according to the library of PLD devices, determine inconsistent logic instruction blocks of the one or more logic instruction blocks, indicate the inconsistent logic instruction blocks, and correct the inconsistent logic instruction blocks using the subset of the library of logic instruction blocks.

Abstract: A communications application that acts as a data server between one or more industrial devices and a client-side application is capable of detecting and uploading device description files from the industrial devices themselves. Upon discovery of an industrial device communicatively connected to a client device's communication port, the communications application determines whether a device description file for the discovered device is registered. If no device description file is registered for the industrial device, or if the discovered file is newer than a previously registered file, the communications application initiates an upload of the device description file from the industrial device if the file is stored on the device. Upon completion of the upload, the device description file is registered, thereby allowing the communications application to display information about the device and to manage data exchange between the industrial device and the client-side application.

Abstract: Technology for editing PLD code to be programmed into a PLD are provided. The technology includes an interface, a storage system, and a processing system configured to obtain a PLD code, with the PLD code comprising one or more logic instruction blocks and corresponding block parameters for each logic instruction block, with the PLD code being intended for programming into the PLD, compare the one or more logic instruction blocks of the PLD code to a subset of the library of logic instruction blocks applicable to the PLD according to the library of PLD devices, determine inconsistent logic instruction blocks of the one or more logic instruction blocks, indicate the inconsistent logic instruction blocks, and correct the inconsistent logic instruction blocks using the subset of the library of logic instruction blocks.

Abstract: A PLD editor and method for editing PLD code to be programmed into a PLD are provided. The PLD editor includes an interface, a storage system, and a processing system configured to obtain a PLD code, with the PLD code comprising one or more logic instruction blocks and corresponding block parameters for each logic instruction block, with the PLD code being intended for programming into the PLD, compare the one or more logic instruction blocks of the PLD code to a subset of the library of logic instruction blocks applicable to the PLD according to the library of PLD devices, determine inconsistent logic instruction blocks of the one or more logic instruction blocks, indicate the inconsistent logic instruction blocks, and correct the inconsistent logic instruction blocks using the subset of the library of logic instruction blocks.

Abstract: A PLD editor and method for editing PLD code to be programmed into a PLD are provided. The PLD editor includes an interface, a storage system, and a processing system configured to obtain a PLD code, with the PLD code comprising one or more logic instruction blocks and corresponding block parameters for each logic instruction block, with the PLD code being intended for programming into the PLD, compare the one or more logic instruction blocks of the PLD code to a subset of the library of logic instruction blocks applicable to the PLD according to the library of PLD devices, determine inconsistent logic instruction blocks of the one or more logic instruction blocks, indicate the inconsistent logic instruction blocks, and correct the inconsistent logic instruction blocks using the subset of the library of logic instruction blocks.