IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,443,406
Granted Patent B2
US 12,443,406 · App. 18/626,515 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Industrial automation system topology with point to point business rule integration

Inventors: Scott A Pierce (Concord Township, OH); Anthony J Diblasio (Independence, OH); Douglas B Sumerauer (Concord, OH); Christopher E Stanek (Mayfield Heights, OH)
Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
G06F8/77G05B19/41835G06Q10/0637G05B2219/32161
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,443,406
App. No.
18/626,515
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) allows project topologies to be defined using an industrial domain-specific language (DSL) script. DSL scripting language can be used to define a control system topology in terms of the devices that make up the control system as well as the data connections between those devices. The IDE system can translate resulting topology to a project tree that serves as the basis for a control system project.

Claims (44)

1. A system for developing industrial control projects, comprising:

a memory that stores executable components; and

a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the executable components, the executable components comprising

a user interface component that renders an integrated development environment (IDE) interface and that receives, via interaction with the IDE interface, topology domain-specific language (DSL) script that defines a device topology of an industrial automation system to be configured and controlled by an industrial control project being developed via the IDE interface;

a domain-specific language (DSL) editor that

compiles the topology DSL script to yield a topology definition for the industrial automation system, and

adds the topology definition to the industrial control project; and

a project generation component that generates at least one of an executable industrial control program or device configuration data in accordance with industrial control project.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein

the user interface component is that renders, on the IDE interface, a graphical representation of the device topology based on the topology definition, the graphical representation comprising device nodes representing devices defined by the topology DSL script, and

selection of a device node, of the device nodes, causes the IDE interface to navigate to a configuration interface for a device represented by the device node.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the topology definition is editable via either of interaction with the graphical representation or modification of the topology DSL script.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the graphical representation further comprises bus nodes representing communication busses defined by the topology DSL script.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation is a project tree for the industrial control project.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DSL editor that adds the topology definition, a device and a port associated with the device that are defined in a devices section of the topology DSL script using DSL syntax.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DSL editor that adds the topology definition, a communication bus and a device port connected to the communication bus that are defined in a topology section of the DSL script using DSL syntax.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the communication bus comprises at least one of an industrial controller backplane, a remote I/O network, or a plant network.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the topology DSL script defines communication paths between pairs of devices across the communication bus using DSL syntax.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein

the DSL editor that renders scripting feedback based on connectivity rules that defines constraints on topology connections, and

the scripting feedback comprises at least one of error highlighting, syntax highlighting, type-ahead recommendations, or scripting suggestions.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the connectivity rules enforce at least one of validity of a connection between a device instance and a communication bus defined by the topology DSL script, a limit on a number of device instances permitted to be connected to a communication bus, protocol compatibility across the device topology, capacity limits on segments of the device topology, power constraints on busses defined by the topology definition, or restrictions on upstream-only ports.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an integrated development environment (IDE) system comprising a processor, industrial design input via interaction with an IDE interface, wherein the industrial design input defines aspects of an industrial control project, and the receiving comprises receiving topology domain-specific language (DSL) script that defines a device topology of an industrial automation system to be configured and controlled by the industrial control project;

compiling, by the IDE system, the topology DSL script to yield a topology definition for the industrial control system;

adding, by the IDE system, the topology definition to the industrial control project; and

generating, by the IDE system, at least one of an executable control program or device configuration data for the industrial control system in accordance with the industrial control project.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

rendering, by the IDE system on the IDE interface, a graphical representation of the device topology based on the topology definition, wherein the graphical representation comprises device nodes representing devices defined by the topology DSL script; and

in response to receiving a selection of a device node, of the device nodes, via interaction with the graphical representation, navigating, by the IDE system, to a configuration interface for a device represented by the device node.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the topology definition is editable via either of interaction with the graphical representation or modification of the topology DSL script.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the graphical representation further comprises bus nodes representing communication busses defined by the topology DSL script.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compiling comprises adding, to the topology definition, a device and a port associated with the device that are defined in a devices section of the topology DSL script using DSL syntax.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compiling comprises adding, to the topology definition, a communication bus and a device port connected to the communication bus that are defined in a topology section of the topology DSL script using DSL syntax.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rendering, by the IDE system, scripting feedback based on connectivity rules that define constraints on topology connections,

wherein the scripting feedback comprises at least one of error highlighting, syntax highlighting, type-ahead recommendations, or scripting suggestions.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, in response to execution, cause an integrated development environment (IDE) system comprising a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving, by an integrated development environment (IDE) system comprising a processor, industrial design input via interaction with an IDE interface, wherein the industrial design input defines aspects of an industrial control project, and the receiving comprises receiving topology domain-specific language (DSL) script that defines a device topology of an industrial automation system to be configured and controlled by the industrial control project;

compiling, by the IDE system, the topology DSL script to yield a topology definition for the industrial control system;

adding, by the IDE system, the topology definition to the industrial control project; and

generating, by the IDE system, at least one of an executable control program or device configuration data for the industrial control system in accordance with the industrial control project.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise:

rendering, on the IDE interface, a graphical representation of the device topology based on the topology definition, wherein the graphical representation comprises device nodes representing devices defined by the topology DSL script; and

in response to receiving a selection of a device node, of the device nodes, via interaction with the graphical representation, navigating, by the IDE system, to a configuration interface for a device represented by the device node.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2024
From: PIERCE, SCOTT A; DIBLASIO, ANTHONY J; SUMERAUER, DOUGLAS B; STANEK, CHRISTOPHER E
To: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067004/0057 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17812044 · Jul 12, 2022
Related Publication 20240264832A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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