Integrated control system

• US 5,357,420 A
• Filed: 09/24/1992
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gohi, Tetsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): RUGGIERO, JOSEPH F
• Application Number:
  US07/950,141
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 364/131, 364/132, 364/133, 364/134, 364/138, 364/139, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/200, 395/275, 395/325, 340/825.06, 340/825.07
• US Class Current: 700/2
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41835 characterised by programme execution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36133 MMI, HMI: man machine interface, communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system performing an integrated control of a plurality of independent control system. Each of a plurality of control terminals controls the independent control systems. A plurality of interface control devices perform interface control between the independent control system and each of the control terminals. A first switching device switches connections between the control systems and each of the interface control devices. A second switching control device switches connections between each of the interface control devices and each of the control terminals. An external control terminal supplies external instructions to the control device which control the first and second switching devices.

Claims

1. An integrated control system comprising:

a plurality of independent control systems, each of the independent control systems having a data transmission channel;

a plurality of control terminal means for controlling the independent control systems;

a plurality of interface control means for performing interface control between the independent control systems and each of the control terminal means;

first switching means for switching connections between each of the control systems and each of the interface control means;

second switching means for switching connections between each of the interface control means and each of the control terminal means;

control means for controlling the first and second switching means in response to an external instruction; and

external control terminal means for supplying the external instruction,

wherein the control means includes bus monitor means for monitoring states of the data transmission channels of the independent control systems, first switching control means for controlling the first switching means, second switching control means for controlling the second switching means, and interface means connected to the bus monitor means for performing interface control between the external control terminal means and the first and second switching control means.

2. A method of integratedly controlling a plurality of independent control systems, each having a data transmission channel, by each of a plurality of control terminal means through a plurality of interface control means, comprising the steps of:

monitoring states of the data transmission channels of the independent control systems;

performing interface control between the independent control systems and each of the control terminal means by the interface control means;

switching connections between each of the control systems and each of the interface control means;

switching connections between each of the interface control means and each of the control terminal means;

controlling the connections switching steps in response to an external instruction; and

supplying the external instruction.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of controlling includes the step of performing interface control between the external instruction and the first and second switching connections.