METHOD FOR OPERATING A FIELD DEVICE

• US 20110004685A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG (Endress+Hauser AG)
• Inventors: Romer, Mathhias, Hahniche, Jorg, Sommer, Raimund, De Groot, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0425 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/418 Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

Method for operating a field device of process automation technology, wherein the field device is connected for communication with at least one servicing tool. In the case of a request by a servicing tool for access to the field device, the access allowed by the field device depends on the particular servicing tool which places the access request, and on the operating state, in which the field device is located.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method for operating a field device of process automation technology, comprising the steps of:

connecting the field device for communication with at least one servicing tool; and

in case of a request by a servicing tool for access to the field device, access allowed by the field device depends on the particular servicing tool which places the access request, and on the operating state, in which the field device is located.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

depending on the servicing tool which places the access request and/or depending on the operating state of the field device, access allowed by the field device only includes a part of the parameters of the field device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

depending on the servicing tool which places the access request and/or depending on the operating state of the field device, access allowed by the field device only includes certain access types.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

in case of an access request, the at least one servicing tool transmits an identification of the servicing tool to the field device.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

profile information for the at least one servicing tool is saved in the field device;

the profile information includes information regarding functions of the relevant servicing tool with regard to an accessing of field devices; and

the field device, in case of receiving an access request by a servicing tool, accesses the profile information of the servicing tool, and, as a function of this profile information, allows an accessing.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

in the field device, upon receiving an access request by a servicing tool, access by other servicing tools is blocked or enabled only to a limited degree.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

that the blocking or limitation of access to the field device can only be canceled by the servicing tool which placed the access request, due to which access was blocked or limited.

20. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the field device, upon receiving an access request from a predetermined servicing tool, allows an accessing independently of whether an access request was parallelly placed by another servicing tool.

21. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

when an access is blocked or enabled only to a limited degree, the field device gives a corresponding report concerning the blocking or limitation;

wherein, in the report, an identification is especially given of the servicing tool, which placed the access request, due to which access was blocked or limited.

22. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

in operating states of the field device, as a function of which an accessing is allowed, include at least one of following operating states;

an “

offline”

operating state, in which the field device is not connected in a plant of process automation technology;

an “

online”

operating state, in which the field device is connected in a plant of process automation technology;

a “

commission”

operating state (“

start-up”

operating state), in which parameters of the field device are set before integration of the field device into a process;

a “

non-commission”

operating state (operating state before start-up), in which a field device, which has not previously been in operation, is present;

an “

off-control”

operating state, in which the field device is “

online”

, but is not, however, yet integrated into a process;

an “

on-control”

operating state, in which the field device is “

online” and

integrated into a process; and

an operating state with blocked or limited access, in which the field device is operated, when a request for access to the field device is placed by a servicing tool.

23. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

in case of an access request initiated by a person, this person must identify him/herself, and access allowed by the field device depends on identity of this person.

24. Afield device of process automation technology, which includes

a processor unit, adapted in such a manner, that, in case of a request by a servicing tool for access to the field device, access to the field device allowed by the processor unit depends on the particular servicing tool, which places the access request, and on the operating state, in which the field device is located.