INTELLIGENT DISTRIBUTED CONTROLLER
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A distributed control system for controlling a system comprising:
- a plurality of intelligent distributed controllers (IDCs) communicably linked by a network,each said IDC having an electronic memory having stored thereon a kernel command set which, when executed, directs each IDC to update at least one of its input/output (I/O) values with at least one other IDC,where said electronic memory of each said IDC additionally having stored thereon said updated values,where each said IDC having a processor function operable to run a single user application command set, stored in each said electronic memory, concurrently with the other IDCs on said network,where, when executed, said user application command set is operable to utilize said updated I/O data stored in said electronic memory of each said IDC on said network to determine appropriate outputs for controlling a system communicably linked to said network.
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Abstract
A network of intelligent distributed controls adapted to appear to a programmer as a single virtual device for controlling a system having a pool of all of the inputs and outputs of the various intelligent distributed controllers in the network.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A distributed control system for controlling a system comprising:
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a plurality of intelligent distributed controllers (IDCs) communicably linked by a network, each said IDC having an electronic memory having stored thereon a kernel command set which, when executed, directs each IDC to update at least one of its input/output (I/O) values with at least one other IDC, where said electronic memory of each said IDC additionally having stored thereon said updated values, where each said IDC having a processor function operable to run a single user application command set, stored in each said electronic memory, concurrently with the other IDCs on said network, where, when executed, said user application command set is operable to utilize said updated I/O data stored in said electronic memory of each said IDC on said network to determine appropriate outputs for controlling a system communicably linked to said network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An intelligent distributed controller (IDC) comprising:
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a processor function; a network adapter linked to a network which allows for communicably linking an IDC to said network having other devices communicably linked thereon including other IDCs; a first electronic memory and a second electronic memory; said IDC having at least one input/output port for communicably linking said IDC to at least a component of a system communicably linked to said network; said first electronic memory having electronically stored thereon a kernel command set which said processor function is operable to execute to direct the IDC to update data from said at least one I/O port with at least one other IDC on said network, and where said first electronic memory having electronically stored thereon said updated data from said at least one I/O port of said IDC and data from at least one I/O port of at least one other IDC on said network; and said second electronic memory having electronically stored thereon a user application command, where said processor function is operable to execute said user application command set which utilizes said updated I/O data to determine appropriate outputs for controlling a portion of said system over which said IDC has control, where said processor function is additionally operable to execute said user application command set concurrently with the other IDCs on said network such that all said IDCs on said network form a control system for controlling said system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of controlling a system using distributed controllers comprising:
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networking a plurality of intelligent distributed controllers (IDCs) together such that said IDCs are communicably linked on a network, which network is communicably linked to a system; storing a copy of a kernel command set in the electronic memory each IDC on said network; storing a copy of a user application command set in said electronic memory of each said IDC on said network; executing said kernel command set in each IDC on said network to enable each IDC to update at least a portion of its input/output (I/O) data with at least one other IDC on said network, where each said IDC electronically storing said updated I/O data in its said electronic memory; executing said user application command set concurrently in each IDC on said network, said user application command set utilizing said updated I/O data stored in each IDC to determine appropriate outputs for controlling said system, such that said IDCs on said network forming a control system which controls said system; and controlling said system with said outputs. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of updating software in distributed controllers comprising:
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networking a plurality of intelligent distributed controllers (IDCs) together such that said IDCs are communicably linked on a network; and enabling an IDC to update at least one of a kernel command set and a user application command set with at least a second IDC, where said at least a second IDC electronically storing said one of said kernel command set and said user application command set in an electronic memory of said at least a second IDC, and where said enabling is accomplished with a kernel command set electronically stored in said electronic memory of said IDC. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification