System for interfacing between a plurality of processors having different protocols in switchgear and motor control center applications by creating description statements specifying rules

• US 6,032,203 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Heidhues, Peter Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Ilwoo
• Application Number:
  US08/834,569
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/232, 709/236, 709/302, 710/105, 710/8, 710/11, 710/30, 710/65
• US Class Current: 710/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An interface system for use in switchgear and motor control center applications so that communications may occur between different field devices and process control computers using different protocols and requiring different data formats. The interface system translates fieldbus protocols and data formats using a changeable communication driver module employing a description language defining pieces of data called "telegrams." The telegrams contain object structures related to the communication processor or protocol used by the field devices and process control computers. The system also allows for dynamic configurations given the changeable communication driver.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing between a plurality of processors in a switchgear system, wherein at least two of the processors have different protocols, said method comprising the steps of:

a. defining an interface specification to govern the data exchange between the processors by the steps of;

defining a list of one or more data blocks which define the characteristics of data coming from each processor, the data blocks comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

defining a list of one or more data blocks destined for each processor, the data blocks defined in accordance with the protocol specification of the respective processor and comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

defining a list of one or more logical and arithmetic functions to perform on the data blocks, the functions comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

combining the data blocks and the functions from a first predetermined list into description statements specifying rules to interpret data coming from each processor;

combining the data blocks and the functions from a second predetermined list into description statements specifying rules to create data destined for and meeting the protocol specification of each processor;

b. creating a first software module to interpret the description statements and execute the rules in the description statements to interpret data coming from each processor and create data destined for and meeting the protocol specification of each processor; and

c. creating a second software module to regulate the exchange of data between the processors such that any one of the processors is permitted to send data to or receive data from any other processor via the first software module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the data blocks destined for each processor and meeting the protocol specification of each processor further meets a data format based on a specific user'"'"'s requirements.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the data blocks destined for each processor and meeting the protocol specification of each processor further includes only data selected by a specific user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second software module is also capable of examining the data blocks which define the characteristics of data coming from each processor and depending on the characteristics of the data in the data blocks, the second software module may further dispatch the data blocks to the first software module which interprets the description statements to interpret the data blocks coming from each processor and create data destined for and meeting the protocol specification of each processor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of an interface specification to govern the data exchange between the processors further comprises the step of creating a third software module that is capable of communicating with the separate network communication protocols employed by the processors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data blocks defining the characteristics of data from each processor further include frame-related data related to the separate network communication protocols employed by the processors.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second software module is further capable of stripping-off the frame related data from the data blocks from each processor before the data blocks are dispatched to the first software module.

8. A system for interfacing between a plurality of processors in a switchgear system, wherein at least two processors have different protocols, said interface system comprising:

a. first means for identifying data from each processor, said first identifying means comprising at least one data block which defines the characteristics of data from each processor, said data block comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

b. second means for identifying data destined for each processor, said second identifying means comprising at least one data block which meets the protocol specification of each processor, said data block comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

c. third means for identifying at least one logical or arithmetic function to perform on said data blocks, said function comprising objects belonging to one or more object classes;

d. means for combining said data blocks and said functions chosen from a set of predetermined lists into descriptions statements specifying rules to interpret data coming from each processor and to create data destined for and meeting the protocol specification each processor;

e. means for storing said description statements;

f. means for interpreting said descriptions statements to interpret the data from each processor, and to create data destined for and meeting the protocol of each processor; and

g. means for regulating the exchange of data between processors.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for examining the data coming from each processor and dispatching said data to be interpreted and created into data destined for and meeting the protocol specification of at least one of the processors.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for displaying messages resulting from said exchange of data between processors.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for allowing users to input changes in parameters of at least one of the processors.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for regulating the communication flow between the fieldbus protocols of the processors in the switchgear application.