Configuration of field devices on a network
First Claim
1. A method of configuring field devices on a network, the method comprising:
- uploading to a configuration device one or more blocks of configuration data representing configurations for each of a plurality of field devices;
storing the configurations in a network configuration domain of the configuration device; and
downloading from the configuration device to a new field device on the network one of the stored configurations if the new device is of a same field device type as one of the plurality of field devices.
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Abstract
Field devices on a communication network can be configured using a configuration device that stores a configuration data for each of the field devices in a network configuration domain in nonvolatile memory. Each field device includes a configuration domain associated with configuration data stored in nonvolatile memory of the field device. In response to commands from the configuration device, the field devices upload configuration data to or download configuration data from the configuration device. Field devices receive configuration data from the configuration device and store the received configuration data in the nonvolatile memory to define the configuration of the field device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of configuring field devices on a network, the method comprising:
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uploading to a configuration device one or more blocks of configuration data representing configurations for each of a plurality of field devices; storing the configurations in a network configuration domain of the configuration device; and downloading from the configuration device to a new field device on the network one of the stored configurations if the new device is of a same field device type as one of the plurality of field devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of configuring field devices on a network, the method comprising:
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storing in a network configuration domain of a configuration device, a block of configuration data for each existing field device on the network; detecting when an existing device drops off the network; detecting when a replacement device is added to the network; and configuring the replacement device by downloading to the replacement device the block of configuration data of the existing device it has replaced. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A network comprising:
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a communication medium; plurality of field devices capable of communicating over the communication medium, each field device including a configuration domain to which a block of configuration data for that field device can be downloaded over the network and from which the block of configuration data for that field device can be uploaded over the network; and a configuration device having a network configuration domain capable of storing blocks of configuration data for all of the field devices and for initiating downloads to and uploads from the configuration domains of the field devices. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A configuration device comprising:
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nonvolatile memory for storing the device configuration data for each of a plurality of field devices in a network configuration domain; a network interface for sending and receiving messages over a network; and a processor for generating messages to cause uploading of blocks of device configuration data over the network to the nonvolatile memory and to cause downloading of blocks of device configuration data over the network from the nonvolatile memory to field devices on the network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A field device comprising:
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a transducer; a nonvolatile memory for storing a block of device configuration data in a configuration domain; a network interface for sending and receiving messages over a network; and a processor for generating messages to be sent, acting on messages received, and controlling operation of the field device based upon the device configuration data, the processor causing the block of device configuration data to be uploaded from the configuration domain to the network in response to an upload command message, and causing the block of device configuration data to be downloaded from the network to the configuration domain in response to a download command message.
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Specification