Invensys Systems, Inc.

Schneider Electric Systems Usa, Inc.

Fieldbus Foundation

Johan Ingemar Tegnell

Vladimir Dimitrov Kostadinov

Charles Wilson Piper

Richard Linwood Linscott

Nestor Jesus Camino, Jr

Scott S Bump

Miroslav Radomirov Radev

Alan Andrew Gale

Benno Doll

Lee Allen Neitzel

David A Glanzer

Tony J Kozlik

Michael D Hirst

John Joseph Lavallee

Krishna Rao Mendu

Christopher Hu

Steven K Brodman

Thomas A Nery

Colin R Corles

William M Hawkins

Jayamani Odayappan

Raymond D Sawyer

Controlling and communicating with separate sets of industrial process control devices via separate data protocols simultaneously with a single processing device that utilizes redundancy and task-splitting to increase availability. An exemplary system includes a device integrator processor configured to receive and transmit electronic data via a plurality of protocols simultaneously. In one form, the device integrator processor includes a primary module that primarily controls communications and synchronizes itself with a shadow module of the processor. In another form, the processor includes multiple cores that each control a set of devices. Moreover, the cores implement a redundancy scheme.

Multi-protocol gateway with control in a process control system

A multicore system controls devices in a process control system. A primary control processing device having a primary master core and a primary remote core is configured for controlling communications on a first network among a first plurality of devices. The primary remote core is configured for controlling communications on a second network among a second plurality of devices. A shadow control processing device is coupled to the first and second networks for processing redundant communications among the devices. The shadow control processing device comprises a shadow master core and a shadow remote core. The shadow master core is configured for controlling communications on the first network among the first plurality of devices. The shadow remote core is configured for controlling communications on the second network among the second plurality of devices.

Multi-core device with separate redundancy schemes in a process control system

A customization tool is described in association with a universal device type manager (DTM) utility. The customization tool includes a set of user interfaces and associated functionality that facilitates creating a set of customized templates for a particular device type. The customized templates define access to device data via graphical user interfaces supported by the universal DTM utility and/or universal BTM utility for instances of the device type.

Tool for creating customized user interface definitions for a generic utility supporting on-demand creation of field device editor graphical user interfaces

A universal device type manager (DTM) utility is described herein including a generalized architecture facilitating defining and generating user interfaces associated with a variety of field device types. The utility includes a device description data store interface that provides access to a device description store wherein standard device descriptions (DD files) for a variety of field device types are maintained. No specialized customization is done to the device descriptions by the device or tool vendors. A device type template store interface provides access to a set of device type manager definitions. A device type manager engine renders, on-demand, a device type manager user interface providing user access to parameters and other information for a field device type/instance based upon: (1) a device description and (2) a device type manager definition.

Generic utility supporting on-demand creation of customizable graphical user interfaces for viewing and specifying field device parameters

A method and system are disclosed for deploying a configuration in a process control system wherein at least a portion of the configuration is deployed to a set of field devices. Initially the set of deployment packages are stored within a configuration storage. Thereafter, deployment is initiated on the set of deployment packages from the configuration storage. In response to the initiating deployment step, an automated cascaded deployment is commenced to the set of connected field devices. The automated cascaded deployment includes first deploying the sets of deployment packages to a set of control module assemblies. The method furthermore includes second deploying the received portions of the set of deployment packages to a set of I/O module assemblies. The set of I/O module assemblies maintain and pass the received sub-portions of the set of deployment packages to sets of field devices.

Deploying a configuration for multiple field devices

A method and user interfaces are described herein installing a field device as a replacement for a previously installed field device of a same type in a process control system. The disclosed method includes initially specifying a device type commissioning definition that includes a set of device-type specific parameters. A first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values are then stored for a first field device. When replacing the first field device by a second field device of the same type on a process control network, the commissioning definition and the previously stored parameters for the first device are used to automatically configure the second device.

Method and supporting configuration user interfaces for streamlining installing replacement field devices

A device management utility is described that includes a generalized graphical user interface facilitating access to a variety of resources associated with selected device types. In particular, the utility includes information interfaces communicatively linking the utility of a variety of data sources. In addition, the utility includes a graphical user interface display providing a variety of information associated with a selected device type. Such information includes device identification information, links to supplemental resources, and a set of screen selection controls for exposing multiple functional modes of operation of the device management utility.

Device home page for use in a device type manager providing graphical user interfaces for viewing and specifying field device parameters

A method and system are disclosed for managing Profibus device information in a distributed control system. After receiving input parameter data originating from a Profibus device message, the I/O module assembly performs steps for processing, maintaining and providing the input parameter data to a requesting control processor. The processing step includes extracting input parameter values from a received Profibus device message. The extracted input parameters are then deposited in a repository on the I/O module assembly, such that for a primary input parameter, the I/O module assembly stores at least: () a measured value, and () a status value. Furthermore, the I/O module assembly maintains a reference linking the first status parameter to the first input parameter. The I/O module assembly provides a data status value with the measured value for the first input parameter in accordance with an I/O read operation. The data status value is based on the status value for the first status parameter.

Associating and evaluating status information for a primary input parameter value from a profibus device

A method and system are disclosed for managing Profibus device information in a distributed control system. After receiving input parameter data originating from a Profibus device message, the I/O module assembly performs steps for processing, maintaining and providing the input parameter data to a requesting control processor. The processing step includes extracting input parameter values from a received Profibus device message. The extracted input parameters are then deposited in a repository on the I/O module assembly, such that for a primary input parameter, the I/O module assembly stores at least: (1) a measured value, and (2) a status value. Furthermore, the I/O module assembly maintains a reference linking the first status parameter to the first input parameter. The I/O module assembly provides a data status value with the measured value for the first input parameter in accordance with an I/O read operation. The data status value is based on the status value for the first status parameter.

Associating and evaluating status information for a primary input parameter value from a Profibus device

A distributed control system architecture (HSE) provides an open, interoperable solution optimized for integration of distributed control systems and other control devices in a high performance backbone, provides an open, interoperable solution that provides system time synchronization suitable for distributed control applications operable over a high performance backbone, and provides an open, interoperable solution that provides a fault tolerant high performance backbone as well as fault tolerant devices that are connected to the backbone. The distributed control system architecture comprises a High speed Ethernet Field Device Access (HSE FDA) Agent, which maps services of a distributed control system, e.g., a fieldbus System, to and from a standard, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Ethernet/Internet component. The distributed control system architecture also comprises a High speed Ethernet System Management Kernel (HSE SMK) that operates to keep a local time, and keeps the difference between the local time and a system time provided by a time server within a value specified by the time sync class. The local time is used to time stamp events so that event messages from devices may be correlated across the system. The distributed control system architecture further comprises a High speed Ethernet Local Area Network Redundancy Entity (HSE LRE) that provides redundancy transparent to the applications running on the system. The HSE LRE of each device periodically transmits a diagnostic message representing its view of the network to the other Devices on the system. Each device uses the diagnostic messages to maintain a Network Status Table (NST), which is used for fault detection and selection from a redundant pair of resources.

Growing community of inventors

Mansfield, MA, United States of America

Johan Ingemar Tegnell