Patent ID: 6055632
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A method of transferring operating system firmware to a non-volatile memory of a programmable controller system adapted to control an industrial process, the method comprising the steps of:establishing a remote network connection between a first computer system utilized by a firmware provider and at least one of (1) said programmable controller system and (2) a second computer system utilized by a user of said programmable controller system and located locally with said programmable controller system, said first computer system being located remotely from said programmable controller system, and said remote network connection being an internet connection; andtransferring said firmware to said non-volatile memory of said programmable controller system by way of said internet connection; andwherein said programmable controller system comprises a plurality of modules including a processor module and at least one module that connects the programmable controller system to a plurality of industrial input devices and a plurality of industrial output devices, wherein the plurality of modules are disposed in a chassis and connected by way of a common backplane, wherein said firmware is firmware for at least one of said plurality of modules, and wherein said processor module is adapted for controlling output states of said plurality of industrial output devices based on input status information from said plurality of industrial input devices.