External programming of at least one processor (30) of a LED driver (10). In a normal operation mode a first control input (22B/22C) of the LED driver (10) may be provided to a first processor input of the processor and a second control input (22B/22C) of the LED driver may be provided to a second processor input of the processor (30). In a programming mode the first and second control inputs (22B, 22C) may be provided to programming inputs of the processor (30) to thereby enable programming of the processor (30) via the first and second control inputs (22B, 22C).

A system for storing data in an industrial production environment includes a distributed database stored on a plurality of intelligent programmable logic controller devices. Each respective intelligent programmable logic controller device includes a volatile computer-readable storage medium comprising a process image area; a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium; a control application; an input/output component; a historian component; and a distributed data management component. The control application is configured to provide operating instructions to a production unit. The input/output component is configured to update the process image area during each scan cycle with data associated with the production unit. The historian component is configured to store automation system data comprising the operating instructions and contents of the process image area on the non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. The distributed data management component is configured to facilitate distributed operations involving the automation system data by the plurality of intelligent programmable logic controller devices.

Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, are systems and methods for creating, implementing, communicating, and/or analyzing control logic governing operation of a system under control, where the control logic is defined in attributed data, which specifies control operators along with their input and output variables for the various control nodes. In example embodiments, a virtual control engine executes the control logic based on interpretations provided by an attributed-data dictionary.

System configuration management using encapsulation and discovery is provided. The configuration management may include requesting, by a first electronic control unit comprising a processor, feature information associated with a second electronic control unit. The feature information may include data related to a set of features implemented by the second electronic control unit. The configuration management may also include loading, by the first electronic control unit, an internal control for a first feature of the set of features based on a determination that the first feature is not loaded on the first electronic control unit.

A system for exchanging data in an automation environment is provided. The system includes at least one programmable logic controller (PLC A) containing program instructions executable by the at least one programmable logic controller and a queue block (50) configured to dynamically exchange data between the program instructions of the PLC and a data consumer (PLC C, PLC D).

A programmable logic controller (PLC) control device includes: a plurality of main blocks, each of which controls a corresponding one of a plurality of upper modules in a facility; a plurality of sub-blocks included in each of the plurality of main blocks and each of which controls a corresponding one of a plurality of sub-modules; and a process block included in each of the plurality of main blocks and which manages operation steps of a corresponding one of the plurality of upper modules.