Fieldbus network configuration utility with improved parameter control
First Claim
1. A method for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
- displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters;
selecting a block in response to user input;
displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for displaying and configuring parameters in a fieldbus configuration system. The fieldbus configuration utility first determines the devices and blocks present in the system, and then determines the parameters of each block. When the parameters are displayed, an object is displayed proximate to certain of the parameters. The object includes a color and/or shape which indicates the type or class of parameter. The user can also configure alarms and trends using the improved graphical interface of the present invention. The user configures alarms and trends by assembling a graphical program or wiring diagram on the screen which comprises a selected one or more block icons and an icon representing the device receiving the trend or alarm. The system also includes a periodic update window which is used to obtain periodically updated values of selected parameters.
102 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters.
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2. A method for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; wherein said displaying on the screen a list of parameters comprises displaying an object proximate to each of a subset of said parameters, wherein said objects have different colors to distinguish among parameters. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; wherein said displaying on the screen a list of parameters comprises displaying an object proximate to each of a subset of said parameters wherein said objects have different shapes to distinguish among parameters. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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determining one or more blocks in a device; determining parameters from the device after said determining said one or more blocks, wherein said determining parameters includes determining identification values of the parameters; obtaining a device description for each parameter, wherein said obtaining a device description includes receiving parameter information associated with the identification values; parsing the parameter information; displaying said parameters, wherein said parameters are displayed in a manner which indicates at least a portion of said parameter information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for configuring trends of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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selecting a block in response to user input; selecting one or more parameters of the selected block to trend in response to user input; displaying on the screen a block icon which corresponds to the selected block, wherein the block icon includes a trends output; displaying on the screen a device icon which corresponds to a device in the fieldbus network; and displaying on the screen a wire connecting the trends output of the block icon to an input of the device icon in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for configuring alarms of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a block icon which corresponds to the selected block, wherein the block icon includes an alarm output; displaying on the screen a device icon which corresponds to a device in the fieldbus network; and displaying on the screen a wire connecting the alarm output of the block icon to an input of the device icon in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for monitoring parameters in a fieldbus network, wherein the method operates on a computer system coupled to the fieldbus network, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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displaying on the screen a window; displaying on the screen a plurality of parameters comprised in the window; selecting one or more parameters after displaying said plurality of parameters; enabling a periodic update option in response to user input; wherein values of said selected one or more parameters are periodically updated in response to said enabling the periodic update option.
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29. A method for editing parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, the method comprising:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; selecting a parameter to be edited in response to user input; displaying on the screen an edit control for changing the value of the parameter in response to said selecting; and receiving user input manipulating the edit control, wherein said manipulating edit control operates to change the value of the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A memory media which stores program instructions for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; wherein said displaying on the screen a list of parameters comprises displaying an object proximate to each of a subset of said parameters, wherein said objects have different colors to distinguish among parameters. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A memory media comprising program instructions for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; wherein said displaying on the screen a list of parameters comprises displaying an object proximate to each of a subset of said parameters, wherein said objects have different shapes to distinguish among parameters. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A memory media comprising program instructions for displaying parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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determining one or more blocks in a device; determining parameters from the device after said determining said one or more blocks, wherein said determining parameters includes determining identification values of the parameters; obtaining a device description for each parameter, wherein said obtaining a device description includes receiving parameter information associated with the identification values; parsing the parameter information; and displaying said parameters, wherein said parameters are displayed in a manner which indicates at least a portion of said parameter information. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A memory media comprising program instructions for configuring trends of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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selecting a block in response to user input; selecting one or more parameters of the selected block to trend in response to user input; displaying on the screen a block icon which corresponds to the selected block, wherein the block icon includes a trends output; displaying on the screen a device icon which corresponds to a device in the fieldbus network; and displaying on the screen a wire connecting the trends output of the block icon to an input of the device icon in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A memory media comprising program instructions for configuring alarms of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a block icon which corresponds to the selected block, wherein the block icon includes an alarm output; displaying on the screen a device icon which corresponds to a device in the fieldbus network; and displaying on the screen a wire connecting the alarm output of the block icon to an input of the device icon in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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55. A memory media comprising program instructions for monitoring parameters in a fieldbus network, wherein the memory media operates on a computer system coupled to the fieldbus network, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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displaying on the screen a window; displaying on the screen a plurality of parameters comprised in the window; selecting one or more parameters after displaying said plurality of parameters; enabling a periodic update option in response to user input; wherein values of said one or more parameters comprised in the window are periodically updated in response to said enabling the periodic update option.
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56. A memory media comprising program instructions for editing parameters of a block on a computer system, the computer system including a display screen, wherein the computer system is coupled to a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus network includes a plurality of devices connected to a fieldbus bus, wherein one or more of the fieldbus devices includes one or more blocks, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:
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displaying on the screen a plurality of block icons in response to user input, wherein each of said plurality of block icons represents one or more of said blocks, wherein each of said plurality of block icons includes one or more algorithms and one or more parameters; selecting a block in response to user input; displaying on the screen a list of block parameters corresponding to said selected block, wherein said displaying on the screen the list of block parameters includes displaying on the screen values corresponding to each of said parameters; selecting a parameter to be edited in response to user input; displaying on the screen an edit control for changing the value of the parameter in response to said selecting; and receiving user input manipulating the edit control, wherein said manipulating edit control operates to change the value of the parameter. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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Specification