Remote management of field devices in a manufacturing plant

• US 20050125085A1
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Prasad, Raghavendra Ts, Premraj, Mannikkath K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• 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: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A client connected to a field device management station (FDMS) by a wireless path. An operator can issue commands to any field devices from the client. As a result, the operator can manage the field devices from any remote location. In addition, the FDMS may be connected to other clients by wire-based paths as well. As a result, commands from both wire-based and wireless clients may be channeled through the FDMS, thereby simplifying tracking of various of configuration changes and status of the field devices. According to another aspect of the present invention, the wireless client is connected to a field device by a wire-line medium. Connectivity between FDMS and field devices is established through wireless client, thereby providing path redundancy (in addition to control network).

Claims

1. A method of enabling an operator to remotely manage a plurality of field devices designed to implement a process in a plant, said plant further containing a field device management station (FDMS) coupled to said plurality of field devices by a control network, said method comprising:

providing a wireless connection from a first client, wherein said wireless connection provides communication between said first client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue a first command from said first client to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring said first command from said first client to said FDMS on said wireless connection;

forwarding said first command from said FDMS to said first field device on said control network,

whereby said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client;

providing a wire-based connection between a second client and said FDMS;

transferring another command from said second client to said FDMS on said wire-based medium, said another command being directed to a second device contained in said plurality of field devices; and

forwarding said another command from said FDMS to said second field device,

whereby commands from said first client and said second client are channeled through said FDMS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting said first client to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring a second command from said FDMS to said first client using said wireless connection, wherein said second command is directed to said second field device; and

sending said second command from said first client to said second field device, whereby said second command is forwarded from said FDMS to said second field device without using said control network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling said operator to issue said second command from said first client, wherein said FDMS receives said second command and performs said transferring said second command.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless connection is provided between said FDMS and said first client.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said wireless connection is provided between said first client and a network device, wherein said network device is connected to a network connecting said network device to said FDMS by a wire-based medium.

7. The method of claim 1, maintaining a central log of said first command and said another command in said FDMS, wherein said central log is updated within a short time after said operator issues said first command and said another command.

6. (canceled)

8. A field device management station (FDMS) enabling management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, said FDMS comprising:

a wireless interface providing connectivity to a first client by a wireless medium; and

a data manager block receiving a first command from said first client on said wireless medium, said first command being directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, said data manager forwarding said first command from on said control network,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client,

a wire-line interface providing connectivity to a second client by a wire-line based medium,

said data manager block receiving a second command from said second client by said wire-line based medium, said second command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of devices, said data manager block forwarding said second command to said second field device on said control network.

9. The FDMS of claim 8, wherein said data manager block is operable to receive a second command from said first client on said wireless medium, said second command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices, said second field device being connected to said first client, said data manager block forwarding said second command on said wireless medium to said first client.

10. The FDMS of claim 9, further comprising a wire-line interface providing connectivity to a second client by a wire-line based medium, said data manager block receiving a second command from said second client, said second command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of devices, said data manager block forwarding said second command to said second field device on said control network.

11. The FDMS of claim 9, further comprising:

a wireless client handler provided between said wireless interface and said data manager, said wireless client handler receiving said first command on said wireless medium, said wireless client handler further receiving a first response from said data manager block and forwarding said first response on said wireless medium; and

a wire-line client handler provided between said wire-line interface and said data manager, said wire-based client handler receiving said second command on said wire-based medium, said wire-based client handler further receiving a second response from said data manager block and forwarding said second response on said wire-based medium.

12. The FDMS of claim 11, wherein said data manager receives a request to establish a connection from said first client and instantiates said wireless client handler in response to receiving said request.

13. The FDMS of claim 9, wherein said data manager maintains a central log containing information on said first command and said second command.

14. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a field device management station (FDMS) to enable management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said FDMS causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

receiving a first command from said first client on a wireless medium, said first command being directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices; and

forwarding said first command on said control network to said first field device,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client;

receiving a third command from a third client on a wire-line based medium, said third command being directed to a third field device contained in said plurality of devices; and

forwarding said third command to said third field device on said control network.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a second command from said first client on said wireless medium, said second command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices, said second field device being connected to said first client; and

forwarding said second command on said wireless medium to said first client.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising maintaining a central log containing information on said first command and said second command.

16. (canceled)

18. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a client to enable remote management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to a field device management station (FDMS) by a control network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said client causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

sending a first command to said FDMS on a wireless medium, said first command being directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices; and

receiving a first response on said wireless medium from said FDMS;

wherein said first command is issued by an operator such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client;

wherein said client is connected to a second field device by a path,

sending a second command to said FDMS on said wireless medium, said second command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

receiving said second command from said FDMS on said wireless medium; and

forwarding said second command to said second field device on said path after said receiving from said FDMS.

19. (canceled)