User defined port and protocol scheme for a programmable logic controller

Claim 1

A programmable logic controller, operable to communicate with external hardware under one of a plurality of predefined communication protocols different from resident communication protocols of said programmable logic controller, said controller comprising: a communications port responsive to a predetermined condition for switching between a first mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and the external hardware using one of the plurality of communication protocols, and a second mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and a programming device using one of the resident communication protocols; a memory for storing a resident program said memory being configurable with one of the plurality of communication protocols; a removable memory cartridge for at least one of i) uploading the resident program from the memory to the removable memory cartridge and ii) downloading the resident program to the memory from the removable memory cartridge, the program being configurable with one of the plurality of communication protocols; processing means, coupled to the memory and coupled to the communications port, for executing the resident program for transferring a plurality of data values between said programmable logic controller and said external hardware, and for detecting the predetermined condition and causing the communications port to switch from the second mode to the first mode of communications; input means for receiving input data values of the plurality of data values from said external hardware, said input means being coupled to said processing means; and, output means for transmitting output data values of the plurality of data values to said external hardware, said output means being coupled to said processing means.

Claim 9

A method for operating a communications port of a programmable logic controller utilizing a resident protocol for internal processing to communicate under one of a plurality of predefined communication protocols, different from the resident protocol, which predefined communications protocols are used by external hardware, said method comprising the steps of: alerting said programmable logic controller to switch the communications port between a first mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and the external hardware using one of the plurality of predefined communications protocols and a second mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and a programming device using the resident communications protocol; configuring an operating program stored in said programmable logic controller to use said one of a plurality of predefined communications protocols and the resident communications protocol; uploading said operating program from said programmable logic controller to a removable memory cartridge in response to a first command from said programmable logic controller; downloading said operating program from said removable memory cartridge to said programmable logic controller in response to a second command from said programmable logic controller; and, executing communications by said operating program with said external hardware under said one of a plurality of predefined communications protocols while said programmable logic controller is still under the alert of said change in communications protocols.

Claim 10

A method for operating a communications port of a programmable logic controller utilizing a resident protocol for internal processing to communicate under one of a plurality of predefined communication protocols, different from the resident protocol, which predefined communications protocols are used by external hardware, said method comprising the steps of: alerting said programmable logic controller to switch the communications port between a first mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and the external hardware using one of the plurality of predefined communications protocols and a second mode of communications for communicating between the programmable logic controller and a programming device using the resident communications protocol; configuring an operating program stored in said programmable logic controller to use said one of a plurality of predefined communications protocols and the resident communications protocol; uploading said operating program from said programmable logic controller to a removable memory cartridge in response to a first command from said programmable logic controller; downloading said operating program from said removable memory cartridge to said programmable logic controller in response to a second command from said programmable logic controller; and, executing communications by said operating program with said external hardware under said one of a plurality of predefined communications protocols while said programmable logic controller is still under the alert of said change in communications protocols.