Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

James A Bizily

Fabio Malaspina

Emily J Smith

Jingfeng Chen

Chunhui Zhu

Yuan Wei

Scott A Pierce

Patrick D Telljohann

Dennis M Wylie

Paul Griesmer

Robert D Law

Fiona Yuan Wei

Jeff Jingfeng Chen

Laura A Pfancuff

Eric C Solderitsch

Elvis Chunhui Zhu

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for providing sets of compatible firmware versions (e.g., cross-compatibility solution) for flashing (e.g., programming or re-programming) different devices of a network of devices (e.g., an industrial automation system) when using a flashing application. Providing the compatible firmware versions of such network of devices may facilitate flashing the devices with compatible firmware, based on a topology of the network of devices, to prevent functional errors in the network of devices. The present systems and methods may also be applicable to determining and providing cross-compatibility solution between different firmware, as well as software, used by different devices of a network of devices. That said, although embodiments described herein are with respect to providing sets of compatible firmware versions for firmware associated with devices of a network, it should be appreciated that similar systems and methods may provide sets of compatible software versions associated with various devices of a network.

Incompatibility notification and optimal compatible solution

An industrial controller within an industrial automation environment is provided. The industrial controller includes a plurality of control devices, and an update controller which is configured to identify control devices that are on a linear topology, identify control devices on the linear topology that require a reset after updating, and identify a hierarchy of the control devices. The update controller is also configured to update control devices within a first level of the hierarchy, and reset the control devices within the first level of the hierarchy after all of the control devices within the first level of the hierarchy have completed updating. The update controller is further configured to concurrently update control devices within a second level of the hierarchy, and concurrently reset the control devices within the second level of the hierarchy after all of the control devices within the second level of the hierarchy have completed updating.

Concurrent updating for linear topologies in an industrial automation environment

A method for updating firmware within an industrial automation environment comprising a plurality of industrial components is provided. The method includes providing an industrial system firmware update menu from an update server to a user through a web interface within an application running on a user device, and receiving one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu from the user through the web interface. The method also includes processing the one or more selections of the industrial system firmware update menu to determine required firmware update files and a firmware update schedule, and transferring the required firmware update files to the industrial components in an order specified by the firmware update schedule.

Launch multiple devices firmware update operation from another application with device list context

A computer program to assist in programming an industrial control system provides a programmer with a functional description of the data of low-level devices in the industrial controller, as gleaned from electronic data sheets, whose data is extracted and combined with mapping data used during the configuration of the industrial controller. The functional description may be used to create a reference for the programmer that may be incorporated into the control program source file.

Integrated programmer reference for industrial control device data

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Willoughby, OH, United States of America

James A Bizily