Tool for configuring and managing a process control network including the use of spatial information

• US 20050010307A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Gardner, David Richard, Dove, Andrew Philip
• Granted Patent: US 7,010,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23182 3D display of controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32085 Layout of factory, facility, cell, production system planning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32356 For diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32365 For resource planning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a tool which includes spatial information for configuring and managing a process control system which conforms to a standard protocol. Such a tool advantageously allows the efficient design and use of a process control system while ensuring that the physical characteristics of the system conform to the standard. In addition, the tool provides for more efficient diagnostics, on-line debugging, alarm monitoring and device maintenance.

Claims

1. A method for configuring and managing a process control network, the process control network including a computer having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

providing the computer with information regarding a spatial layout of a facility;

providing the computer with information regarding configuration of a plurality of devices within the process control network;

creating and activating a plurality of function blocks controlling the plurality of devices;

obtaining status of the plurality of devices; and

presenting the status of the plurality of devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing the layout of the process control network in relation to the physical layout of the facility to assure that the layout of the process control network conforms to criteria of a standard protocol.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising managing the process control system in a run-time environment.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the providing a layout of the process control network includes automatically generating the layout.

5. A method of claim 3, wherein the managing the process control system includes providing a blinking device representation in a spatial view of the process control system to indicate active alarms.

6. A method of claim 3, wherein the managing the process control system includes initiating master reset or self-test of the plurality of devices.

7. A method of claim 3, wherein the managing the process control system includes obtaining port and communication statistics of the process control system.

8. A method of claim 3, wherein the spatial layout of the facility is a three-dimensional layout.

9. A method of claim 2, wherein the standard protocol is the Fieldbus protocol.

10. A method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing the layout of the process control system includes checking spur length of a segment of the process control system.

11. An apparatus for configuring and managing a process control network, the apparatus comprising:

a computer having a processor and a memory;

means for providing the computer with information regarding a spatial layout of a facility;

means for providing the computer with information regarding configuration of a plurality of devices used within the process control network;

means for creating and activating a plurality of function blocks controlling the plurality of devices;

means for obtaining status of the plurality of devices; and

means for presenting the status of the plurality of devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a means for providing the computer with information regarding materials used in the process control network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a tool used to provide a layout of the process control network applied to the spatial layout of the facility.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tool is used to analyze the layout of the process control network applied to the spatial layout of the facility to assure that the layout of the process control network conforms to criteria of a standard protocol.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further wherein the tool is used for managing the process control system in a run-time environment.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tool used to provide a layout of the process control network further includes the tool automatically generates the layout.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the tool used for managing the process control system provides a blinking device representation in a spatial view of the process control system to indicate active alarms.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the managing the process control system includes obtaining port and communication statistics of the process control system.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the spatial layout of the facility is a three-dimensional layout.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the standard protocol is the Fieldbus protocol.