Method for consistent storage of data in an industrial controller

Abstract

A system and method for employing a file system and file system services on the industrial controller. The file system allows industrial control programs to implement many functions previously performed within the industrial control program and stored in the same memory as the industrial control program. An execution engine is provided that interprets instructions included in an industrial control program. The instructions utilize services in the file system for including user defined routine files loaded from local or remote locations, to load and unload recipe files from local and remote locations, to log and retrieve measured data and trend data to files at local or remote locations, to select different operating systems and to select a running program from a plurality of running programs utilizing the file system.

1 . A method of executing an industrial control program that utilizes a file system which resides on an industrial controller, the method comprising: 
 invoking an execution engine that resides on the industrial controller, the execution engine interprets instructions of the industrial control program including instructions that facilitate utilizing one or more file system services of the file system;    loading the industrial control program into a program memory, the industrial control program includes at least one instruction that employs the one or more file system services;    loading one or more user defined routine files that utilize the file system into the program memory; and    executing the industrial control program.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising loading a recipe file into the industrial control program using the one or more file system services.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the recipe file resides at a remote location.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising loading another recipe file into the industrial control program in a common memory location as the recipe file.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising logging measured data and trend data to a file.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the measured data and trend data reside at a remote location.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving measured data and trend data from a file.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the measured data and trend data reside at a remote location.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising retrieving the one or more user defined routine files from a memory device that is separate from the program memory.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the memory device is located at a remote location.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , the file system and the execution engine receive a communication command for selecting a running industrial control program from a plurality of industrial control programs that reside on the industrial controller.  
   
   
       12 . A system having a plurality of industrial controllers, each of which includes a file system, the system comprising: 
 a local server that communicates with the plurality of industrial controllers through a first network, the local server including a plurality of user defined routine files and a plurality of recipe files, each of the plurality of industrial controllers accesses the plurality of user defined routine files and the plurality of recipe files through the file system of the respective industrial controller; and    a remote computer that communicates with the local server through a second network, the plurality of industrial controllers log and retrieve measured data and trend data through the remote computer using the file system of the respective industrial controller.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the remote computer is a data warehouse and the second network is an Internet.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a client application that transmits a communication command to one or more of the plurality of industrial controllers for selecting a running program from a plurality of industrial control programs residing on one of the plurality of industrial controllers, the communication command employs the file system on the one of the plurality of industrial controller to select the running program.