System, device, and method for adaptively providing a fieldbus link

• US 20050228509A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: James, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/819,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228509A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31093 Communication between sensors, actuators and gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40221 Profibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method in a process control system, comprising: sensing a communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a fieldbus, the gateway comprising a fieldbus interface and a communications network interface; and in response to the sensed communications protocol, automatically adapting the gateway to run a protocol stack to allow communication between the fieldbus and a communications network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sensing a fieldbus communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a fieldbus, the gateway comprising a fieldbus interface and a communications network interface, the sensed fieldbus communications protocol being one of a plurality of protocols; and

in response to the sensed fieldbus communications protocol, automatically converting the sensed fieldbus communications protocol to a communications network protocol to allow bilateral communication between the fieldbus and a communications network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed fieldbus communications protocol is a Profibus PA protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed fieldbus communications protocol is a Foundation Fieldbus H1 protocol.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network operates under a Profibus DP protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed communications protocol is converted to a Profibus DP protocol for communicating on the communications network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the fieldbus interface is in communication with a plurality of field devices, each field device from the plurality of field devices utilizing a common physical layer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fieldbus interface is in communication with a plurality of field devices, each field device from the plurality of field devices utilizing a common physical layer, the fieldbus interface using one of a plurality of different fieldbus communications protocols for each field device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fieldbus interface is in communication with a plurality of field devices, each field device from the plurality of field devices utilizing a common physical layer, the fieldbus interface using one of a plurality of different fieldbus communications protocols for each field device, and further comprising converting each of the fieldbus communications protocols to the communications network protocol to allow bilateral communications between the plurality of field devices and the communication network.

9. A method in a process control system, comprising:

sensing a communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a fieldbus, the gateway comprising a fieldbus interface and a communications network interface; and

in response to the sensed communications protocol, automatically adapting the gateway to run a protocol stack to allow communication between the fieldbus and a communications network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the gateway is operative to conduct bilateral communication between the fieldbus and the communications network.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising converting the sensed communications protocol to a network communications protocol.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensed communications protocol is a Profibus PA protocol.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensed communications protocol is a Foundation Fieldbus H1 protocol.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the communications network operates under a Profibus DP protocol.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensed communications protocol is converted to a Profibus DP protocol for communicating on the communications network.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the fieldbus interface is in communication with a plurality of field devices, each of the plurality of field devices using a different fieldbus communications protocol, and further comprising converting each of the fieldbus communications protocols into a Profibus DP network communications protocol.

17. A method in a process control system, comprising the activities of:

sensing a communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a fieldbus, the gateway comprising a physical layer fieldbus interface and a physical layer network interface; and

in response to the sensed communications protocol, autommatically adapting the gateway to run a protocol stack to convert the sensed communications protocol to a network protocol so as to allow communication between the fieldbus and a communications network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the gateway is operative to conduct bilateral communication between the fieldbus and the communications network.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensed communications protocol is a Profibus PA protocol.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensed communications protocol is a Foundation Fieldbus H1 protocol.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the communications network operates under a Profibus DP protocol.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the gateway is in communication with a plurality of field devices, each of the plurality of field devices using a different fieldbus protocol and further comprising converting each of the fieldbus protocols from each of the field devices into a Profibus DP protocol.

23. A system, comprising:

a gateway connected to a fieldbus and to a communications network;

a protocol sensor configured to sense a communications protocol associated with communications coming from devices on the fieldbus; and

a protocol adaptor configured to, in response to the sensed fieldbus communications protocol, automatically adapt the gateway to run a protocol stack to allow bilateral communication between the fieldbus and the communications network.

24. A machine readable medium containing instructions for activities comprising:

sensing a communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a fieldbus, the gateway comprising a fieldbus interface and a communications network interface; and

in response to the sensed fieldbus communications protocol, automatically adapting the gateway to run a protocol stack to allow bilateral communication between the fieldbus and a communications network.

25. A method in a process control system, comprising the activities of:

sensing a communications protocol of a communication arriving at a gateway from a first fieldbus from a plurality of fieldbuses, the gateway coupled to the plurality of fieldbuses; and

in response to the sensed communications protocol, automatically adapting the gateway to run a protocol stack to convert the sensed communications protocol to a network protocol so as to allow communication between the first fieldbus and a communications network.