Software tool for monitoring faults in an automation device

• US 20040073854A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Windl, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 7,290,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display

Abstract

A software tool which simplifies the monitoring of faults in an automation device. On a display device (FIG. 3), a rack (0′-3′) of this automation device with slots and functional modules is represented in a first view (4) in graphic form and in a second view (9) in tabular form. A faulty slot and/or a faulty functional module is displayed in some manner of highlighted form ((F), 10, 11, etc.).

Claims

1. Software tool for monitoring faults in an automation device having at least one rack and a plurality of functional modules configured for insertion into slots in the rack, said software module generating:

a first view graphically displaying the rack with the slots and the functional modules on a display unit,

a second view displaying the rack with the slots and the functional modules in a tabular form on the display unit, and

a fault indicator marking at least one of a faulty slot and a faulty functional module, from among the plurality of functional modules and the slots, in the first view and in the second view.

2. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional modules are selected from the group consisting of CPU modules, communications modules, digital input modules, digital output modules, analog input modules, and analog output modules.

3. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software tool generates a third view displaying information on a cause of the fault.

4. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software tool generates a third view displaying information on correcting the fault.

5. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software tool generates an assignment arrow, displayed on the display unit, which links the at least one faulty slot or faulty functional module on the first view and on the second view.

6. Software tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the software tool displays the first and the second view synchronously.

7. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software tool displays the first and the second view synchronously.

8. Software tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first view displays the rack and the functional modules in accordance with an actual spatial layout of the rack and the functional modules.

9. Diagnostic system, comprising:

a software tool for monitoring faults in an automation device having at least one rack and a plurality of functional modules for the rack; and

a display unit on which;

the software tool generates a first view graphically displaying the rack with the slots and the functional modules,

the software tool generates a second view displaying the rack with the slots and the functional modules in a tabular form; and

the software tool generates a fault indicator marking at least one of a faulty slot and a faulty functional module in the first and in the second view.

10. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the functional modules are selected from the group consisting of CPU modules, communications modules, digital input modules, digital output modules, analog input modules, and analog output modules.

11. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the software tool generates a third view displaying information on a cause of the fault.

12. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the software tool generates a third view displaying information on correcting the fault.

13. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the software tool generates an assignment arrow, displayed on the display unit, which links the at least one faulty slot or faulty functional module on the first view and on the second view.

14. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the software tool displays the first and the second view synchronously.

15. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the software tool displays the first and the second view synchronously.

16. Diagnostic system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first view displays the rack and the functional modules in accordance with an actual spatial layout of the rack and the functional modules.

17. A method for displaying a fault in an automation system, comprising:

displaying, at least schematically, a rack having a plurality of slots for function modules and at least one function module in a first display view;

displaying a table referencing the rack, the slots and the at least one function module in a second display view; and

upon occurrence of the fault, altering the first display view and the second display view to provide an identification of which component among the plurality of slots and the function module has caused the fault.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

displaying additional fault information in a third display view.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

displaying an additional element linking the altered first display view and the altered second display view at the identification of the component that has caused the fault.