Method and apparatus for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions
First Claim
1. A system for use in debugging or tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a plurality of field devices communicatively linked over a bus, wherein each of the field devices is capable of performing one or more process control functions and one or more communication functions, the system comprising:
- a process control operation scheduler that schedules the execution of each of the process control functions and the communication functions performed by the plurality of devices to define a process control scheme;
an indicator that indicates a process control scheme location implemented by one of the plurality of field devices at which the process control scheme is to be interrupted when the process control scheme is in a debugging/tuning mode; and
a controller that stops execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow location when the indicated flow location is reached and the process control scheme is in the debugging/tuning mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a set of field devices communicatively linked over a bus includes an operational scheduler that schedules the execution of each of a number of process control functions and communication functions performed by the field devices to define a process control scheme and an indicator that indicates one or more process control scheme locations at which the process control scheme is to be automatically or conditionally interrupted to thereby enable debugging and/or tuning of the process control network. A controller interrupts execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow locations, communicates process data to a user to display the current or a past state of the process to a user and waits for user input before continuing with operation of the process control scheme. In a tuning mode, the controller delivers data pertaining to a process parameter to a tuning device or to a user which determines a new tuning parameter, such as a gain, to be used within the process control scheme based on the process parameter data.
135 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for use in debugging or tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a plurality of field devices communicatively linked over a bus, wherein each of the field devices is capable of performing one or more process control functions and one or more communication functions, the system comprising:
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a process control operation scheduler that schedules the execution of each of the process control functions and the communication functions performed by the plurality of devices to define a process control scheme; an indicator that indicates a process control scheme location implemented by one of the plurality of field devices at which the process control scheme is to be interrupted when the process control scheme is in a debugging/tuning mode; and a controller that stops execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow location when the indicated flow location is reached and the process control scheme is in the debugging/tuning mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of debugging or tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a plurality of field devices communicatively linked over a bus, wherein each of the field devices is capable of performing one or more process control functions and one or more communication functions, the method comprising the steps of:
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scheduling an order of execution for the process control functions and the communication functions to define a process control scheme; marking one or more process control scheme locations associated with the process control functions or the communication functions at which the process control scheme is to be interrupted; running the process control scheme; detecting when any one of the plurality of field devices implements a control function or a communication function making up one of the marked process control scheme locations; interrupting execution of the process control scheme at the one marked process control scheme location; waiting for a user to indicate that execution of the process control scheme should continue; and starting the process control scheme at the one marked location upon receipt of a user indication that execution of the process control scheme should continue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19)
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17. The method of 14, wherein the step of marking includes the steps of marking one of the process control scheme locations as a conditional breakpoint and storing a condition associated with the conditional breakpoint, and wherein the step of interrupting includes the steps of determining if the condition associated with the conditional breakpoint is satisfied when the process control scheme reaches the conditional breakpoint and automatically continuing with the process control scheme if the condition is not satisfied.
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20. A process control device for use in a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a plurality of field devices communicatively coupled to a bus, wherein each of the field devices includes one or more function blocks capable of performing an input function, an output function, or a control function within the process control network and capable of communicating on the bus, the process control device comprising:
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a first function block that implements a process function to perform a portion of a process control scheme; a memory that stores an indication of a point within the process control scheme associated with the first function block or with the device; and a trace-tune function block communicatively coupled to the first function block including means for controlling the process control device to interrupt the process control scheme at the indicated point when the process control scheme reaches the indicated point. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification