Abstract: An automation equipment includes a system unit and a driver. The system unit has at least one memory including a real time operating unit and an application program unit that performs monitoring or control functions in an automation application. The driver is directly included in the system unit and is configured to connect to a TCP/IP network without going through a back panel bus. The operating unit of the system unit includes a communications management module configured to communicate to the TCP/IP network, and a control task unit responsible for controlling execution of the communications management module, the control task unit being directly connected to the communications management module to avoid disturbing an operation of the application program unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications system in a programmable controller comprising smart modules, a network module connected to a TCP/IP network and an internal communications bus, for example the backplane bus connecting all the modules of the programmable controller with each other. The communications system enables exchanges of information in compliance with the TCP/IP protocol, to be performed on the internal communications bus. Each smart module has its own IP address and a TCP/IP stack. The communications bus includes several separate communications channels providing for simultaneous flow of the frames complying with the TCP/IP protocol together with frames complying with other protocols. The invention also relates to a programmable controller capable of implementing such a communications system.

Abstract: The invention relates to automation equipment comprising a system unit (1) that has a real time operating system (10) and an application program (20) for monitoring/control of an automation application. The automation equipment comprises a driver (40) for the TCP/IP network (4) that is directly included in the system unit (1) without going through a back panel bus. The operating system (10) of the system unit (1) comprises a management module (30) for communications on the TCP/IP network (4) and a control task (12) responsible for controlling execution of the communications management module (30) to the characteristics of the automation application to avoid disturbing operation of the application program (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communications system in a programmable controller comprising smart modules, a network module connected to a TCP/IP network and an internal communications bus, for example the backplane bus connecting all the modules of the programmable controller with each other. The communications system enables exchanges of information in compliance with the TCP/IP protocol, to be performed on the internal communications bus. Each smart module has its own IP address and a TCP/IP stack. The communications bus includes several separate communications channels providing for simultaneous flow of the frames complying with the TCP/IP protocol together with frames complying with other protocols. The invention also relates to a programmable controller capable of implementing such a communications system.

Abstract: A process and system for updating an operating system for an information processing device via a console link or mass memory. The information processing device including a power supply with an energy reserve, a microprocessor, an erasable flash EPROM type memory, a backed up RAM memory, and a device for detecting main power supply failures. When making an update, the existing operating system transfers a boot program into the backed up RAM, then executes this boot program stored in RAM, this boot program stored in RAM erasing the Flash EPROM memory and then loading the new operating system into the Flash EPROM from the console link or the mass memory.