Distributed database configuration with graphical representations having prelinked parameters for devices within a networked control system

• US 5,706,455 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 01/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Eijk, Fred Van, Hughes, Kevin A., Protopapas, Christopher J., Donnelly, Frank J., Sarbaugh, Keith E., Monteiro, Michael J., Hale, A. Donald Jr., Knapke, Paul H., Benton, Allen D., Hochstedler, Leon J., Worcester, Winthrop G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/563,874
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 395/348, 395/349, 395/965, 364/221.9, 364/146, 422/62
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25057 Configuration stored in distributed database for real time use
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25075 Select interconnection of a combination of processor links to form network

Abstract

A networked control system includes graphical representations of actual devices coupled to a network. The graphical representations include symbols that provide an actual picture of the devices and means for displaying values and status of the devices. A controller uses a system database to create an application database that is used for controlling and monitoring the devices. The system database and application database combine to form a real-time distributed database for controlling devices on the network. The system database includes templates for the physical devices with a control structure that has prelinked parameters that relate to the representation. A graphic editor allows a user to create the database from templates in the system database. Data and other device parameters are automatically linked to a device symbol when creating the graphical representations. A process controller couples the devices to the network and provides the data and status of the networked device to the system. The system includes a mechanism that automatically organizes communications to the devices into optimized transactions.

Claims

1. For a control structure comprising a controller, and a physical device coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to control and monitor the physical device, a user interface coupled to the controller for displaying representations of status conditions of the physical device, the user interface comprising:

a system database adapted to include the representations of the physical device;

means for creating the system database within the user interface; and

means for representing the physical device within the control structure for use within the user interface, the representing means adapted to be accessible from the system database, the system database having groupings of the representing means that are grouped according the location of the physical device which the representing means represents, the groupings being arranged in a distributed database configuration for real-time use.

2. The user interface claimed in claim 1 wherein the representing means comprises points, pointgroups, graphical symbols, and logical parameters.

3. A control system utilizing a system database for controlling a plurality of controllers, each of said controllers coupled to a node of a system network for controlling separate networks of physical devices and including a memory for storing an application database and a processor for using said application data base for monitoring and controlling said networked devices, said control system comprising:

A. a memory for storing said system database located on a node of said system network;

B. graphical representations of said networked devices stored in said application database accessible from the system network;

said graphical representations including points representing values and status of said networked devices;

C. at least one process control unit for each controller for coupling said networks of physical devices to said system network, said process control unit for generating said values and status for each of said networked devices;

D. groupings of said graphical representations grouped according to a location of the controller and physical devices associated with the graphical representations, the groupings being arranged in a real-time configuration in said system database;

E. wherein each of said groupings separate from said system database at runtime for storage in said application data base of said memory of said associated controllers for monitoring and controlling said networked devices; and

F. wherein each of said groupings separate from said system database at runtime for storage in said memory of said associated controller, said separation providing a real-time, distributed database.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said graphical representations include point and pointgroups adaptable to represent said values and status of said networked devices, said points including a point name to represent single parameter devices and said pointgroups including a pointgroup name to represent multiple parameter devices and a point for each physical parameter of said multiple parameter device.

5. The control system of claim 4 wherein said system data base further includes graphic symbols for said networked devices, said symbols include a symbol name and logical parameters for representing status of said devices, and wherein said graphical representations include said points and symbols to represent each of said single parameter devices and said pointgroups and symbols to represent multiple parameter devices.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein said points representing said physical parameters of said multiparameter devices are automatically linked to said logical parameters of said symbols when a pointgroup name is linked to a symbol name.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said controllers further includes a graphic editor for a user to create said graphical representations for said networked devices from templates stored in said system database, said graphical representations associated with a physical device including a memory address defined by said user.

8. The control system of claim 7 wherein each of said controllers further includes a graphic viewer for viewing said graphical representations of said networked devices controlled and monitored by said controller, said graphic viewer including means for selecting a graphical representation of a networked device from said graphic display file, means for viewing values and status of said networked device, and means for updating said graphical representation in said graphic display file with real time values and status of said networked device generated by said process control unit.

9. The control system of claim 8 further including means for automatically optimizing communication with said networked devices such that all points associated with a memory address of a device are analyzed and organized to obtain all said points in the most efficient manner.

10. A real-time, distributed database system for controlling and monitoring devices coupled to a network comprising:

A. a memory accessible from said network for storing a system database;

B. a plurality of process control units, each of said plurality of process control units for coupling said devices to said network, said process control unit for generating values and status for each of said physical devices;

C. graphical representations of each of said physical devices, said graphical representations including said values and status of said networked devices and said graphical representations stored in an application database;

D. at least one controller coupled to said system network, said controller including a memory for storing said application database and a processor for using said system data base to create said application data base for monitoring and controlling said networked devices in response to said graphical representations;

E. groupings of said graphical representations grouped according to a location of the controller and physical devices associated with the graphical representations, said groupings being arranged in a real-time configuration in said system database;

F. wherein each of said groupings separate from said system database at runtime for storage in said application data base of said memory of said associated controller for monitoring and controlling said networked devices; and

G. wherein each of said groupings separate from said system database at runtime for storage in said memory of said associated controller, said separation providing said real-time, distributed database.

11. The real-time, distributed database system control system of claim 10 wherein said graphical representations include point and pointgroups adaptable to represent said values and status of said networked devices, said points including a point name to represent single parameter devices and said pointgroups including a pointgroup name to represent multiple parameter devices and a point for each physical parameter of said multiple parameter device.

12. The real-time, distributed database system control system of claim 11 wherein said system data base further includes graphic symbols for said networked devices, said symbols include a symbol name and logical parameters for representing status of said devices, and wherein said graphical representations include said points and symbols to represent each of said single parameter devices and said pointgroups and symbols to represent multiple parameter devices.

13. The real-time, distributed database system control system of claim 12 wherein said points representing said physical parameters of said multiparameter devices are automatically linked to said logical parameters of said symbols when a pointgroup name is linked to a symbol name.

14. The real-time, distributed database system of claim 13 wherein at least one of said controllers further includes a graphic editor for a user to create said graphical representations for said networked devices from templates stored in said system database, said graphical representations associated with a physical device including a memory address defined by said user.

15. The real-time, distributed database of claim 14 wherein each of said controllers further includes a graphic viewer for viewing said graphical representations of said networked devices controlled and monitored by said controller, said graphic viewer including means for selecting a graphical representation of a networked device from said graphic display file, means for viewing values and status of said networked device, and means for updating said graphical representation in said graphic display file with real time values and status of said networked device generated by said process control unit.

16. The real-time, distributed database system control system of claim 15 further including means for automatically optimizing communication with said networked devices such that all points associated with a memory address of a device are analyzed and organized to obtain all said points in the most efficient manner.