Component configuration mechanism for rebooting
Aspects of the invention support a component configuration mechanism when rebooting a circuit module ( 201 ) of a programmable logic controller ( 101 ). A component (application) may be configured from a plurality of sources, including flash memory ( 204 ) and a web-based configuration source. The configuration mechanism avoids using invalid configuration data when replacing the communication module. The circuit module may support a plurality of components, where some of the components may be associated with a web-based configuration while other components may be associated with a CPU-based configuration. If the configuration data in the flash memory of the communication module is determined to be invalid, the communication module obtains configuration data from a web-based configuration source for a web-based configured component and from an associated CPU module ( 202 ) for a CPU-based configured component. The validity of configuration data in internal memory is determined by comparing values of cyclic checksums and configuration times. 12347300
1. A circuit module of a programmable logic controller (PLC) comprising:
an internal memory configured to store stored configuration information;
a communication interface configured to obtain external configuration information from an external configuration source comprising:
a network interface configured to communicate through a communication network; and
a PLC interface configured to communicate with a controller module of the PLC;
a processor configured to support a first component that is associated with a web-based configuration; and,
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, perform a method to determine a configuration scenario and to select a configuration source based on the configuration scenario, wherein the configuration source is either the internal memory or the external configuration source, the method comprising:
comparing a first redundancy check stored in the circuit module with a second redundancy check stored in the controller module, wherein the first redundancy check and the second redundancy check are associated with the first component; and
comparing a first circuit module (CM) configuration time stored in the circuit module with a second CM configuration time stored in the controller module.
2. The circuit module of claim 1 , wherein the internal memory comprises a flash memory.
3. The circuit module of claim 1 , wherein the circuit module comprises a communication module.
4. The circuit module of claim 1 , wherein the controller module comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and wherein the processor supports a second component that is associated with a CPU-based configuration.
5. The circuit module of claim 4 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
comparing a first redundancy check stored in the circuit module with a second redundancy check stored in the controller module, wherein the first redundancy check and the second redundancy check are associated with the second component; and
comparing a first CPU configuration time stored in the circuit module with a second CPU configuration time stored in controller module.
6. The circuit module of claim 5 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
based on the comparing of the redundancy checks and the CPU configuration times, selecting the configuration source either from a CPU-based configuration source or the internal memory.
7. The circuit module of claim 6 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
selecting the configuration source further based on a new module indicator.
8. The circuit module of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
based on the comparing of the redundancy checks and the CM configuration times, selecting the configuration source either from a web-based configuration source or the internal memory.
9. The circuit module of claim 8 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:
selecting the configuration source further based on a new module indicator.
10. The circuit module of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface supports a compatible interface selected from a group consisting of universal serial bus (USB), Modbus Plus, Ethernet, and backplane bus.
11. A method for configuring a circuit module, the method comprising:
determining a configuration scenario from a set of possible configuration scenarios, the set including a first configuration scenario and a second configuration scenario, the determination comprises:
comparing a first redundancy check stored in the circuit module with a second redundancy check stored in an associated controller module, wherein the first redundancy check and the second redundancy check are associated with a first component of the circuit module; and
comparing a first circuit module (CM) configuration time with a second CM configuration time stored in the associated controller module;
when the determined configuration scenario is the first configuration scenario, selecting an internal configuration source;
when the determined configuration scenario is the second configuration scenario, selecting an external web-based configuration source; and
configuring the first component of the circuit module using configuration data from the selected configuration source.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the internal configuration source comprises a flash memory.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first component is associated with a CPU-based configuration.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
comparing a first CPU configuration time stored in the circuit module and a second CPU configuration time stored in the associated controller module.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
based on the comparing of the redundancy checks and the CPU configuration times, determining the selected configuration source either from a CPU-based configuration source or the internal configuration source.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:
determining a configuration scenario from a set of possible configuration scenarios, the set including a first configuration scenario and a second configuration scenario, the determination comprises:
comparing a first redundancy check stored in the circuit module with a second redundancy check stored in an associated controller module, wherein the first redundancy check and the second redundancy check are associated with a first component of the circuit module; and
comparing a first circuit module (CM) configuration time with a second CM configuration time stored in the associated controller module;
when the determined configuration scenario is the first configuration scenario, selecting an internal configuration source;
when the determined configuration scenario is the second configuration scenario, selecting an external web-based configuration source; and
configuring the circuit module using configuration data from the selected configuration source.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , the method further comprising:
based on the comparing of the redundancy checks and the CM configuration times, determining the selected configuration source either from a web-based configuration source or the internal configuration source.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the component is associated with a CPU-based configuration and the method further comprising:
comparing a first CPU configuration time stored in the circuit module and a second CPU configuration time stored in the associated controller module.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , the method further comprising:
based on the comparing of the redundancy checks and the CPU configuration times, determining the selected configuration source either from a CPU-based configuration source or the internal configuration source.