Abstract: An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) can dynamically generate user interfaces for device profiles using predefined reusable profile templates together with data models of the devices for which the device profile interfaces are to be created. The device profile template defines features or components of profile interface views that are reusable across multiple different devices. The industrial IDE determines which interface features defined by the device profile template are required to support the device's data and supported features defined by the data model, and dynamically adapts the device profile template to yield a suitable device profile interface that can be used to view and edit the device's data and configuration parameter values.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for bidirectional network geography delivery are disclosed. The methods include receiving a reference subnet network geography from a main network device, storing the received reference subnet network geography, retrieving an actual subnet network geography of a subnet network, comparing the reference subnet network geography to the actual subnet network geography and determining if they are compatible, and commissioning the subnet network based on the received reference subnet network geography when the received reference subnet network geography is compatible with the actual subnet network geography of the subnet network. The methods also include retrieving an actual subnet network geography of a subnet and sending it a main network device, causing it to become a new reference subnet network geography and sending the new reference subnet network geography to a main network device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device are disclosed. The methods include receiving a device key of the networked device, where the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, identifying location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and where the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network, assigning a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and adding the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device, and storing the device key independently from the networked device or in the networked device, or both.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data. packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for bidirectional network geography delivery are disclosed. The methods include receiving a reference subnet network geography from a main network device, storing the received reference subnet network geography, retrieving an actual subnet network geography of a subnet network, comparing the reference subnet network geography to the actual subnet network geography and determining if they are compatible, and commissioning the subnet network based on the received reference subnet network geography when the received reference subnet network geography is compatible with the actual subnet network geography of the subnet network. The methods also include retrieving an actual subnet network geography of a subnet and sending it a main network device, causing it to become a new reference subnet network geography and sending the new reference subnet network geography to a main network device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for adding a non-inherent component to a device key of a networked device are disclosed. The methods include receiving a device key of the networked device, where the device key comprises one or more device identifying attributes of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, identifying location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and where the location information represents a geographic relationship between the networked device and other network nodes of the nodal geographic network, assigning a position attribute to the networked device according to the identified location information of the networked device in the nodal geographic network, and adding the position attribute to the device key as the non-inherent component for the networked device, and storing the device key independently from the networked device or in the networked device, or both.

Abstract: A system for defining information for multi-option devices connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each device has a single electronic data sheet (EDS) defining options associated with the device as well as each of the choices associated with those options. An option data sheet (ODS) is included for each option defining the device information corresponding to that option. A programmer interface may allow a programmer to select devices as well as the options for each of those devices associated with a control system. Each device is also configured to store the EDS and each ODS corresponding to that device within memory in the device. The programmer interface generates a controller configuration file defining the connections between each device and the controller.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with data frames passing through a module connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each module includes an aggregation unit located on the network interface above the physical layer. To transmit data, the aggregation unit reads a header from a dynamic data packet to determine if the module is a participant module for the packet. If so, the aggregation unit inserts data from the module into the data packet and transmits the packet to another module. To receive data, the aggregation unit reads a header from the data packet to determine whether the data packet includes data for the module. If so, the aggregation unit reads the data and passes the data packet to another module. If the aggregation unit determines that a data packet is not intended for the module, the data packet is passed to another module with no further interaction.

Abstract: A system for defining information for multi-option devices connected to an industrial network is disclosed. Each device has a single electronic data sheet (EDS) defining options associated with the device as well as each of the choices associated with those options. An option data sheet (ODS) is included for each option defining the device information corresponding to that option. A programmer interface may allow a programmer to select devices as well as the options for each of those devices associated with a control system. Each device is also configured to store the EDS and each ODS corresponding to that device within memory in the device. The programmer interface generates a controller configuration file defining the connections between each device and the controller.

Abstract: A computer program to assist in programming an industrial control system provides a programmer with a functional description of the data of low-level devices in the industrial controller, as gleaned from electronic data sheets, whose data is extracted and combined with mapping data used during the configuration of the industrial controller. The functional description may be used to create a reference for the programmer that may be incorporated into the control program source file.

Abstract: A computer program to assist in programming an industrial control system provides a programmer with a functional description of the data of low-level devices in the industrial controller, as gleaned from electronic data sheets, whose data is extracted and combined with mapping data used during the configuration of the industrial controller. The functional description may be used to create a reference for the programmer that may be incorporated into the control program source file.