Virtual field controller

• US 20050256591A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Maslov, Mark, Rule, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/20
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23452 Simulate sequence on display to control program, test functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23456 Model machine for simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

An arrangement includes a first computer having a first operating system, the first computer having a memory containing software derived from field controller software executed on physical field controllers of a building control system. The physical field controllers employ a second operating system. The software further contains an operating system abstraction layer operable to convert at least some operating system calls of the field controller software to corresponding calls in the first operating system.

Claims

1. An arrangement for use in a building control system, the arrangement comprising:

a plurality of field controllers, each operably connected to at least one of the group consisting of a sensor of a building control system and an actuator of a building control system, each field controller including a first set of programming instructions operable to generate an actuator control value based at least in part on signals received from one or more of the at least one sensors, each field controller including a second set of programming instructions operable to process sensor data to generate information other than actuator control signals; and

a computer work station including a general purpose computer, the computer workstation including a third set of programming instructions operable to perform data interface functions for data generated by the plurality of field controllers, the computer work station further including a fourth set of programming instructions operable to perform the functions of at least one of the group consisting of the first set of programming instructions and the second set of programming instructions.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the computer work station further includes the fourth set of programming instructions such that the fourth set of programming instructions are configured for a hardware platform different from hardware platforms employed by the field controllers.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second set of programming instructions and the fourth set of programming instructions include instructions carrying out a common set of trending functions relating to the sensor data.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second set of programming instructions and the fourth set of programming instructions include instructions carrying out a common set of scheduling functions for processing of at least one of the set consisting of the at least one sensor signal and the actuator control value.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second set of programming instructions and the fourth set of programming instructions include instructions carrying out a common set of alarm functions.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the fourth set of programming instructions is operable to perform the functions of the first set of programming instructions.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first set of programming instructions and the fourth set of programming instructions include instructions providing a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and instructions allowing execution of control function program created in the control function programming language.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the third set of programming instructions includes a system-wide data server function.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the computer work station is further operable to receive sensor data only through at least one field controller.

10. An arrangement comprising a general purpose computer having a memory and processing circuit, the general purpose computer configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:

execute a first operating system;

execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for a physical field controller of a building control system; and

execute an operating system abstraction layer, the operating system abstraction layer configured to cause operating system calls in the set of instructions configured for a second operating system of the physical field controller to be made in a manner that is compatible with the first operating system.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the set of instructions includes a control program.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the control program includes a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.

13. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an alarm function in the building control system.

14. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out a data trending function in the building control system.

15. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.

16. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system intended for specific use with an embedded controller.

17. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to perform supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.