Monitoring of field devices via a communication network
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring status of field devices operating in a process plant, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a remote terminal unit (RTU) coupled to a field device, data indicative of a status of the field device;
storing the received information in a memory of the RTU;
receiving, at the RTU from a remote host via a communication network, a request for the status of the field device;
providing, from the RTU to the remote host in response to the request, an indication of the status of the field device based the data stored in the memory of the of the RTU, including providing a bit mask to the remote host;
checking, at the remote host, a status of the bit mask to determine whether additional information is available; and
requesting, from the remote host via the RTU, additional information from the field device.
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Abstract
A system for monitoring field devices operating in process plants includes a remote terminal unit (RTU) coupled to several field devices, each configured to perform a respective function in a process plant, and a host disposed remotely from the RTU and coupled to the RTU via a communication network. The RTU includes (i) a first interface module configured to communicate according to a digital industrial automation protocol, via which the RTU receives data indicative of respective statuses of the field devices, (ii) a memory to store the received data, and (iii) a second interface module configured to communicate with remote hosts via a communication network. The host is configured to (i) request the statutes of the field devices and (ii) receive, from the RTU, indications of the status based on the data stored in the memory of the RTU.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring status of field devices operating in a process plant, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a remote terminal unit (RTU) coupled to a field device, data indicative of a status of the field device; storing the received information in a memory of the RTU; receiving, at the RTU from a remote host via a communication network, a request for the status of the field device; providing, from the RTU to the remote host in response to the request, an indication of the status of the field device based the data stored in the memory of the of the RTU, including providing a bit mask to the remote host; checking, at the remote host, a status of the bit mask to determine whether additional information is available; and requesting, from the remote host via the RTU, additional information from the field device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for monitoring status of field devices operating in process plants, the system comprising:
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a remote terminal unit (RTU) coupled to a plurality of field devices, each configured to perform a respective function in a process plant, wherein the RTU includes; a first interface module configured to communicate according to a digital industrial automation protocol, via which the RTU receives data indicative of respective statuses of the field devices, a memory to store the received data, and a second interface module configured to communicate with remote hosts via a communication network;
the system further comprising;a host disposed remotely from the RTU and coupled to the RTU via a communication network, wherein the host is configured to (i) request the statutes of the field devices, (ii) receive, from the RTU, indications of the statuses based on the data stored in the memory of the RTU, (iii) check a status of the bit mask to determine whether additional information is available at the corresponding field device, and (iv) request, via the RTU, additional information from the field device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A remote terminal unit (RTU) for use in a process plant, the RTU comprising:
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a first interface module configured to exchange data with field devices according to a digital industrial automation protocol; a memory to store data indicative of respective statuses of the field devices, the data including respective bit masks reported by the field devices; a second interface module configured to communicate with a remote host via a communication network; and a processing module configured to; provide, via the second interface module, indications of respective statuses of the field devices based on the data stored in the memory in response to commands from the remote host, wherein a status for one of the field devices indicates that further information is available at the corresponding field device, tunnel a command from the remote host addressed to the one of the field devices, and tunnel a response from the one of the field devices to the remote host. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification