Method and process management system for the operation of a technical plant

• US 20040249651A1
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schoch, Thomas, Glaser, Martin, Fischer, Detlef, Unkelbach, Michael, Walz, Horst, Speh, Rainer, Kaiser, Oliver, Sauer, Hans-Jurgen, Wagner, Steffen
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33148 CLS client server architecture, client consumes, server provides services
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35008 Www cad, world wide design and manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in which at least one process management computer (7) and a number of field devices (FD) are applied, whereby status and control signals are transmitted between at least some of the field devices and the process management computer using a TCP/IP protocol over a communication channel, preferably a radio connection (F) and/or the Internet (15). According to the invention, a process management system (5) comprises a process management computer (7) with a web-server (9), a client computer (20) with an internet browser (22) and a number of sensors (S) and actuators (A). The process management system (5) may preferably be operated by means of the internet (15), using the client computer (20).

Claims

1. A method for operating a technical installation including a plurality of field devices for monitoring and controlling components of the technical installation, at least one process control computer for monitoring and controlling the technical installation, and at least one communication channel by which the field devices are connected to the process control computer, the field devices for transmitting to the process control computer measurement data which arise in the technical installation and describe the operating state of at least one of the components and for receiving control commands from the process control computer,

wherein the measurement-data and control commands are transmitted between at least one portion of the field devices and the process control computer via the communication channel using a TCP/IP protocol, wherein the process control computer includes a web server for connection to a least one of the Internet and an intranet, and wherein at least one of operator control and monitoring functions of the technical installation implemented in the process control computer by software, are executed using a client computer including an Internet browser and is connected to a least one of the Internet and the intranet, by access to the process control computer, the method comprising:

assembling the at least one of operator control and monitoring functions from software components including directly executable software code; and

executing at least one of the operator control and monitoring functions assembled from at least two software components, without any compilation and loading operation taking place for this at least one of operator control and monitoring function beforehand on that computer on which this function is executed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the communication channel includes at least one of the Internet, the intranet and a radio link.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

essentially all of the process data for the technical installation, processed in the process control computer, are respectively assigned a URL address.

14. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein essentially all of the process data for the technical installation, processed in the process control computer, are respectively assigned a URL address.

4. A process control system for operating a technical installation, comprising:

at least one process control computer for monitoring and controlling the technical installation the process control computer including a web server for setting up a connection to at least one of the Internet and an intranet such that process data arising in the process control computer is transmitable via the at least one of the Internet and intranet and data is receivable from the at least one of the Internet and intranet;

at least one client computer for at least one of operator control and monitoring of the technical installation via at least one of the Internet and the intranet using a browser installed on the at least one client computer, the browser being usable to connect the client computer to the at least one of the Internet and intranet; and

a plurality of sensors and actuators, arranged at least proximate the technical installation, adapted to record measured variables in the technical installation and to make adjustments to components in the technical installation connected to the process control computer via at least one communication channel and adapted to transmit measurement data to the process control computer and receive control commands from the process control computer, wherein at least a first portion of control software for controlling the technical installation is installed and is executable on the process control computer,

wherein the control software includes,

a software component adapted to implement a respectively associated function of the control software,

a software component including byte code executable on a target computer directly without a preceding compilation and loading operation,

a software component executable independently in the sense that it does not require execution of another software component in parallel in order to be executed, wherein each software component includes a respective interface which is usable to set up at least one of a connection from a first software component to a second software component, a connection to the web server, and a connection to at least one of a sensor and actuator, the interfaces being compatible with one another such that setting up the connection does not require any alignment of signals transmitted via the connection, wherein at least one of inputs and outputs on the interface of the first software component are directly connectable to at least one of outputs and inputs on the interface of the second software component.

5. The process control system as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the communication channel includes at least one of a radio link, a bus link, the Internet and an intranet.

6. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the measurement data and control commands are transmitted via the communication channel using a TCP/IP protocol.

7. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the process control computer is operatable using a real-time operating system and is configured in redundant form such that at least one error occurring during operation of the process control computer does not result in loss of the functionality of the process control computer, and the process control computer in such a case of error is practically without delay and without loss of data.

9. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the process control computer and the client computer include a virtual machine software program, at least one portion of the software components being executable both on the process control computer and on the client computer without alignment of the software components.

11. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

at least one portion of the software components includes at least one of a message processing unit, assigned on the basis of the respectively implemented function, a diagnosis unit, an operator control and monitoring unit, and a parameterization unit, wherein the at least one unit is accessible via the software component interface.

12. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

13. The process control system as claimed in claim 4, wherein

all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

15. The process control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the measurement data and control commands are transmitted via the communication channel using a TCP/IP protocol.

16. The process control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

17. The process control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

20. The process control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

21. The process control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

24. The process control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

25. The process control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

8. The process control system as claimed in 4, wherein

the process control system includes at least one field device for monitoring and controlling components of the technical installation, the at least one field device including a second portion of the control software required for controlling the technical installation and includes at least one microprocessor adapted to execute the second portion of the control software on the field device, the at least one field device for reading in, preprocessing and transmitting to the process control computer the technical installation'"'"'s measured variables recorded by the sensors and for receiving, preprocessing and transmitting to the actuators the control commands from the process control computer.

10. The process control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the process control computer and the client computer include a virtual machine software program, at least one portion of the software components being executable both on the process control computer and on the client computer without alignment of the software components, and wherein

the field device includes the virtual machine software program, at least one portion of the software components also being executable on the field device without alignment of the software components.

18. The process control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

19. The process control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

22. The process control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein essentially all of the functionality required for controlling and monitoring a technical installation is integrated in the process control computer.

23. The process control system as claimed in claim 10, wherein all of the process data fundamental to monitoring and controlling the technical installation and processed in the process control computer include a respective associated dedicated URL address, and wherein the client computer is thereby usable to access at least portions of the process data directly.

26. A method for operating a technical installation including a plurality of field devices for at least one of monitoring and controlling components of the technical installation, at least one process control computer for at least one of monitoring and controlling the technical installation, and at least one communication channel for connecting the field devices to at least one process control computer, the method comprising:

assembling the at least one of operator control and monitoring functions from software components including directly executable software code; and

executing at least one of the operator control and monitoring functions assembled from at least two software components, irrespective of compilation and loading of the assembled function on a computer on which the function is executed.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the at least one communication channel includes at least one of the Internet, the intranet and a radio link.

28. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein essentially all of the process data for the technical installation, processed in the at least one process control computer, are respectively assigned a URL address.

29. A process control system for operating a technical installation, comprising:

at least one process control computer for at least one of monitoring and controlling the technical installation;

at least one client computer for at least one of operator control and monitoring of the technical installation; and

a plurality of sensors and actuators, arranged at least proximate the technical installation, adapted to record measured variables in the technical installation and make adjustments to components in the technical installation and adapted to transmit measurement data to the process control computer and receive control commands from the process control computer, wherein at least a first portion of control software for controlling the technical installation is installed and is executable on the process control computer, wherein the control software includes,

a software component adapted to implement a respectively associated function of the control software,

a software component directly executable on a target computer without a preceding compilation and loading operation, and

a software component executable independently without requiring execution of another software component in parallel, wherein each software component includes a respective interface usable to set up at least one of a connection from a first software component to a second software component, a connection to a web server, and a connection to at least one of a sensor and actuator, the interfaces being compatible irrespective of any alignment of signals transmitted via the connection, wherein at least one of inputs and outputs on the interface of the first software component are directly connectable to at least one of outputs and inputs on the interface of the second software component.

30. An apparatus for operating a technical installation including a plurality of field devices for at least one of monitoring and controlling components of the technical installation, at least one process control computer for at least one of monitoring and controlling the technical installation, and at least one communication channel for connecting the field devices to at least one process control computer, the apparatus comprising:

means for assembling the at least one of operator control and monitoring functions from software components including directly executable software code; and

means for executing at least one of the operator control and monitoring functions assembled from at least two software components, irrespective of compilation and loading of the assembled function on a computer on which the function is executed.