Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Wolfgang Ott

Dieter Kleyer

There is described a method for monitoring the functionality of an automation system of a plant comprising at least one main processor, parts of the plant being monitored and controlled using a user software, which is constructed of a number of program modules and which is run on the main processor. A co-processor is assigned to the main processor, and a message is transmitted from the main processor to the co-processor. When received, this message is used by the co-processor to start a monitoring time. When a subsequent message is received, this monitoring time is reset before said monitoring time has elapsed, otherwise a fault is identified once the monitoring time has elapsed.

Method and device for monitoring the functionality of an automation system of a plant

The invention relates to a method and an automated system for determining the processing sequence of function blocks of a technological function. According to said method, a first function block, whose outputs are respectively disconnected or form exclusively one or more output signals of the technological function, is determined. Starting from said first function block, a second function block is sought in the opposite direction to the signal flow direction, whereby the block inputs of said second block are respectively disconnected or receive one or more input signals of the technological function only. An identifier is given to all block inputs, which are disconnected, receive an input signal from the technological function only or are connected to at least one block output of another function block whose block inputs have previously been given identifiers, starting from and including the second function block, running through subsequent function blocks in the signal flow direction up to and including the first function block. The function block is marked as soon as its block inputs have been given identifiers. Finally, the processing sequence of the function blocks is achieved in accordance with the marking sequence of the function blocks.

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Baiersdorf, Germany

Wolfgang Ott