SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF PROCESS CONTROL DEVICES IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. An interface device for use with a process control system, the process control system comprising a first communication link configured to communicate information using a first process control protocol, a second communication link that is different from the first communication link and is configured to communicate information using a second process control protocol, wherein at least one field device is coupled to the first communication link, the at least one field device configured to control or measure a physical process parameter, the interface device comprising:
- a process control interface configured to communicatively couple to the first communication link to collect process control information related to a measurement or a control of the physical process parameter;
a diagnostic application that executes on the interface device to analyze the collected process control information to determine a diagnostic condition associated with the first communication link or a device communicatively coupled to the first communication link; and
a communication interface configured to communicatively couple to the second communication link to communicate the diagnostic condition via the second communication link and using the second process control protocol, to an entity in the process control system other than the interface device;
wherein the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol are different industrial automation protocols, each of the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol having specific mechanisms for communicating process control information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to facilitate seamless integration of process control devices in a process control system, an integrated seamless diagnostic device collects diagnostic data related to the operation of (or problems associated with) one communication link that supports one process control protocol but communicates the collected diagnostic data to other entities in the process control system via another communication link that supports a different process control protocol. As a result, problems with the communication link monitored by the integrated seamless diagnostic device can be reported to the appropriate entities in the process control system as they occur and without unwanted delay. Moreover, problems with the monitored communication link can be communicated to the appropriate entities via process control protocols that are understood by those entities (and other entities in the process control system) and without consuming the potentially valuable resources of the monitored communication link.
23 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An interface device for use with a process control system, the process control system comprising a first communication link configured to communicate information using a first process control protocol, a second communication link that is different from the first communication link and is configured to communicate information using a second process control protocol, wherein at least one field device is coupled to the first communication link, the at least one field device configured to control or measure a physical process parameter, the interface device comprising:
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a process control interface configured to communicatively couple to the first communication link to collect process control information related to a measurement or a control of the physical process parameter; a diagnostic application that executes on the interface device to analyze the collected process control information to determine a diagnostic condition associated with the first communication link or a device communicatively coupled to the first communication link; and a communication interface configured to communicatively couple to the second communication link to communicate the diagnostic condition via the second communication link and using the second process control protocol, to an entity in the process control system other than the interface device; wherein the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol are different industrial automation protocols, each of the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol having specific mechanisms for communicating process control information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process control system comprising:
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a first communication link configured to communicate process control information using a first process control protocol; a second communication link that is different from the first communication link and is configured to communicate process control information using a second process control protocol; and a diagnostic device including; a diagnostic interface communicatively coupled to the first communication link and configured to collect or determine diagnostic information related to the operation of the first communication link; and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the second communication link and configured to communicate data indicative of the collected diagnostic information, via the second communication link and using the second process control protocol, to an entity in the process control system other than the diagnostic unit. wherein the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol are different industrial automation protocols, each of the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol having specific mechanisms for communicating process control information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A diagnostic device for use with a process control system, the process control system comprising a first communication link configured to communicate information using a first process control protocol and a second communication link that is different from the first communication link and is configured to communicate information using a second process control protocol, the diagnostic device comprising:
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a diagnostic interface configured to communicatively couple to the first communication link to collect or generate diagnostic information related to the operation of the first communication link; and a communication interface configure to communicatively couple to the second communication link to communicate data indicative of the collected diagnostic information, via the second communication link and using the second process control protocol, to an entity in the process control system other than the diagnostic device; wherein the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol are different industrial automation protocols, each of the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol having specific mechanisms for communicating process control information. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A diagnostic method for use in a process control system, the method comprising:
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communicatively coupling, via a diagnostic interface of a diagnostic device, to a first communication link in the process control system, wherein the first communication link is configured to communicate process control information using a first process control protocol; collecting, via the diagnostic interface, diagnostic information related to the operation of the first communication link; communicatively coupling, via a communication interface of the diagnostic device, to a second communication link that is different from the first communication link, wherein the second communication link is configured to communicate information using a second process control protocol; and communicating, via the communication interface, data indicative of the collected diagnostic information to an entity in the process control system other than the diagnostic device via the second communication link and using the second process control protocol; wherein the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol are different industrial automation protocols, each of the first process control protocol and the second process control protocol having specific mechanisms for communicating process control information. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification