system and method for storing data in an industrial production environment, and article of manufacture for operating an intelligent programmable logic controller

摘要

The present invention relates to a system for storing data in an industrial production environment that includes a distributed database stored in a plurality of intelligent programmable logic controller devices. each smart, programmable logic controller device includes a volatile, computer readable storage medium comprising a process image area; a nonvolatile computer readable storage medium; a control application; an input / output component; a history component; and a distributed data management component. The control application is configured to provide operating instructions for a production unit. The input / output component is configured to update the process image area during each scan cycle with data associated with the production unit. The history component is configured to store automation system data comprising the operating instructions and the contents of the process image area on nonvolatile, computer readable storage media. The distributed data management component is configured to facilitate distributed operations involving automation system data across the plurality of intelligent, programmable logic controller devices.