Dedicated Network Diagnostics Module for a Process Network
First Claim
1. A dedicated network diagnostic module coupleable to a distributed process control network that controls an industrial process via field devices coupled to the network, the network diagnostic module comprising:
- a power block coupleable to the network and configured to power the network diagnostic module with energy received from the network;
a communications block coupleable to the network and configured to bi-directionally communicate over the network;
a diagnostics block coupleable to the network and configured to measure and obtain electrical and protocol parameters of the network;
wherein the network diagnostic module is not a field device that is configured to detect or control any process variable of the industrial process.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network diagnostic module coupleable to a distributed process control network that controls an industrial process via field devices coupled to the network includes a power block coupleable to the network and configured to power the network diagnostic module with energy received from the network, a communications block coupleable to the network and configured to bi-directionally communicate over the network, and a diagnostics block coupleable to the network and configured to make diagnostic measurements of network and protocol parameters of the network. The network diagnostic module is not itself a field device that detects or controls any process variable of the industrial process, enabling the network diagnostic module to be placed essentially anywhere along the network to permanently monitor the network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dedicated network diagnostic module coupleable to a distributed process control network that controls an industrial process via field devices coupled to the network, the network diagnostic module comprising:
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a power block coupleable to the network and configured to power the network diagnostic module with energy received from the network; a communications block coupleable to the network and configured to bi-directionally communicate over the network; a diagnostics block coupleable to the network and configured to measure and obtain electrical and protocol parameters of the network; wherein the network diagnostic module is not a field device that is configured to detect or control any process variable of the industrial process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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7. A distributed process control network comprising:
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a plurality of field devices connected to one another by a network; and a first dedicated network diagnostic module coupled to the network, the network diagnostic module comprising; a power block coupled to the network and configured to power the network diagnostic module with energy received from the network; a communications block coupled to the network and configured to bi-directionally communicate over the network; a diagnostics block coupled to the network and configured to make diagnostic measurements of network and protocol parameters of the network; the network diagnostic module not a field device and not configured to detect or control any process variable of the industrial process. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification