FIELDBUS UPGRADABLE APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method for modifying processing on at least one control device controlling operation of process control equipment, the method comprising:
- transferring data from a remote host device to the at least one control device during unscheduled communications periods and without interrupting operation of the at least one control device, the remote host device and the at least one control device being coupled through a Fieldbus communications network;
storing the transferred data to a respective inactive memory area; and
, redirecting at least one control device microprocessor, during an idle period of the at least one control device microprocessor, to execute the stored data in the inactive memory area to modify the processing on the at least one control device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus to modify control devices residing on a Fieldbus communications network, without interrupting the operation of the control devices. The control device updating may further be controlled and monitored by a remotely located host that also communicates on the Fieldbus network. The control device may comprise at least two distinct memory areas, wherein at least one memory area must be active, and at least one memory area must be inactive. Active memory areas provide the control device microprocessor operating system with executable instructions or data. The host downloads new executable instructions or data to inactive memory areas, with associated data entry points, during unscheduled communications periods wherein data input/output is not being performed between the control device and the host or another control device. Upon a full data transfer and proper verification of the new data, the host may issue an activation command that causes a selector device to activate the previously inactive memory area by directing the microprocessor to the entry points of the newly downloaded executable instructions or data. The memory activation must occur while the microprocessor is not performing application execution, application input/output, or application communications. By timing the memory activation in this manner, the microprocessor may be redirected to the newly downloaded executable instructions or data without microprocessor interruption.
16 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for modifying processing on at least one control device controlling operation of process control equipment, the method comprising:
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transferring data from a remote host device to the at least one control device during unscheduled communications periods and without interrupting operation of the at least one control device, the remote host device and the at least one control device being coupled through a Fieldbus communications network;
storing the transferred data to a respective inactive memory area; and
, redirecting at least one control device microprocessor, during an idle period of the at least one control device microprocessor, to execute the stored data in the inactive memory area to modify the processing on the at least one control device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for modifying processing on at least one control device, the system comprising:
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a remote host device coupled through a Fieldbus communications network to the at least one control device and configured to transfer data to the at least one control device during unscheduled communications periods between the at least one control device and control equipment of at least one process controlled by the at least one control device and without interrupting operation of the at least one control device;
at least one control device active memory area and at least one control device inactive memory area;
at least one control device microprocessor to execute instructions and data in the at least one active memory area; and
,a control device selector module to direct the at least one control device microprocessor to the at least one active memory area, the selector module further comprising a scheduling module to redirect the at least one control device microprocessor during microprocessor idle periods to modify the processing on the at least one control device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of implementing a software upgrade for a control device, the method comprising:
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transferring, without interrupting operation of the control device, software upgrade data from a remote host device to the control device during unscheduled communications periods between the control device and control equipment of at least one process controlled by the control device, the remote host device and the control device being coupled through a Fieldbus communications network;
storing the upgrade data to a respective inactive memory area; and
,redirecting at least one microprocessor of the control device, during an idle period of the at least one microprocessor, to execute the stored upgrade data in the inactive memory area to implement the software upgrade for a next active period of the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for modifying processing on at least one control device, the method comprising:
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transferring data from a remote host device to the at least one control device without interrupting operation of the at least one control device and during unscheduled communications periods between the at least one control device and control equipment of at least one process controlled by the at least one control device, the remote host device and the at least one control device being coupled through a Fieldbus communications network;
storing the transferred data to a respective inactive memory area; and
redirecting at least one control device microprocessor during an idle period to execute the stored data in the inactive memory area to modify the processing on the at least one control device, the idle period including a period when the microprocessor is not actively controlling the control equipment and when the microprocessor is not actively processing data from the control equipment, the microprocessor implementing the modified processing for a next active period of the microprocessor with respect to the control equipment.
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Specification