SCADA SYSTEM REAL-TIME DATA AND EVENT MANAGEMENT ON A PC CARD

• US 20130144405A1
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Lo, George
• Granted Patent: US 9,551,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32404 Scada supervisory control and data acquisition

Abstract

Real-time data and event management (RDEM) is implemented on a separate component in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA). To assist in upgrades or changes to the SCADA system without compromising RDEM, the RDEM function is performed on a separate card or physical component. When the computer running the SCADA system is upgraded, the RDEM on the separate card and corresponding persistence store is maintained.

Claims

1. A system for real-time data and event management (RDEM) in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

a plurality of actuators;

a SCADA device for industrial control using the actuators and based on input from the sensors, the SCADA device including a first processor and a first card connector; and

a computer card having a memory, a persistence store, and a second processor, the computer card operable to connect with the first card connector and configured to implement the RDEM for SCADA with communications with the first processor through the first card connector, the memory and the persistence store of the computer card configured to store state information of the sensors and the actuators.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the SCADA device comprises a personal computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the SCADA device comprises a server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the SCADA device comprises a distributed control arrangement.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer card comprises a personal computer card releasably connectable with the first card connector.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first card connector comprises a slot on a motherboard, the first processor mounted to the motherboard, and wherein the computer card comprises a separate board than the mother board, the separate board including contact pads for connecting with the first card connector.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first processor is configured to generate an RDEM gateway to communicate with the RDEM of the second processor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the SCADA device includes communications connectors connectable with the sensors and actuators, the first processor being configured to generate a gateway to communicate between (1) the sensors and actuators and (2) the RDEM.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer card includes communications connectors connectable with the sensors and actuators, the second processor being configured to generate a gateway to communicate between (1) the sensors and actuators and (2) the RDEM.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first processor of the SCADA device is configured to run a configuration tool client, an user interface client, and an application client for process of an object.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the SCADA device comprises a publicly available operating system and computing platform such that the SCADA device is changeable while maintaining the computer card and corresponding RDEM.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer card is separate from an operating system and human-machine interface of the SCADA device.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer card and corresponding RDEM is operable without change in hardware and software of the computer card with an upgrade of the SCADA device.

14. A method for event management in a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the method comprising:

receiving a change in state from a field device;

storing the state, in response to receiving the change, in a persistence store, the persistence store and a first processor for managing a process image comprising a first component; and

running, by a second processor, a SCADA application, the SCADA application operating as a function of the state of the field device, the SCADA application accessing the state from the process image, the second processor comprising a second component, the first component being on a separate circuit board than the second component.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the change comprises receiving by the second processor with a field device gateway the change from a sensor or actuator, and wherein storing comprises communicating, by the second processor, the change through a management gateway implemented by the second processor to the first processor.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the change comprises receiving by the first processor with a field device gateway the change from a sensor or actuator, and wherein storing comprises routing, by the first processor, the change to the persistence store and a memory of the first component.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein running comprises requesting, by the second processor through a management gateway, the state from the a memory and transmitting, by the first processor and through a slotted connector, the state to the second processor.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

powering, at least as a back-up, the first processor with a battery within the first component, the first component comprising a removable card.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

generating, by the second component, a user interface with an operating system; and

changing the operating system, the second component, or the operating system and the second component while maintaining the first component and persistence store.

20. A method for event management in a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, the method comprising:

generating a user interface of the SCADA system with a computer and operating system;

maintaining a real-time data and event management system on a computer card within and removable from the computer; and

changing the computer, the operating system, or the computer and the operating system to another computer, another operating system or the other computer and the other operating system while separately maintaining the real-time data and event management system on the computer card, the computer card operable with the computer, the operating system, the other computer, and the other operating system.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein changing comprises removing the computer card from a first slot in the computer and installing the computer card in a second slot on the other computer.