Diagnostic access system

• US 20070233858A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald Goff, Robert Gretta, Todd M. Brower
• Original Assignee: Donald Goff, Robert Gretta, Todd M. Brower
• Inventors: Brower, Todd M., Gretta, Robert, Goff, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,975,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5012 determining service availability, e.g. which services are available at a certain point in time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A dedicated processing system for monitoring, processing and combining mass statistical diagnostic data of a process control system. Through real time and near real time network health monitoring by the system statistical inferences can be made to anticipate potential system and device problems with notification(s) to users. A variety of user alerts are facilitated, including status and warning LEDs, direct display, and display on a networked computer. Multiple systems can be employed and systems will discover each other and interoperate. Specific systems can be specified to gather and unify diagnostic data from installations with multiple systems.

Claims

1. A diagnostic access system for effecting performance and reliability diagnostics of a process control system of intelligent field devices commonly coupled to a network, comprising:

a data network connection for receiving and transmitting network data,

a process control network connection for receiving and transmitting process control network data,

a power connection,

a processor,

an operational software program,

a user software program,

a user interface; and

the processor operating on the process control network data with the operational software and characterizing data diagnostics and quality;

communicating these data to operators through the user interface and/or through the data network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a single data network device is connected for pre-commissioned network device commissioning.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a commissioned network is permanently connected for a commissioned network monitoring.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a remote commissioned network is temporarily connected for a remote network monitoring.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein a remote commissioned network is permanently connected for remote network monitoring.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein a remote commissioned network is permanently connected for remote network early warning diagnostics.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein multiple diagnostic access systems may be installed in a single commissioned network.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein a single system may be designated as a single point of consolidation for all the diagnostic data of a commissioned network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is selected from a choice of interfaces including a front panel, network terminal, handheld device, or laptop.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the characterizing data diagnostics and quality measurements consist of heuristics data and summaries of performance trend tracking

11. A diagnostic access system for commissioned networks comprising:

a data network connection for receiving and transmitting network data,

a process control network connection for receiving and transmitting process control network data,

a power connection,

a processor,

an operational software program,

a user software program,

a user interface; and

reporting for user interfacing

12. The system of claim 11, wherein reporting for user interfacing is through a LEDs on a front panel.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein reporting for user interfacing is through a LCD on a front panel.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein reporting for user interfacing is through a hardwire connection to a handheld device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein reporting for user interfacing is through a wireless connection to a handheld device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein reporting for user interfacing is through a GUI on a networked computer.

17. The operational software program for the diagnostic access system where a data sharing communication is provided.

18. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein data sharing communication provided is for OPC.

19. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein data sharing communication provided is for XML.

20. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein data sharing communication provided is for HTML.

21. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein data sharing communication provided is for other network protocols.

22. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein early warning diagnostics are provided through heuristic processes.

23. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein reports of protocol errors and events are reported as a typical diagnostic access system.

24. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein records of causes of events are traceable as a typical diagnostic access system.

25. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein intrusions or attempts of intrusions are as a typical diagnostic access system.

26. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein statistical records of published network performance are gathered and as a typical diagnostic access system.

27. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein environmental data of fieldbus status are gathered and reported as a typical diagnostic access system.

28. The operational software program of claim 17, wherein statistical and environmental data are combined and reported as a typical diagnostic access system.

29. A diagnostic access system for independently communicating with fieldbus for diagnostics purposes.

30. A method of configuring a diagnostic access system to a fieldbus network for monitoring consisting of:

interfacing to a data network,

interfacing to a process control network,

powering from a source,

processing,

operating from an operational software program,

processing control operating on the process control network with the operational software characterizing data quality and communicating through the user software; and

interfacing with an additional network that is an Ethernet connection.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the additional network is a wireless Ethernet.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the additional network consists of a multiple connection of Ethernets.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a H1 Fieldbus network connection.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a multiple connection of H1 FOUNDATION fieldbus™

networks.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the additional network consists of a FOUNDATION fieldbus™

HSE network connection.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the additional network consists of a multiple connection of FOUNDATION fieldbus™

HSE networks.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a Profibus®

PA network connection.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a multiple connection of Profibus PA networks.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a Profibus®

DP network connection.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a multiple connection of Profibus®

DP networks.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a DeviceNet®

network connection.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the process control network consists of a multiple connection of DeviceNet®

networks.