Remote processing and protocol conversion interface module

• US 20060031577A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Karschnia, Robert J., Peluso, Marcos A. V.
• Application Number:
  US10/863,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/243
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An interface module (200) and method for operation include ports (302a-b) for communicating over a network (308) with a first protocol to a plurality of field devices (102a-n). The interface module also has a port (316) for communicating with a process controller (114) via a high speed network and protocol such as High Speed Ethernet (HSE). The interface module (200) includes a controller (320) for implementing a plurality of process function modules (322, 324, 325), each of the plurality of process function modules (322, 324, 325) corresponding to one of the plurality of field devices (102a-n). Remote programmability, email messaging and alarms are supported.

Claims

1. An interface module for use in a process control system including a first network supporting a first protocol, the first network having a plurality of field devices, and a second network having a second protocol, the interface module operatively connecting the first network to the second network, the interface module comprising:

a first port for coupling to the first network;

a second port for coupling to the second network; and

a controller operatively coupled between the first and second ports, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the controller being programmed to;

receive a data communicated using the first protocol from each of the plurality of field devices via the first port;

implement a plurality of process function modules adapted to perform process control functions, each of the plurality of process function modules corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of field devices, the plurality of process function modules processing the data from its respective field device to create a processed data for use in the second network; and

transmit the processed data to the second network using the second protocol via the second port.

2. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the first network is a controller area network (CAN).

3. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the first network is as HART network.

4. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the first network is a MODbus network.

5. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the second network is a high speed Ethernet network.

6. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the second network is FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet.

7. The interface module of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of process function modules is programmed to process CAN commands received at the first port.

8. The interface module of claim 7 wherein the first network is a CAN network and the second network is a high speed Ethernet network.

9. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to implement a communication interface for receiving a message encoded with the first protocol from a one of the plurality of field devices.

10. The interface module of claim 9 wherein the interface module comprises a third port and the controller is programmed to implement a second communication interface for receiving a message encoded with a third protocol via the third port.

11. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to support Internet protocol (IP) messages communicated via the second port.

12. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to supply diagnostic data regarding one of the interface module and a one of the plurality of field devices.

13. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to send an email message via the second port.

14. The interface module of claim 13 wherein the email message comprises an alarm message related to a condition of one of the interface controller and a one of the plurality of field devices.

15. A process control system comprising:

a first network having a plurality of field devices, the first network supporting a first protocol;

a second network supporting a second protocol; and

an interface module coupling the first network to the second network, the interface module operable to;

receive a data message transmitted using the first protocol from each of the plurality of field devices;

perform a process control function on the data message to create a transformed message; and

send the transformed message via the second network.

16. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the first network is a controller area network (CAN).

17. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the first network is as HART network.

18. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the first network is a MODbus network.

19. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the second network is a high speed Ethernet.

20. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the second network is FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet.

21. The process control system of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of process function modules is programmed to process CAN commands received at the first port.

22. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the first network is a CAN network and the second network is a high speed Ethernet network.

23. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to implement a communication interface for receiving a message encoded with the first protocol from a one of the plurality of field devices.

24. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to support Internet protocol (IP) messages communicated via the second port.

25. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to supply diagnostic data regarding one of the interface controller and a one of the plurality of field devices.

26. The process control system of claim 15 wherein the controller is programmed to send an email message via the second port.

27. The process control system of claim 26 wherein the email message comprises an alarm message related to a condition of one of the interface controller and a one of the plurality of field devices.

28. A method of using an interface module for managing data from a plurality of field devices when communicating between two process control networks having different communication protocols comprising:

assigning a process function module to an each of the plurality of field devices;

receiving a data from each of the plurality of field devices;

decoding the data using a network protocol corresponding to the each of the plurality of field devices;

processing the data with the process function module corresponding to the each of the plurality of field devices to form a result;

transforming the result to an other network protocol;

sending the result using the other network protocol.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein decoding the network protocol comprises decoding a CAN network protocol.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein decoding the network protocol comprises decoding a HART network protocol.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein decoding the network protocol comprises decoding a 4-20 ma network protocol.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the other network protocol is a high speed Ethernet protocol

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the other network protocol is FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the transforming the result to another network protocol comprises transforming the result to a high speed Ethernet protocol.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the processing the data with the process function module comprises applying a field device-specific algorithm to the data to form the result.

36. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

receiving an Internet Protocol message for configuring the interface module.

37. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending an Internet Protocol message related to a condition of the interface module.

38. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending an electronic mail message related to a condition of the interface module.

39. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

sending an electronic mail message related to a condition of the each of the plurality of field devices.