SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING FOUNDATION FIELDBUS LINKING DEVICES

• US 20120311137A1
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Smith, Steven William, Pettigrew, William Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,130,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40221 Profibus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4026 Bus for use in automation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0668 by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

Systems and methods for identifying Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A Foundation Fieldbus linking device may be identified by a gateway device that includes one or more computers. An operational status for the identified linking device may be determined by the gateway device. A virtual address representative of the identified linking device may be determined by the gateway device. A message associated with operation of the identified linking device may be provided by the gateway device to an external system, and the virtual address may be utilized to represent the linking device.

Claims

1. A method for identifying Foundation Fieldbus linking devices, the method comprising:

identifying, by a gateway device comprising one or more computers, a Foundation Fieldbus linking device;

determining, by the gateway device, an operational status for the identified linking device;

determining, by the gateway device, a virtual address representative of the identified linking device; and

providing, by the gateway device to an external system, a message associated with operation of the identified linking device, wherein the virtual address is utilized to represent the linking device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an operational status for the linking device comprises determining that the linking device has an offline status.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway device from a controller that manages the linking device, status information for the linking device,

wherein identifying a linking device and determining an operational status comprises identifying the linking device and determining an operational status based at least in part upon an analysis of the received status information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a message associated with operation of the linking device comprises providing a message to an asset management system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a message associated with operation of the linking device comprises providing an annunciation message associated with the linking device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway device from the external system, an indication that the external system is assembling a linking device topology,

wherein providing a message comprises providing a message subsequent to receiving the indication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a first message, and further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway device from the external device, a second message to be communicated to the linking device;

determining, by the gateway device, a physical address associated with the linking device; and

directing, by the gateway device, communication of the second message to the linking device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, by the gateway device, that the operational status is an online status,

wherein directing communication of the second message comprises directing communication based at least in part upon determining that the operational status is an online status.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, by the gateway device based at least in part upon an analysis of the received second message, an identity of the linking device,

wherein determining the physical address comprises determining the physical address based at least in part upon the determined identity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a virtual address for the linking device comprises determining a virtual address that is utilized in association with a plurality of linking devices.

11. A system comprising:

at least one memory operable to store computer-executable instructions;

at least one processor configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to;

identify a Foundation Fieldbus linking device;

determine an operational status for the identified linking device;

determine a virtual address representative of the identified linking device; and

direct communication, to an external system, of a message associated with operation of the identified linking device, wherein the virtual address is utilized to represent the linking device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the determined operational status comprises an offline status for the linking device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from a controller that manages the linking device, status information for the linking device; and

identifying the linking device and determine the operational status based at least in part upon an analysis of the received status information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the external system comprises an asset management system.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the message associated with operation of the linking device comprises an annunciation message associated with the linking device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from the external system, an indication that the external system is assembling a linking device topology; and

direct communication of the message subsequent to receiving the indication.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the message comprises a first message, and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

receive, from the external device, a second message to be communicated to the linking device;

determine a physical address associated with the linking device; and

direct communication of the second message to the linking device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine that the operational status is an online status; and

direct communication of the second message based at least in part upon determining that the operational status is an online status.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to:

determine, based at least in part upon an analysis of the received second message, an identity of the linking device; and

determine the physical address based at least in part upon the determined identity.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the virtual address for the linking device comprises a virtual address that is utilized in association with a plurality of linking devices.