WO2024189749A1

WO2024189749A1 - Verification program, verification device, verification system, and verification method

Info

Publication number: WO2024189749A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/009701
Authority: WO
Inventors: 彰祐稲垣
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2023-03-13
Filing date: 2023-03-13
Publication date: 2024-09-19
Also published as: JP7433553B1

Abstract

Provided is a verification program that causes a computer, which verifies the validity of the content of a sequence program installed in a programmable logic controller, to function as: a verification process definition assistance unit (210) which provides, to a user, a verification process definition environment for defining a verification process; and a verification process execution unit (220) which executes the verification process. In the verification process definition assistance unit (210), a unit process object group presentation unit (211) presents a unit process object group composed of a plurality of unit process objects representing predefined unit processes to be executed by the verification process execution unit (220). A verification process definition environment provision unit (212) provides, to the user, in response to the user selecting a plurality of unit process objects from the unit process object group, a verification process definition environment for defining the verification process by a combination of unit processes respectively represented by the plurality of unit process objects that have been selected.

Description

VERIFICATION PROGRAM, VERIFICATION APPARATUS, VERIFICATION SYSTEM, AND VERIFICATION METHOD

This disclosure relates to a verification program, a verification device, a verification system, and a verification method.

Programmable logic controllers are known as devices that control the equipment involved in production on a manufacturing line. Programmable logic controllers (hereafter referred to as PLCs) control equipment by executing sequence programs.

As disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a sequence program is created or its contents are modified, a verification device is used to verify the validity of the sequence program. The verification device of Patent Document 1 has a function of presenting a number of predetermined verification contents to the user as options. For each verification content, a verification process is defined in advance, which indicates the procedure for executing that verification content.

The user selects the desired verification content from among multiple verification contents presented by the verification device. The verification device then executes the verification process corresponding to the selected verification content. In this way, the verification of the content desired by the user is carried out.

If the verification confirms the validity of the sequence program, it can be said that the PLC that executes that sequence program will also operate normally. Therefore, the sequence program is officially installed in the PLC. On the other hand, if the validity of the sequence program is denied, debugging is performed to correct the program code that is causing the denial.

JP 2002-297205 A

The verification device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a function to present multiple predefined verification processes to the user, but does not provide the user with an environment suitable for defining the verification process itself. If the user tries to define a new verification process that is not included in the presented options, a considerable amount of effort is required.

The objective of this disclosure is to provide a verification program, a verification device, a verification system, and a verification method that can easily define a verification process that represents the procedure for verifying a sequence program.

The verification program according to the present disclosure functions as a verification process definition support unit that provides a user with a verification process definition environment that defines a verification process that realizes the verification of validity, and the verification process includes an execution condition assignment process that assigns an execution condition for verification to an execution device that executes the sequence program, and a verification process execution unit that executes the verification process defined using the verification process definition environment, (I) causes the execution device to execute the sequence program in a manner that reflects the execution condition, and (II) obtains the execution result of the sequence program from the execution device and performs verification using the obtained execution result. The verification process definition support unit has a unit process object group presentation unit that presents a unit process object group that is composed of a plurality of unit process objects that each represent a predefined unit process to be executed by the verification process execution unit, and includes a unit process object that represents an execution condition assignment process as a unit process, and a verification process definition environment provision unit that provides a user with a verification process definition environment that defines a verification process by a combination of unit processes represented by each of the selected unit process objects when the user selects a plurality of unit process objects from the presented unit process object group.

The above configuration provides the user with a verification process definition environment, making it easy to define a verification process that represents the steps for verifying a sequence program.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a verification system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a verification device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing functions of a verification device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one aspect of a basic screen according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one aspect of a verification process definition screen according to an embodiment; FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another aspect of the basic screen according to the embodiment; FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating still another example of the basic screen according to the embodiment; FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one aspect of a type selection screen according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an editing position designation screen according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an editing content input screen according to an embodiment; Flowchart of verification process definition support process according to an embodiment Flowchart of unit process definition support processing according to an embodiment

The following describes the embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the verification system 600 according to this embodiment includes a verification device 200 that verifies the validity of the contents of the sequence program installed in the PLC (hereinafter, simply referred to as verification), and an execution device 400 that executes the sequence program for verification.

The execution device 400 can be configured with a PLC, a simulator, etc. The simulator executes a sequence program to virtually reproduce the control operations specified by the sequence program. When the execution device 400 is a simulator, the verification system 600 can also be configured with a single computer. The computer may be an engineering tool that provides the user with an environment for creating a sequence program.

The configuration of the verification device 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The verification device 200 includes a communication device 200a that is responsible for communicating various data required for verification with the execution device 400 shown in FIG. 1.

The verification device 200 also includes a display device 200b that displays information related to verification support, such as what type of verification is to be performed, and an input device 200c for inputting, selecting, specifying, etc., various data required for verification. The input device 200c and the display device 200b may form a touch screen.

The verification device 200 also includes a storage device 200d that stores the sequence program 200e to be verified. The storage device 200d stores a verification program 200f that provides an environment to support the verification of the sequence program 200e.

The verification device 200 also includes a processor 200i that executes the verification program 200f. Below, the functions realized by the processor 200i executing the verification program 200f will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the verification device 200 includes a verification process definition support unit 210 that supports the definition of a series of processes (hereinafter referred to as a verification process) that realizes verification, and a verification process execution unit 220 that executes the defined verification process.

The verification device 200 also holds defined unit processing group data 200g that is used as a library for defining verification processes. The defined unit processing group data 200g is stored in the storage device 200d shown in FIG. 2.

The defined unit process group data 200g represents a collection of predefined processes (hereafter referred to as unit processes) that can be executed by the verification process execution unit 220. Each unit process has the versatility to be used as a component of various verification processes. In other words, each unit process has the significance of being a general-purpose component.

The verification process definition support unit 210 has a unit process object group presentation unit 211 that uses the defined unit process group data 200g to present a unit process object group made up of a plurality of unit process objects each of which represents a unit process. Here, "present" specifically means to display on the display device 200b shown in FIG. 2.

The verification process definition support unit 210 also has a verification process definition environment provision unit 212 that provides the user with a verification process definition environment for defining the verification process.

In the verification process definition environment, the user can select multiple desired unit process objects from the group of unit process objects presented by the unit process object group presentation unit 211, that is, multiple unit process objects representing multiple unit processes to be used as components of the verification process to be defined.

In addition, in the verification process definition environment, the user can also specify the execution order between multiple unit processes represented by multiple unit process objects selected from a group of unit process objects.

The verification process definition environment providing unit 212 defines a verification process by combining unit processes represented by each of the multiple unit process objects selected by the user in an execution order specified by the user.

The verification process includes, as a unit process, an execution condition assignment process that assigns execution conditions for verification to the execution device 400 shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the unit process object group presented by the unit process object group presentation unit 211 includes a unit process object that represents the execution condition assignment process as a unit process.

In addition, one of the features of this embodiment is that the unit process object group presented by the unit process object group presentation unit 211 includes a unit process object that represents an editing process as a unit process.

The editing process is a unit process that edits the sequence program 200e prior to execution of the sequence program 200e by the execution device 400 shown in FIG. 1. However, the verification process does not necessarily have to include the editing process.

The verification process execution unit 220 (I) causes the execution device 400 to execute the sequence program 200e in a manner that reflects the above-mentioned execution conditions, in accordance with the definition of the verification process defined using the above-mentioned verification process definition environment. The verification process execution unit 220 also (II) acquires the execution results of the sequence program 200e from the execution device 400, and performs verification using the acquired execution results. These operations (1) and (II) are realized by the verification process execution unit 220 executing the verification process.

Below, the operation of the verification process definition support unit 210 and the verification process execution unit 220 will be explained with specific examples, with reference to Figures 4 to 7.

FIG. 4 shows the basic screen 110 that the verification process definition support unit 210 causes to be displayed on the display device 200b. To define a verification process, the user first presses a button 111 that instructs the user to start defining the verification process. Here, "pressing a button" specifically means a click operation using a mouse, a touch operation on a touch screen, etc. When the user presses the button 111, the verification process definition support unit 210 transitions the basic screen 110 to the verification process definition screen 120 shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the verification process definition screen 120 displays a name input field 121 for inputting the name of the verification process to be defined. In FIG. 5, the name "Test 2" has been input by the user into the name input field 121. The input device 200c is used for input.

The verification process definition screen 120 also displays the unit process object group 122 described above. In FIG. 5, three unit process objects 122a, 122b, and 122c are displayed among those that make up the unit process object group 122. The user can also use the scroll button 123 to check the other unit process objects that make up the unit process object group 122.

The verification process definition screen 120 also has a button 124 for each unit process object that makes up the unit process object group 122. By pressing the button 124 that corresponds to the desired unit process object, the user can check in detail the contents of the unit process represented by that unit process object.

The verification process definition screen 120 provides the verification process definition environment described above. That is, the user can select multiple desired unit process objects from the unit process object group 122. The user can also specify the execution order between multiple unit processes represented by the selected multiple unit process objects.

The verification process is defined by selecting multiple unit process objects and specifying the execution order. The input device 200c is used for the selection and specification.

In FIG. 5, unit process objects 122b and 122c are selected by the user from the unit process object group 122. The input device 200c is used for the selection. FIG. 5 also illustrates a situation in which an execution order is specified in the execution order specification field 128 such that the unit process represented by unit process object 122c is executed after the unit process represented by unit process object 122b. The input device 200c is used to specify the execution order in the execution order specification field 128.

In this specific example, the unit process object 122b represents the execution condition assignment process described above as a unit process. The unit process represented by the unit process object 122b also corresponds to the editing process described above.

The verification process definition environment providing unit 212 defines the verification process by combining the unit processes represented by the unit process objects 122b and 122c selected by the user in the execution order specified in the execution order specification field 128. When the definition of the verification process is completed in this manner, the user presses button 125. Then, the verification process definition support unit 210 returns the verification process definition screen 120 to the basic screen 110 shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, after the definition of the verification process is completed, a verification process object 114a representing the defined verification process is displayed on the basic screen 110. In this state, when the user presses the button 113 to instruct the execution of the verification, the verification process execution unit 220 executes the verification process represented by the verification process object 114a.

Then, the verification process execution unit 220 displays the verification result 115a. Figure 6 illustrates an example in which the verification result 115a corresponding to the verification process object 114a affirms the validity of the sequence program 200e.

Note that while FIG. 6 shows only one verification process object 114a representing one verification process, the user can also define multiple verification processes with different execution conditions for the same sequence program 200e in the manner described with reference to FIG. 5. In other words, the sequence program 200e can be verified from multiple, mutually different perspectives.

As shown in FIG. 7, when multiple verification processes are defined by the verification process definition support unit 210, verification process objects 114a, 114b, and 114c representing the multiple verification processes are displayed on the basic screen 110. When the user presses the button 113 to instruct execution, the verification process execution unit 220 executes the multiple verification processes represented by the multiple verification process objects 114a, 114b, and 114c all at once.

Then, the verification process execution unit 220 displays a list of the verification results 115 for each of the multiple verification processes. The verification results 115 are displayed by verification process, i.e., by verification process object 114. FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the verification result 115a corresponding to the verification process object 114a and the verification result 115b corresponding to the verification process object 114b affirm the validity of the sequence program 200e, and the verification result 115c corresponding to the verification process object 114c denies the validity of the sequence program 200e.

Let's return to Figure 3 to continue the explanation. The verification device 200 also has a unit process definition support section 260 that supports the definition of new unit processes.

The unit process definition support section 260 provides the user with a unit process definition environment for defining a unit process. When a new unit process is defined using the unit process definition environment, the unit process definition support section 260 adds the unit process to the defined unit process group data 200g, which is a library of materials that make up a verification process. As a result, a unit process object representing the unit process is included in the unit process object group 122 described above.

The unit process definition support section 260 has a type presentation section 230 that presents multiple types of unit processes that can be defined, and a type selection section 240 that accepts a selection from the user as to which of the multiple types presented by the type presentation section 230 the type of unit process that the user is trying to define corresponds to.

The unit process definition support unit 260 also has a necessary item input unit 250 that presents input items according to the type selected using the type selection unit 240. The necessary item input unit 250 accepts input from the user of the necessary items required to define the type of unit process selected by the user into the presented input items.

As described above, in this embodiment, the unit process object group 122 includes a unit process object that represents an edit process as a unit process. In other words, the user can define an edit process as a unit process. Therefore, the multiple types presented by the type presentation unit 230 include a type (hereinafter referred to as an edit type) in which editing is performed on the sequence program 200e prior to execution of the sequence program 200e by the execution device 400.

The required information input unit 250 has an edit type selection unit 251 that accepts, from the user, the selection of the type of edit to be applied to the sequence program 200e when the type selection unit 240 accepts the selection of the edit type as the type.

Specifically, the edit type selection unit 251 accepts a selection from the user as to the type of edit: adding program code to the sequence program 200e, deleting program code from the sequence program 200e, or changing part of the content of the sequence program 200e.

The required item input unit 250 also has an edit position designation unit 252 that accepts input from the user of the position in the sequence program 200e where the edit is to be performed (hereinafter referred to as the edit position) following the selection of the type of edit. The edit position is an example of the required items described above.

The required item input unit 250 also has an edited content input unit 253 that accepts input of the edited content (hereinafter, edited content) from the user following input of the edit position. The edited content is another example of the required items described above.

Below, the operation of the unit process definition support unit 260 will be explained with specific examples, with reference to Figures 8 to 10.

FIG. 8 shows the type selection screen 130 that the type presentation unit 230 causes the display device 200b to display. Note that this type selection screen 130 is displayed when the button 126, which instructs the user to start defining the unit process, is pressed on the verification process definition screen 120 shown in FIG. 5.

The type selection screen 130 presents the following types of unit processing that can be defined: (a1) editing the sequence program 200e; (a2) writing the sequence program 200e to the execution device 400; (a3) changing the current value of a device or label as a variable included in the sequence program 200e; and (a4) checking whether the value of a device or label as a variable included in the sequence program 200e is the expected value.

The user selects which type of unit process he or she wishes to define from the presented types (a1)-(a4). The input device 200c is used for the selection. Figure 8 illustrates an example of a situation in which type (a1), i.e., the editing type described above, has been selected. The following describes the operation of the unit process definition support section 260 when type (a1) has been selected.

After the user selects the editing type, type (a1), he/she presses button 131 to indicate completion of the selection. If the type selected by the user is an editing type, the required information input unit 250 transitions the type selection screen 130 to the editing position designation screen 140 shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, the edit position designation screen 140 has an edit type presentation field 141 in which multiple edit types are presented. Specifically, the edit type presentation field 141 presents three types of edits: (b1) adding program code to the sequence program 200e, (b2) deleting program code from the sequence program 200e, and (b3) changing part of the content of the sequence program 200e.

The user uses the type selection button 142 to select the desired type from among the multiple types (b1)-(b3) presented in the edit type presentation field 141. Figure 9 shows an example of the situation in which type (b1) has been selected.

The editing position specification screen 140 also has an editing position input field 145 for inputting the editing position of the sequence program 200e. The user inputs the editing position into the editing position input field 145. The input device 200c is used for input.

Note that the editing position input field 145 is an example of an input field according to the type selected using the type selection unit 240. Also, the editing position input into the editing position input field 145 is an example of a required item to be input into an input field.

Specifically, the edit position input field 145 is composed of a row input field 143 for inputting a row in the sequence program 200e, and a column input field 144 for inputting a column. The user inputs the number of the row to be edited in the row input field 143, and the number of the column to be edited in the column input field 144.

After inputting the type of edit and the edit position, the user presses button 146 to indicate completion of the input. When button 146 is pressed, the edit content input unit 253 transitions the edit position designation screen 140 to the edit content input screen 150 shown in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, the edited content input screen 150 has an edited content input field 151 for inputting edited content. The user inputs the edited content into the edited content input field 151. The input device 200c is used for input.

Specifically, the user inputs the editing content corresponding to the type (b1) that he or she previously selected, i.e., the specific program code to be added to the sequence program 200e, into the editing content input field 151.

The editing content input field 151 is an example of an input field corresponding to the type selected using the type selection unit 240 and the type selected using the editing type selection unit 251. The editing content entered in the editing content input field 151 is another example of the necessary information to be entered in an input field.

The edit content input screen 150 also has a unit process name input field 152 where the user inputs the name of the unit process defined by the operations up to that point. In FIG. 10, the name "Program Edit 2" has been input by the user into the unit process name input field 152. The input device 200c is used for input.

When the user has defined the desired unit process using the unit process definition environment in the above manner, he or she presses button 153, which indicates completion of the definition. When button 153 is pressed, the unit process definition support section 260 returns the edit content input screen 150 to the verification process definition screen 120 shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the unit process object group 122 includes a unit process object 122b that represents the unit process named "Program Edit 2" that was previously input by the user. This is because the unit process definition support section 260, upon pressing the button 153 shown in FIG. 10, added the newly defined unit process to the defined unit process group data 200g as a library.

Returning to FIG. 8, the explanation will continue. When the user selects the type (a3) already described, i.e., "change device/label current value" on the type selection screen 130, the required item input unit 250 accepts the selection of whether the target for which the current value is to be changed is a device or a label, and presents an input field for inputting the name of the target for which the current value is to be changed, and presents an input field for inputting the changed value. Here, the target name and the changed value are each an example of the required items already described.

Furthermore, if the user selects the type (a4) already described, i.e., "check device/label," the required item input unit 250 accepts the selection of whether the target for checking the current value is a device or a label, and presents an input field for inputting the name of the target for checking the current value, and presents an input field for inputting the expected value, which is the correct value expected for that current value. Here, the name of the target and the expected value are each examples of the required items already described.

When the definition of the above-mentioned type (a4) of unit process is completed and the unit process object representing that unit process is selected by the user as a component of the verification process on the verification process definition screen 120 in FIG. 5, the above expected value is used for verification.

In other words, the verification process execution unit 220 determines whether the device or label value obtained as the execution result from the execution device 400 that executed the sequence program 200e matches the expected value. If the execution result matches the expected value, the verification process execution unit 220 affirms the validity of the sequence program 200e, and if the execution result does not match the expected value, the verification process execution unit 220 denies the validity of the sequence program 200e.

Returning to FIG. 3, the explanation will be continued. The verification device 200 also includes a defined unit process editing section 270 for editing the contents of a unit process that has already been defined using the unit process definition environment described above (hereinafter, referred to as a defined unit process).

The defined unit process editing unit 270 presents a list of previously defined unit processes and accepts the user's selection of a defined unit process to be used as a template from the presented list of defined unit processes. The defined unit process editing unit 270 then edits the contents of the selected defined unit process, thereby providing the user with a defined unit process editing environment in which the contents are used as a template to define a unit process different from the previously defined unit process.

The defined unit process editing unit 270 obtains the contents of the defined unit process to be edited from the defined unit process group data 200g. The defined unit process editing unit 270 also adds the unit process newly defined by editing to the defined unit process group data 200g.

Referring to Figure 5, the defined unit process editing environment provided by the defined unit process editing unit 270 will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the verification process definition screen 120 has a button 124 for each unit process object that makes up the unit process object group 122.

The user can edit the contents of the defined unit process represented by the unit process object by pressing the button 124 corresponding to the unit process object that represents the defined unit process that the user wants to edit. This makes it easy to define a unit process that is different from the defined unit process by using the contents of the defined unit process as a template.

The verification process definition screen 120 also has a button 127 for instructing copying of a defined unit process. The button 127 is pressed when a desired unit process object is selected from the unit process object group 122.

This also allows you to edit a copy of the defined unit process represented by the selected unit process object. In other words, you can define a unit process that is different from the defined unit process while leaving the defined unit process that you want to edit and the unit process object that represents it intact.

Returning to FIG. 3, the explanation will be continued. The verification device 200 holds the contents of each verification process that has already been defined using the verification process definition environment described above (hereinafter, referred to as a defined verification process) as defined verification process group data 200h. The defined verification process group data 200h is stored in the storage device 200d shown in FIG. 2.

The verification device 200 also includes a defined verification process editing unit 280 for editing the contents of the defined verification process.

The predefined verification process editing unit 280 presents a list of predefined verification processes defined in the past, and accepts the user's selection of a process to be used as a template from the presented list of predefined verification processes. The predefined verification process editing unit 280 then edits the contents of the selected predefined verification process, thereby providing the user with a predefined verification process editing environment in which the contents are used as a template to define a verification process different from the predefined verification process.

The defined verification process editing unit 280 obtains the contents of the defined verification process to be edited from the defined verification process group data 200h. The defined verification process editing unit 280 also adds the verification process newly defined by editing to the defined verification process group data 200h.

Referring to Figure 7, the defined verification process editing environment provided by the defined verification process editing unit 280 will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of verification process objects 114 representing defined verification processes can be displayed on the basic screen 110. A button 116 is provided for each verification process object 114.

By pressing button 116 corresponding to the verification process object that represents the predefined verification process that the user wants to edit, the user can edit the contents of the predefined verification process represented by that verification process object. This makes it possible to easily define a verification process that is different from the predefined verification process by using the contents of the predefined verification process as a template.

The basic screen 110 also has a button 112 for instructing to copy a defined verification process. The button 112 is pressed when a desired verification process object 114 is selected. This makes it possible to edit a copy of the defined verification process represented by the selected verification process object. In other words, it is possible to define a verification process that is different from the defined verification process, while leaving the defined verification process to be edited and the verification process object that represents it intact.

The operation of the verification device 200 described above will be summarized below. First, with reference to FIG. 11, the verification process definition support process performed by the verification process definition support unit 210 and the verification process execution unit 220 will be described.

The verification process definition support process shown in FIG. 11 includes steps S11-S14 as an example of a verification process definition support step in which a computer provides a verification process definition environment to a user, and steps S15-S16 as an example of a verification process execution step in which a computer performs verification. A detailed explanation is provided below.

First, the unit process object group presentation unit 211 presents the unit process object group 122 as a library (step S11). The presented unit process object group 122 includes a unit process object that represents an execution condition assignment process as a unit process, and a unit process object that represents an editing process as a unit process.

Note that step S11 is an example of a unit process object group presentation step in which the computer presents the unit process object group 122.

Then, the verification process definition support unit 210 accepts from the user a selection of multiple unit process objects desired by the user from the presented unit process object group 122, and a specification of the execution order between the multiple unit processes represented by the multiple selected unit process objects (step S12). The selected unit process objects include a unit process object representing an execution condition assignment process.

Next, the verification process definition support unit 210 defines a verification process by combining the unit processes represented by each of the multiple unit process objects selected by the user in the execution order specified by the user (step S13).

The verification process definition support unit 210 saves the contents of the verification process defined in step S13 in the storage device 200d by adding it to the defined verification process group data 200h (step S14). Therefore, from the next time onwards, the contents of the verification process defined in step S13 can be used as a template for defining another verification process.

Note that steps S12-S14 are an example of a verification process definition environment providing step in which the computer provides the user with a verification process definition environment.

Next, the verification process execution unit 220 executes the verification process defined in step S13, causing the execution device 400 to execute the sequence program 200e in a manner that reflects the execution conditions (step S15). The verification process execution unit 220 then causes the execution device 400 to present the results of the verification (step S16). This completes the verification process definition support process.

Next, the unit process definition support process performed by the unit process definition support unit 260 will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 12, first, the type presentation unit 230 presents multiple types of unit processes that can be defined (step S21). Next, the type selection unit 240 accepts a selection from the user as to which of the multiple types presented by the type presentation unit 230 the type of unit process that the user is trying to define corresponds to (step S22).

Next, when the type selection unit 240 accepts the selection of an edit type as the type of unit processing, the edit type selection unit 251 accepts the selection of the edit type from the user (step S23).

Next, following the selection of the editing type, the editing position designation unit 252 accepts input of the editing position in the sequence program 200e from the user (step S24). Next, following the input of the editing position, the editing content input unit 253 accepts input of the editing content from the user (step S25).

The unit process definition support unit 260 defines the editing process as a unit process based on the input items received in steps S23-25 (step S26).

Then, the unit process definition support unit 260 saves the contents of the edit process defined as the unit process in the storage device 200d by adding it to the defined unit process group data 200g (step S27). Therefore, from the next time onwards, the contents of the edit process defined in step S26 can be used as a template for defining another edit process.

The verification device 200 according to the present embodiment described above provides the following advantages.

　Although conventional devices have the functionality to present the user with multiple verification processes that are prepared in advance as options, they do not provide the user with an environment suitable for defining a new verification process that is not included in the presented options.

In contrast, in the verification device 200 according to this embodiment, not only is the predefined verification process editing unit 280 able to provide the user with a function for presenting multiple predefined verification processes that have been prepared as options, but the verification process definition support unit 210 also provides the user with a verification process definition environment. This allows the user to easily define a new verification process that is not included in the options presented.

Specifically, the user only needs to select multiple unit process objects as generic components for constructing a desired verification process from the unit process object group 122, which is a list of generic components for constructing any verification process. The verification process definition environment providing unit 212 defines the verification process by combining unit processes represented by each of the multiple unit process objects selected by the user.

In addition, conventional devices have the function of presenting to the user a number of verification processes prepared in advance as options, but do not present to the user verification processes that include editing processes. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the unit process object group 122 presented to the user includes a unit process object that represents editing processes. Therefore, when the user selects a unit process object that represents editing processes, a verification process that includes editing processes is defined.

　Conventionally, when one wanted to verify the control operation when a certain transition condition was met, if that transition condition was difficult to meet, verifying that control operation was time-consuming. Specifically, in order to meet the transition condition, it was necessary to adjust the values of many different devices or labels, and this adjustment was time-consuming. In other words, it was time-consuming to specify the conditions for executing the verification.

In contrast, according to this embodiment, the above transition conditions can be temporarily disabled by editing, eliminating the need to adjust device or label values. As an example, if the sequence program 200e has a structure that transitions to a specific program module (hereinafter referred to as an interrupt program) when an interrupt condition is satisfied, disabling the interrupt condition in editing makes it possible to immediately verify the contents of the interrupt program regardless of whether the interrupt condition is satisfied.

Note that the edits made through the editing process are reflected temporarily for the convenience of verification. After verification, the contents of the sequence program 200e are automatically restored to the contents before the edits by the verification process execution unit 220.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the user is also provided with a unit process definition environment for defining the unit process itself, including the above-mentioned editing process. Therefore, the user can easily define a new unit process that is different from the already created defined unit process, while being prompted to input the necessary information according to the type of unit process. In particular, the user can easily define the editing process by selecting the type of editing, inputting the editing position, and inputting the editing content.

The above describes an embodiment. The following variations are also possible.

By installing the verification program 200f shown in FIG. 2 in an existing computer, the computer can function as the verification device 200 according to the embodiment. The concept of computer includes an engineering tool and a PLC. The engineering tool or the PLC may include a simulator as the execution device 400. The verification program 200f may be distributed via a communication network, or may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium and distributed.

Various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure are possible without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the disclosure equivalent thereto are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

110 Basic screen, 114, 114a, 114b, 114c Verification process object, 115, 115a, 115b, 115c Verification result, 120 Verification process definition screen, 121 Name input field, 122 Unit process object group, 122a, 122b, 122c Unit process object, 123 Scroll button, 128 Execution order specification field, 130 Type selection screen, 140 editing position designation screen, 141 editing type presentation field, 142 type selection button, 143 row input field, 144 column input field, 145 editing position input field (input field), 150 editing content input screen, 151 editing content input field (input field), 152 unit processing name input field, 111, 112, 113, 116, 124, 125, 126, 127, 131, 14 6,153 button, 200 verification device, 200a communication device, 200b display device, 200c input device, 200d storage device, 200e sequence program, 200f verification program, 200g defined unit processing group data, 200h defined verification processing group data, 200i processor, 210 verification processing definition support section, 211 unit processing object group presentation section, 212 verification processing definition environment provision section, 220 verification processing execution section, 230 type presentation section, 240 type selection section, 250 required item input section, 251 editing type selection section, 252 editing position designation section, 253 editing content input section, 260 unit processing definition support section, 270 defined unit processing editing section, 280 defined verification processing editing section, 400 execution device, 600 verification system.

Claims

A computer that verifies the validity of the contents of a sequence program installed in a programmable logic controller.
a verification process definition support unit that provides a user with a verification process definition environment that defines a verification process for implementing the validity verification, the verification process including an execution condition assignment process that assigns an execution condition for the verification to an execution device that executes the sequence program;
a verification process execution unit that executes the verification process defined using the verification process definition environment, (I) causes the execution device to execute the sequence program in a manner that reflects the execution conditions, and (II) acquires an execution result of the sequence program from the execution device and performs the verification using the acquired execution result;
Function as a
The verification process definition support unit
a unit process object group presentation unit which presents a unit process object group including a unit process object which represents the execution condition assignment process as the unit process, the unit process object group being composed of a plurality of unit process objects each representing a predefined unit process to be executed by the verification process execution unit;
a verification process definition environment providing unit which, when a user selects a plurality of the unit process objects from the presented group of unit process objects, provides the user with the verification process definition environment which defines the verification process by a combination of the unit processes represented by each of the selected plurality of unit process objects;
A verification program having the following features:
The unit processing object group includes:
the unit process object representing an edit process, which is the unit process for editing the sequence program prior to execution of the sequence program by the execution device;
The verification program according to claim 1 , comprising:
The computer,
a unit process definition support section that provides a user with a unit process definition environment for defining the unit process, and when a new unit process is defined using the unit process definition environment, includes the unit process object representing the new unit process in the unit process object group;
It also functions as
The unit process definition support unit
a type presenting unit that presents a plurality of types of the unit process that can be defined;
a type selection unit that receives from the user a selection of one of a plurality of types presented by the type presentation unit as to which the type of the unit process that the user is about to define corresponds;
a required item input unit that presents input items corresponding to the type selected using the type selection unit and receives from the user input of required items necessary for defining the unit process of the type into the presented input items;
The verification program according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:
the plurality of types presented by the type presentation unit includes an edit type of editing the sequence program prior to execution of the sequence program by the execution device;
The required item input unit includes:
an edit type selection unit that, when the type selection unit accepts a selection of the edit type to be performed on the sequence program, accepts from the user a selection of one of adding program code to the sequence program, deleting program code from the sequence program, and changing a part of the content of the sequence program;
an edit position designation unit that accepts input of an edit position in the sequence program where the editing is to be performed from the user as the necessary item;
an editing content input unit that receives an input of the editing content from the user as the necessary item other than the editing position;
The verification program according to claim 3 , comprising:
the verification process definition environment providing unit also accepts, from the user, a designation of an execution order among a plurality of the unit processes represented by a plurality of the unit process objects selected from the unit process object group in the verification process definition environment.
The verification program according to claim 1 or 2.
The verification process definition support unit is capable of defining a plurality of verification processes having different execution conditions for the same sequence program,
The verification process execution unit executes a plurality of the verification processes collectively.
The verification program according to claim 1 .
the verification process execution unit displays a list of the verification results for each of the plurality of verification processes;
The verification program according to claim 6.
The computer,
a defined unit process editing unit that provides the user with a defined unit process editing environment for editing the contents of a defined unit process, which is the unit process that has already been defined using the unit process definition environment, and for defining the unit process different from the defined unit process by using the contents as a template;
The verification program according to claim 3 , further functioning as:
The computer,
a predefined verification process editing unit that provides the user with a predefined verification process editing environment for editing the content of a predefined verification process, which is the verification process that has already been defined using the verification process definition environment, and for defining the verification process different from the predefined verification process by using the content as a template;
The verification program according to claim 1 or 2, further functioning as:
A verification device that verifies the validity of contents of a sequence program installed in a programmable logic controller, comprising:
a verification process definition support unit that provides a user with a verification process definition environment that defines a verification process for implementing the validity verification, the verification process including an execution condition assignment process that assigns an execution condition for the verification to an execution device that executes the sequence program;
a verification process execution unit that executes the verification process defined using the verification process definition environment, (I) causes the execution device to execute the sequence program in a manner that reflects the execution conditions, and (II) acquires an execution result of the sequence program from the execution device and performs the verification using the acquired execution result;
Equipped with
The verification process definition support unit
a unit process object group presentation unit which presents a unit process object group including a unit process object which represents the execution condition assignment process as the unit process, the unit process object group being composed of a plurality of unit process objects each representing a predefined unit process to be executed by the verification process execution unit;
a verification process definition environment providing unit which, when a user selects a plurality of the unit process objects from the presented group of unit process objects, provides the user with the verification process definition environment which defines the verification process by a combination of the unit processes represented by each of the selected plurality of unit process objects;
A verification device having the above configuration.
A verification device according to claim 10;
the execution device;
A verification system comprising:
A method for verifying the validity of contents of a sequence program installed in a programmable logic controller, comprising the steps of:
a verification process definition support step in which a computer provides a user with a verification process definition environment that defines a verification process for realizing the verification of the validity, the verification process including an execution condition assignment step of assigning an execution condition for the verification to an execution device that executes the sequence program;
a verification process execution step in which the computer executes the verification process defined using the verification process definition environment, thereby (I) causing the execution device to execute the sequence program in a manner that reflects the execution conditions, and (II) acquiring an execution result of the sequence program from the execution device and performing the verification using the acquired execution result;
Including,
The verification process definition support step includes:
a unit process object group presentation step in which the computer presents a unit process object group including a unit process object that represents the execution condition-imparting process as the unit process, the unit process object group being composed of a plurality of unit process objects each representing a predefined unit process;
a verification process definition environment providing step in which the computer provides the user with the verification process definition environment that defines the verification process by a combination of the unit processes represented by each of the selected unit process objects, when the user selects a plurality of the unit process objects from the presented group of unit process objects;
A verification method, comprising: