摘要:
A communication interface (15), as a part of a programmable controller (10), serves to carry out command-response communications with an external general-purpose device (20) connected through a specified communication line (24) according to an execution command from a user program for controlling a control device connected to the programmable controller or according to a preliminarily stored program. When a communication command addressed to an external general-purpose device is received from a peripheral device (21), it is converted appropriately for communication through a serial line (24). When it is relayed to the external general-purpose device, it is judged whether it is in a wait condition for a response and the relaying is temporarily stopped. When the wait condition ends, communication is carried out with the external general-purpose and the converted command is relayed to the external general-purpose device.