There is provided a method including: during a training period, collecting a plurality of scan cycle times of a programmable logic controller (PLC) program executing on a PLC; calculating one or more baseline parameters based on the plurality of scan cycle times; determining a baseline PLC program signature based on the one or more baseline statistical parameters; and storing the baseline PLC program signature.

A system and method for optimized operation of real-time control applications. The system and method being configured for identifying and processing recurring code sequences in control applications to quantify the execution time of control applications, wherein for each set up and/or control application a timing data structure is generated to determine the execution time of control applications in industrial automation, determining execution times of control applications based on recurring code sequences that are automatically extracted from a set of training applications and/or identified in the respective application, automatically generating test data to determine their on-target execution times for refinement of the timing data structure, decomposing the structure of the respective control application into code sequences for which the created data timing structure and timing model respectively provide execution time estimates, and determining at least an estimate for the best-case execution time and/or the worst-case execution time of the control application.

There is provided a method including: during a training period, collecting a plurality of scan cycle times of a programmable logic controller (PLC) program executing on a PLC; calculating one or more baseline parameters based on the plurality of scan cycle times; determining a baseline PLC program signature based on the one or more baseline statistical parameters; and storing the baseline PLC program signature.

A method of operating an intelligent programmable logic controller over a plurality of scan cycles includes the intelligent programmable logic controller executing a control program and one or more reasoning algorithms for analyzing data received and transmitted by the intelligent programmable logic controller. The intelligent programmable logic controller receives one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models from an external source via a deployment interface included in the intelligent programmable logic controller. The intelligent programmable logic controller dynamically modifies the reasoning algorithms during runtime of the control program based on the user-specified declarative knowledge models.

A method of operating an intelligent programmable logic controller over a plurality of scan cycles includes the intelligent programmable logic controller executing a control program and one or more reasoning algorithms for analyzing data received and transmitted by the intelligent programmable logic controller. The intelligent programmable logic controller receives one or more user-specified declarative knowledge models from an external source via a deployment interface included in the intelligent programmable logic controller. The intelligent programmable logic controller dynamically modifies the reasoning algorithms during runtime of the control program based on the user-specified declarative knowledge models.