Schematic generator for use in a process control network having distributed control functions
First Claim
1. A schematic generator for use with a process control network having a plurality of devices that communicate over a bus, wherein each of the devices is capable of performing a process control function and stores linkage data pertaining to the manner in which the devices are configured to operate within the process control network, the schematic generator comprising:
- a device interrogator that interrogates each of the devices over the bus to retrieve the linkage data stored in each of the devices;
a data analyzer that analyses the retrieved linkage data to determine current process control configuration information; and
a generator that creates a graphical schematic illustrating a current process control configuration of the process control network using the current process control configuration information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A schematic generator for use in a process control network, in which control functions are implemented by field devices interconnected at various and distributed locations on a bus, polls each of the field devices to retrieve information pertaining to the identity of the device, the identity of the control functions associated with the device, the manner in which the device communicates with other devices with respect to each of the control functions associated with that device, the timing associated with the execution of each of the control functions of that device and the timing of the communication activities associated with each of the control functions of that device. The schematic generator then analyses the retrieved data to identify the manner in which the devices are physically connected on the bus and the manner in which the different control functions are interconnected over the bus to perform process control loops within the process control network. Thereafter, the schematic generator creates one or more schematics, such a maintenance schematic illustrating the physical layout of the field devices in the process control network, a control loop schematic illustrating the interconnections between functions within one or more of the deceives that form a control loop, and a timing schematic illustrating the timing of or the amount of communications occurring on the bus.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A schematic generator for use with a process control network having a plurality of devices that communicate over a bus, wherein each of the devices is capable of performing a process control function and stores linkage data pertaining to the manner in which the devices are configured to operate within the process control network, the schematic generator comprising:
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a device interrogator that interrogates each of the devices over the bus to retrieve the linkage data stored in each of the devices; a data analyzer that analyses the retrieved linkage data to determine current process control configuration information; and a generator that creates a graphical schematic illustrating a current process control configuration of the process control network using the current process control configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for use in a process control network having a bus, a plurality of devices capable of performing process control functions connected to the bus and a device linkage database that stores linkage data pertaining to the manner in which the devices are configured to operate within the process control network, the computer program product comprising:
a computer useable medium having computer readable code therein including; a first routine that interrogates the linkage database to retrieve the linkage data pertaining to each of the devices; a second routine that analyses the retrieved linkage data to determine current process control configuration information; and a third routine that creates a graphical schematic illustrating a current process control configuration for the process control network using the current process control configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of generating a schematic in a process control network having a plurality of devices that communicate over a bus, wherein each of the devices is capable of performing a process control function and stores linkage data pertaining to the manner in which the device is configured to operate within the process control network, the method comprising the steps of:
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interrogating each of the devices over the bus to retrieve the linkage data stored in each of the devices; analyzing the retrieved linkage data to determine current process control configuration information; and creating a graphical schematic illustrating a process control configuration of the process control network using the determined current process control configuration information. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification