阅读说明：本技术 系统设计辅助装置、方法、程序及记录介质 (System design support device, method, program, and recording medium ) 是由 藤泽晓 于 2019-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：目的在于提供缩短FA仪器的设定所需要的时间的系统设计辅助装置、方法、程序及记录介质。本发明为系统设计辅助装置,其在由FA仪器构成的FA系统中,基于针对各个FA仪器准备的仪器信息定义文件进行FA仪器的设定,该系统设计辅助装置具有文件分割部、文件读出部。文件分割部将仪器信息定义文件分割为多个参数文件。文件读出部读出进行FA仪器的设定所需要的参数文件,文件分割部将所述仪器信息定义文件分割为多个参数文件。(An object is to provide a system design support device, method, program and recording medium for shortening the time required for setting an FA instrument. The invention provides a system design support device which sets FA instruments based on instrument information definition files prepared for the FA instruments in an FA system composed of the FA instruments, and the system design support device comprises a file dividing unit and a file reading unit. The file dividing unit divides the instrument information definition file into a plurality of parameter files. A file reading unit reads a parameter file necessary for setting an FA instrument, and a file dividing unit divides the instrument information definition file into a plurality of parameter files.)

1. A system design assistance device which, in an FA system constituted by an FA instrument, performs setting of the FA instrument based on an instrument information definition file set for each of a plurality of units constituting the FA instrument,

the system design assistance device is characterized by comprising:

a file dividing unit that divides the device information definition file into a plurality of parameter files in units of predetermined setting conditions;

a file storage unit that stores the divided parameter file; and

and a file reading unit configured to read a parameter file corresponding to the inputted setting condition from among the plurality of stored parameter files when the setting condition is inputted when the parameter file necessary for setting the FA device is read.

2. The system design assistance device of claim 1,

the file dividing unit divides the equipment information definition file into predetermined parameter files for operation setting and communication setting of the FA equipment,

the file reading unit reads a parameter file corresponding to the input setting when the operation setting or the communication setting of the FA apparatus is input.

3. The system design assistance device according to claim 1 or 2,

the instrument information definition file also contains the image information part of the FA instrument,

the file dividing unit divides the image information file from the equipment information definition file in accordance with a condition for setting image information of the FA equipment.

4. The system design assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the instrument information definition file includes an index part related to a structure of the instrument information definition file,

the file dividing unit divides the instrument information definition file based on the information of the index unit.

5. The system design assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the system design support device further comprises a file difference extraction unit for comparing the parameter file 1 which is the parameter file already divided and recorded in the file storage unit with the newly divided parameter file 2 to extract the difference of the files,

when comparing the 1 st and 2 nd parameter files, the file difference extraction unit records the 2 nd parameter file in the file storage unit as a file required for setting the FA device when the two parameter files do not match.

6. The system design assistance device of claim 4,

the index section has information on the data amount of the parameter file,

the system design support device further includes a determination unit that compares a data amount obtained from the information with a threshold value of a preset data amount,

the file dividing unit divides the parameter file when the determining unit determines that the data amount obtained from the information is greater than or equal to a threshold value of a preset data amount.

7. The system design assistance device of claim 4,

the index unit has time information of the parameter file,

the system design support device further comprises a file update unit for comparing the recorded time information of the 1 st parameter file with the time information of the newly divided 2 nd parameter file,

the file updating unit stores the 2 nd parameter file in the file storage unit when the time information is newer than the preset time information.

8. A system design assistance method, in an FA system constituted by an FA instrument, performs setting of the FA instrument based on an instrument information definition file set for each of a plurality of units constituting the FA instrument,

the system design assistance method is characterized by comprising:

a file division step of dividing the instrument information definition file into a plurality of parameter files in units of predetermined setting conditions;

a file storage step of recording the divided parameter file in a storage unit; and

and a file reading step of reading, when the parameter file necessary for setting the FA device is read, a parameter file corresponding to the inputted setting condition among the plurality of parameter files stored in the file storing step, when the setting condition is inputted.

9. A system design assistance program, in an FA system constituted by an FA instrument, for performing setting of the FA instrument based on an instrument information definition file set for each of a plurality of units constituting the FA instrument,

the system design assistance program is characterized by causing a computer to execute:

a file dividing unit configured to divide the device information definition file into a plurality of parameter files in units of predetermined setting conditions;

a file storage unit for recording the divided parameter file in a storage unit; and

and a file reading unit configured to read a parameter file corresponding to the inputted setting condition from among the plurality of parameter files stored in the storage unit by the file recording unit when the setting condition is inputted when the parameter file necessary for setting the FA device is read.

10. A computer-readable recording medium for providing the system design assistance program of claim 9.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system design support device, method, program and recording medium.

Background

In an FA system including an FA (factory automation) instrument (for example, a control device such as a plc (programmable Logic controller)) that controls an instrument operating in a production line such as a factory, there is a system design support device that supports design of the FA system. The user of the system design support apparatus refers to a database in which the device information definition files of the FA devices supported by the system design support apparatus are registered, reads out the device information definition files, and performs setting (for example, setting of parameters) of the FA devices.

In addition, in the FA system, parameters are set for each FA instrument. As a conventional technique related to setting of an FA instrument, for example, there is a method of patent document 1. Patent document 1 discloses that a setting information management device refers to a database in which an equipment information definition file having setting information of an FA equipment is registered, reads setting information of the FA equipment, and sets the FA equipment.

To describe the setting of the FA equipment more specifically, when setting a new parameter for the FA equipment, it is necessary to temporarily stop the control of the FA equipment and perform the parameter setting. Therefore, if the readout of the setting information takes time at the time of parameter setting, the control stop period of the FA instrument is extended. For example, when the data size of the setting information of the FA apparatus is large, it takes time to read the setting information. In this case, it may take a long time to read the setting information of the FA equipment, and the control stop period of the FA equipment may be extended. As a result, the operation of the equipment is hindered.

Patent document 1 discloses that, for the purpose of shortening the control stop period of an FA device at the time of setting the FA device, only information of a portion necessary for setting in a device information definition file of the FA device is read to reduce the size of data to be communicated, thereby suppressing extension of the control stop period of the FA device.

Patent document 1: japanese Kohyo publication No. 2005-284468

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the technique described in patent document 1, the partial information required to execute the setting is read from the setting information of the FA equipment, but since the partial information is read after searching the partial information based on the stored information related to the required partial information in the equipment information definition file, it takes time to read the partial information from the equipment information definition file when setting is performed for a large number of FA equipments. Therefore, there is a problem that the time required for setting the FA equipment is prolonged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system design support device, a method, a program, and a recording medium that shorten the time required for setting an FA device.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a system design support device for setting an FA instrument in an FA system including the FA instrument based on an instrument information definition file prepared for each FA instrument, the system design support device including a file dividing unit and a file reading unit. The file dividing unit divides the instrument information definition file into a plurality of parameter files in units of predetermined setting conditions. A file reading unit reads a parameter file necessary for setting the FA equipment.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system design support device that can shorten the time required for setting an FA instrument.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an FA system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the system design support device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of correspondence between the equipment information definition file according to embodiment 1 and the units constituting the FA equipment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the device information definition file according to embodiment 1 before file division.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the file storage unit according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of the system design support device according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a computer on which the system design support device according to embodiment 1 operates.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the division processing of the device information definition file according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the process of reading out the device information definition file according to embodiment 1.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

Embodiment 1.

The system design support device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 9.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an FA system according to embodiment 1. As shown in fig. 1, the FA system 13 according to embodiment 1 includes a computer CP, a system design support device 10, and an FA apparatus 12A, FA apparatus 12B, FA apparatus 12C. The system design support device 10 operates on the computer CP and is communicably connected to the FA apparatus 12A, FA apparatus 12B, FA apparatus 12C via the network 11. The network may include the internet, lan (local Area network) such as ethernet (registered trademark).

The system design support device 10 according to embodiment 1 can perform setting and the like of various FA apparatuses 12A, 12B, and 12C in the FA system 13 by operating the system design support device 10 via the computer CP by the user P001.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the system design support device according to embodiment 1. As shown in fig. 2, the system design support device 10 according to embodiment 1 is configured by at least a control unit 110 and a file storage unit 111.

The control unit 110 executes various controls in the system design assistance device 10. The control unit 110 includes an instrument information definition file registration unit 101, an instrument information definition file division unit 102, an instrument information definition file reading unit 103, an instrument information definition file difference extraction unit 104, a communication processing unit 105, a determination unit 106, and a file update unit 107. The control unit 110 is directly or indirectly connected to each functional configuration in the computer CP via the bus 8.

The file storage unit 111 includes the database 108 and the device information definition file storage unit 112. Database 108 stores records of instrument information definition files. The record includes identification information of the instrument information definition file and recording position information of various parameter files described later. The device information definition file storage unit 112 stores device information definition files 201A to 201M. As shown in fig. 2, the file storage unit 111 transmits and receives the device information definition file by communicating with the control unit 110.

The system design support device 10 may also have a display unit 9. The display unit 9 has a function of displaying various information related to system design performed by the user P001 of the system design support apparatus 10. The display unit 9 displays a screen used by the user P001 when setting the FA equipment in the FA system using the equipment information definition file. Here, the instrument information definition file is a file used when the user performs a setting or the like of the FA instrument by performing a predetermined operation or the like in the system design support apparatus 10. The display unit 9 displays a screen used by the user P001 to perform setting of the FA instrument, for example, by performing an operation to specify the instrument information definition file.

Next, each configuration of the control unit 110 will be described in detail. The device information definition file registration unit 101 has a function of registering records of the device information definition file recorded in the file storage unit 111 in the database 108. The device information definition file registration unit 101 has a function of recording various parameter files divided by the device information definition file division unit 102 in the file storage unit 111. Specifically, the instrument information definition file registration unit 101 records various parameter files in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in the file storage unit 111. The device information definition file registration unit 101 also has a function of recording a file of the difference extracted by the device information definition file difference extraction unit 104, which will be described later, in the file storage unit 111.

The device information definition file dividing unit 102 has a function of dividing the device information definition file received by the system design support apparatus 10 via the bus 8 into a plurality of parameter files. The equipment information definition file dividing unit 102 divides the equipment information definition file into a plurality of parameter files in units of predetermined setting conditions such as operation setting and communication setting of the FA equipment. The parameter file will be described in detail later.

The device information definition file reading unit 103 reads the device information definition files 201A to 201M from the file storage unit 111, and transfers the files to the RAM of the computer via the bus 8. The device information definition file reading unit 103 reads out parameters necessary for the process executed by the system design support device 10 in accordance with the parameter setting operation in the parameter file divided from the device information definition file. Specifically, a parameter file corresponding to a condition input for setting a process to be executed by the system design support apparatus is read. For example, when communication is performed by a CPU unit that is a unit of an FA device, when an operation for setting communication parameters is input, the communication parameters of the corresponding CPU unit are read. This makes it possible to read out the parameter portion necessary for the process to be executed in a shorter time than in the case of reading out the entire device information definition file. As a result, the time required for the process performed by the system design support apparatus 10 can be shortened. For example, when the user wants to set parameters necessary for communication of the CPU unit, which is a unit of the FA equipment, using the system design support apparatus 10, the equipment information definition file reading unit 104 reads only the communication parameter file of the corresponding CPU unit without reading the operation parameter file and the picture information file of the equipment, and thus the time required for reading the parameter file can be shortened.

Further, by dividing the device information definition file into an operation parameter file, a communication parameter file, and a device drawing information file as a plurality of parameter files, for example, when the device drawing information file has a large capacity, the time required to read out another parameter file can be further shortened. Here, the operation parameter file is a parameter file related to the operation of the FA equipment, the communication parameter file is a parameter file necessary for the FA equipment to communicate via the network, and the picture information file of the equipment is a file related to icons and image information of various FA equipment displayed on the operation screen displayed via the display unit 9 when the user performs system design. The parameter related to the action is, for example, execution of initial processing when there is no FA apparatus startup, or a parameter for controlling an action in the FA apparatus startup. The parameters associated with the communication include, for example, an IP address and a station number.

The device information definition file difference extracting unit 104 has a function of extracting a file different from an already stored file as a difference by checking whether or not a plurality of parameter files, which are device information definition files divided by the device information definition file dividing unit 102, are already stored in the device information definition file storage unit 112. When the difference is extracted, the device information definition file registration unit 101 records a file of the difference in the file storage unit 111 as described above. For example, the device information definition file difference extracting unit 104 has a function of extracting a file different from the already stored file as a difference by checking whether or not the operation parameter file, the communication parameter file, and the picture information file of the device divided by the device information definition file dividing unit 102 are files already stored in the device information definition file storage unit 112. In this case, the device information definition file storage unit 112 does not store the already stored operation parameter file, communication parameter file, and device drawing information file, and therefore, consumption of the storage capacity can be suppressed.

The communication processing unit 105 has a function of controlling communication with the system design support apparatus 10 and various FA devices, and communication with the control unit 110 and the file storage unit 111.

The determination unit 106 has a function of comparing information included in the instrument information definition file with information preset in the system design support apparatus 10 to perform various controls.

The file update unit 107 has a function of overwriting and updating a new instrument information definition file based on information included in the instrument information definition file, and recording the updated new instrument information definition file in the file storage unit 111.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the equipment information definition file according to embodiment 1 and each unit constituting the FA equipment. As shown in fig. 3, in the instrument information definition files 201A to 201M, information corresponding to each of a plurality of units constituting the FA instrument, specifically, a CPU unit a251, a CPU unit B252, a CPU unit C253, a power supply unit a254, a power supply unit B255, a power supply unit C256, an input-output unit a257, an input-output unit B258, a network unit a259, a network unit B260, a network unit C261, a temperature adjustment unit a262, and a power measurement unit a263 is recorded.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the device information definition file 201 before file division. The equipment information definition file 201 is composed of an operation parameter part 301 of an FA equipment, a communication parameter part 302, a picture information part 303 of the equipment, an index 311 of the operation parameter part, an index 312 of the communication parameter part, and an index 313 of the picture information part of the equipment. The index 311 of the operation parameter portion stores information that can specify the head of the operation parameter portion 301, the index 312 of the communication parameter portion stores information that can specify the head of the communication parameter portion 302, and the index 313 of the drawing information portion of the device stores information that can specify the head of the drawing information portion 303 of the device. In embodiment 1, an example is shown in which the device information definition file 201 is configured by 3 of an operation parameter part 301, a communication parameter part 302, and a device drawing information part 303, in addition to the index, but may be configured to include other parameter parts or other information in addition to these. In embodiment 1, the apparatus information definition file dividing unit described above divides the apparatus information definition file 201 into 3 files, i.e., an operation parameter file, a communication parameter file, and an apparatus picture information file.

The index may be configured to include information on the data amount related to each parameter portion. In this case, the system design support device 10 may be configured to transmit a command for creating the parameter file by dividing the parameter portion equal to or larger than the threshold value to the equipment information definition file dividing unit 102 when the determining unit 106 compares the data amount of each parameter portion with the threshold value of the data amount set in advance and determines that the data amount is equal to or larger than the threshold value. In this case, by dividing the parameter portion having a large data size, which takes time to read, it is possible to shorten the time required to read another parameter file. The above determination may be performed by a configuration other than the determination unit 106.

Further, the index may be configured to include time information related to each parameter portion. The time information is, for example, date and time information for creating each parameter in the instrument information definition file. In this case, the system design support apparatus 10 may be configured to transmit a command to record the parameter file overlaid on the original parameter file by the file update unit 107 when the determination unit 106 determines that the time information of each parameter part is newer than the time information of the parameter file stored in advance. In this case, the latest parameter file can be stored in the file storage unit 111. The above determination may be performed by a configuration other than the determination unit 106.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the file storage unit 111. A record of the instrument information definition file is added to the database 108. That is, the equipment information definition file registration unit 101 registers the record information of the equipment information definition files 201A to 201M recorded in the file storage unit 111 in the database 108. Each column of the database 108 includes a device information definition file name column 440, an operation parameter file column 441, a communication parameter file column 442, and a device drawing information file column 443.

The system design support apparatus 10 stores the file names of the device information definition files 201A to 201M in the field 440 of the device information definition file names, stores the recording positions of the operation parameter files of the device information definition files 201A to 201M in the field 441 of the operation parameters, stores the recording positions of the communication parameter files of the device information definition files 201A to 201M in the field 442 of the communication parameters, and stores the recording positions of the picture information files of the devices of the device information definition files 201A to 201M in the field 443 of the picture information of the devices.

The system design support device 10 records the operation parameter file 401, the communication parameter file 402, and the instrument drawing information file 403, which are generated by dividing the instrument information definition file 201A by the instrument information definition file dividing unit 102, in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112. The system design support apparatus 10 also records the operation parameter file, the communication parameter file, and the instrument drawing information file generated by dividing the instrument information definition files 201B to 201M by the instrument information definition file dividing unit 102 in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in the same manner.

As described above, when the instrument information definition file registration unit 101 records a file of difference in the file storage unit 111, only a difference file different from the instrument information definition file already recorded is recorded in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112. That is, the device information definition file registration unit 101 does not record any new operation parameter file, communication parameter file, or device drawing information file, which is a file other than the difference file, in the device information definition file storage unit 112. Therefore, the system design support device 10 does not record the file of the overlapping portion in the instrument information definition file, and therefore can suppress the storage capacity of the instrument information definition file storage unit 112. In addition, since only the difference file is recorded, the recording time can be shortened as compared with the case where all the instrument information definition files are recorded. Fig. 5 shows an example in which the operation parameter file is the same as the operation parameter file of the device information definition file 201B as the parameters included in the device information definition file 201C, and only the communication parameter file 422 which is a difference and the picture information file 423 of the device are recorded.

In embodiment 1, the system design support device 10 divides the instrument information definition file into 3 files, i.e., an operation parameter file, a communication parameter file, and an instrument drawing information file, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may divide the file into 3 or more files.

Fig. 6 is an example of a screen 50 of the system design support apparatus 10 displayed on the display unit 9. The screen 50 of the system design support apparatus 10 is composed of a screen 50 for creating a system configuration diagram of an FA system including FA devices, an operation parameter setting unit 52 for setting parameters related to operations of various FA devices, a communication parameter setting unit 53 for setting parameters related to communication, and a cell display unit 54.

The system design support device 10 reads out the operation parameter file recorded in the equipment information definition file storage unit 112 in accordance with the operation parameter setting operation, and displays a list of parameters related to the operation setting of the FA equipment in the operation parameter setting unit 52. The system design support apparatus 10 reads the communication parameter file recorded in the equipment information definition file storage unit 112 in response to the communication parameter setting operation, and displays a list of parameters related to the communication setting of the FA equipment in the communication parameter setting unit 53. The system design support apparatus 10 reads the picture information file of the instrument recorded in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in accordance with the picture information setting operation, and displays the icon and image of the FA instrument on the unit display unit 54.

As described above, the user of the system design support apparatus 10 sets the system configuration diagram of the FA system, the operation parameters of the FA device, and the communication parameters on the screen 50 of the system design support apparatus 10 using the input/output interface. In this case, the equipment information definition file reading unit 103 of the system design support apparatus 10 reads the parameter file of the equipment information definition file corresponding to each setting operation from the equipment information definition file storage unit 112, and displays the parameter on the screen 50. The user selects the icon or image of the FA equipment displayed on the unit display unit 54 on the screen 50 of the system design support apparatus 10 using the input/output interface, and displays the icon or image of the FA equipment on the FA system configuration diagram 51.

An example of a computer that realizes the same control as the various controls of the system design support apparatus 10 will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 shows an example of a hardware configuration of a computer CP on which the system design support device 10 according to embodiment 1 operates.

The computer CP is composed of a CPU 1, a ram (random Access memory)2, a rom (read Only memory)3, an hdd (hard Disk drive)4, an input/output interface 5, an optical drive 6, a communication interface 7, a bus 8, and a display unit 9. The CPU 1, RAM2, ROM 3, HDD 4, input/output interface 5, optical drive 6, communication interface 7, and display unit 9 are connected directly or indirectly via a bus 8.

The RAM2 is a memory device capable of reading and writing data, and is a semiconductor memory element using an sram (static RAM) or a dram (dynamic RAM). Instead of RAM2, a flash memory may be used. The RAM2 is used as a work area for temporarily storing processing results in various controls executed by the CPU 1. The ROM 3 is a storage device capable of reading out a program and data, and includes a prom (programmable ROM). The ROM 3 is used for recording programs and data for realizing various controls executed by the CPU 1.

The input interface of the input-output interface 5 is a circuit that transmits an input signal from an input device to the CPU 1. The output interface of the input/output interface 5 is a circuit that executes output to an output device in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1. The communication interface 7 is a circuit that controls communication performed via the network 14. The communication Interface 7 is, for example, a Network Interface Card (NIC). The input/output interface 5 may also be 1 unit integrated. The communication interface 7 corresponds to, for example, the communication processing unit 105 of the system design support apparatus 10.

The CPU 1 reads out a program stored in the ROM 3, expands the program in the RAM2, and executes a command included in the program expanded in the RAM 2. The CPU 1 operates in accordance with the result of execution of a command included in the program, and realizes various controls corresponding to each of the functions provided by the device information definition file registration unit, the device information definition file division unit, the device information definition file reading unit, the device information definition file difference extraction unit, the communication processing unit, the determination unit, and the file update unit of the system design support device, for example.

The program stored in the ROM 3 and the data used for the processing realized by the program need not be initially stored in the ROM 3. For example, programs for realizing various controls and data used for processing realized by the programs may be stored in advance in "another computer (or server)" connected to the computer CP via a Network such as a public line, the internet, a LAN, or a WAN (Wide Area Network), and the computer CP may download the programs and data from these computers and execute them, or may record programs and data in a ROM from a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, an eprom (erasable prom), an eeprom (electrically eprom), or the like, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a digital video disk, or the like.

The system design support device 10 according to embodiment 1 is not limited to the embodiment in which the CPU 1 reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 3 in the computer CP as shown in fig. 7. For example, it may be realized by a wiring logic in which a plurality of processing circuits for realizing various controls corresponding to each of the functions provided by the instrument information definition file registration unit 101, the instrument information definition file division unit 102, the instrument information definition file reading unit 103, the instrument information definition file difference extraction unit 104, the communication processing unit 105, the determination unit 106, and the file update unit 107 of the system design support apparatus 10 cooperate with one another. For example, the processing circuitry can apply an ASIC (application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (field Programmable Gate array).

An example of the operation of the system design support apparatus 10 in the storage process of the device information definition file will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the storage process of the device information definition file according to embodiment 1. The control unit 110 receives the instrument information definition file recorded in the file storage unit 111 from the optical disk drive and the communication interface via the bus (step S001).

The instrument information definition file registration unit 101 adds the record of the instrument information definition file recorded in the file storage unit 111 to the database (step S002).

The device information definition file dividing unit 102 divides the device information definition file into an operation parameter file, a communication parameter file, and a device drawing information file in units of preset parameter settings. The division of the operation parameter file is performed by cutting out the position indicated by the index of the operation parameter file to the position indicated by the index of the communication parameter file. The division of the communication parameter file is performed by cutting out the communication parameter file from the position indicated by the index of the communication parameter file to the position indicated by the index of the drawing information file of the instrument. The division of the drawing information file of the instrument is performed by cutting out from the position indicated by the index of the drawing information file of the instrument to the last of the instrument information definition files (step S003).

The device information definition file difference extracting unit 104 compares and checks whether or not the divided operation parameter file, communication parameter file, and picture information file of the device have been already recorded in the device information definition file storing unit 112 (step S004).

The device information definition file difference extracting unit 104 determines whether or not a file completely matching the operation parameter file divided in step S003 is already recorded in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (step S005). When the device information definition file registration unit 101 determines that the completely matched file is not stored (NO at step S005), it records the operation parameter file in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (step S006). The equipment information definition file registration unit 101 registers the recording position of the operation parameter file recorded in step S006 in the column of the operation parameters in the database 108 (step S007). When the device information definition file registration unit 101 determines that the completely matching file is recorded in the device information definition file storage unit 112 as a result of the determination (YES at step S005), it registers the recording position of the completely matching file already recorded in the operation parameter field (step S008).

The device information definition file difference extracting unit 104 determines whether or not a file completely matching the communication parameter file divided in step S003 is already recorded in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (step S009). When it is determined that the completely matching file is not recorded as a result of the determination (step S009, NO), the device information definition file registration unit 101 records the communication parameter file in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (step S010). The device information definition file registration unit 101 registers the storage location of the communication parameter file recorded in step S010 in the field of the communication parameters of the database 108 (step S011). As a result of the determination, when the completely matching file is recorded in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (YES at step S009), the device information definition file registration unit 101 registers the recording position of the completely matching file already recorded in the field of the communication parameters (step S012).

The instrument information definition file difference extracting unit 104 determines whether or not a file completely matching the picture information file of the instrument divided in step S003 is already recorded in the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 (step S013). When it is determined that the completely matching file is not recorded as a result of the determination (step S013, NO), the device information definition file registration unit 101 records the picture information file of the device in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (step S014). The instrument information definition file registration unit 101 registers the recording position of the instrument drawing information file recorded in step S014 in the field of the instrument drawing information of the database 108 (step S015). When the determination result shows that the completely matching file is recorded in the device information definition file storage unit 112 (YES in step S013), the device information definition file registration unit 101 performs a process of registering the recording position of the completely matching file already recorded in the field of the picture information of the device (step S016), and the process shown in fig. 8 is terminated.

An example of the reading process of the device information definition file will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the reading process of the device information definition file according to embodiment 1. Fig. 9 illustrates a flow of a read process performed by the system design support apparatus 10 when setting the operation parameters and setting the communication parameters of the CPU unit a251 shown in fig. 3, with reference to fig. 3 to 5. The flow of the read processing in the case where the system design support apparatus 10 creates a system configuration diagram including the CPU unit a251 with the FA system configuration diagram will be described.

When the user sets the operation parameters of the CPU unit a251 by the system design support device 10 (YES in step S100), the instrument information definition file reading unit 103 reads the operation parameter file 401 of the instrument information definition file 201A from the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in accordance with the input of the operation for setting the operation parameters by the user. When the user sets the communication parameters of the CPU unit a251 by the system design support apparatus 10 (YES in step S101), the instrument information definition file reading unit 103 reads the communication parameter file 402 of the instrument information definition file 201A from the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in accordance with the input of the operation of setting the communication parameters by the user. When the user creates a system configuration diagram including the CPU unit a251 by the system design support apparatus (YES in step S102), the instrument information definition file reading unit 103 reads the instrument drawing information file 403 of the instrument information definition file 201A from the instrument information definition file storage unit 112 in accordance with the input of the operation for setting the drawing information parameters by the user. The system design support device 10 executes the above processing, and ends the processing shown in fig. 9.

As described above, in embodiment 1, the system design support device 10 divides the equipment information definition file corresponding to each of the plurality of units constituting the FA equipment to be designed in the FA system into various parameter files corresponding to the preset parameter setting conditions, records the various parameter files in the equipment information definition file storage unit 112, reads out the parameter file necessary for setting the FA equipment from the equipment information definition file storage unit in accordance with the parameter setting operation, and executes the process of setting the parameters of the FA equipment. That is, according to embodiment 1, since the parameter file required by the user of the system design support apparatus 10 at the time of designing the FA system is read, the time required to read the parameter file can be shortened as compared with the case where the device information definition file including information on all of various parameters is read. As a result, the time required for the process performed by the system design support apparatus 10 can be shortened.

The configurations described in the above embodiments are merely examples of the contents of the present invention, and may be combined with other known techniques, and some of the configurations may be omitted or modified within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

CP computer

10 system design aid

11 network cable

12A FA instrument

12B FA instrument

12C FA instrument

13 FA system

User of P001 system design aid

1 CPU

2 RAM

3 ROM

4 HDD

5 input/output interface

6 CD driver

7 communication interface

8 bus

9 display part

14 network

50 System design support device Screen

51 FA System architecture

52 operation parameter setting unit

53 communication parameter setting unit

54-unit component display unit

101 instrument information definition file registration unit

102 instrument information definition file division unit

103 instrument information definition file reading unit

104 instrument information definition file difference quantity extracting part

105 communication processing unit

106 determination unit

107 file update unit

108 database

110 control part

111 File storage section

112 instrument information definition file storage unit

201A Instrument information definition File for CPU Unit A

201B Instrument information definition File for CPU Unit B

Instrument information definition file of 201C CPU unit C

201D Instrument information definition File for Power Unit A

Instrument information definition file for 201E power supply unit B

Instrument information definition file of 201F power supply unit C

201G Instrument information definition File for input/output Unit A

201H Instrument information definition File of input/output Unit B

Instrument information definition file for 201I network element A

201J network element B instrument information definition file

Instrument information definition file of 201K network element C

201L Instrument information definition File for temperature adjustment Unit A

Instrument information definition file of 201M power measurement unit A

251 CPU unit A

252 CPU Unit B

253 CPU Unit C

254 Power supply Unit A

255 Power supply Unit B

256 power supply unit C

257 input-output cell A

258 input-output cell B

259 network element a

260 network element B

261 network element C

262 temperature adjusting unit A

263 Power measurement Unit A

301 action parameter part of instrument information definition file

302 communication parameters section of instrument information definition file

303 instrument information definition file

311 index of action parameter part

312 index of communication parameter portion

313 apparatus for indexing parts of pictorial information

401 action parameter file of instrument information definition file 201A

402 communication parameter file of instrument information definition file 201A

403 drawing information file of instrument information definition file 201A

411 operation parameter file of instrument information definition file 201B

412 communication parameter file of the instrument information definition file 201B

413 drawing information file of instrument of the instrument information definition file 201B

422 communication parameter file of instrument information definition file 201C

423 drawing information file of instrument of the instrument information definition file 201C

431 action parameter file of instrument information definition file 201M

432 instrument information definition file 201M communication parameter file

433 drawing information file of instrument of the instrument information definition file 201M

440 database Instrument information definition filename column

Column of action parameters of 441 database

442 database communication parameter column

443 drawing information column of database instrument