System and method for managing a transaction database of records of changes to field device configurations

• US 6,094,600 A
• Filed: 02/06/1996
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Westbrock, Jon, Sharpe, Richard R. Jr., Bruck, Robert, Tielens, Craig R., Olson, Gene H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/599,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 702/187, 711/161, 707/204, 700/11-28, 700/47-55, 700/40, 700/67, 700/75, 700/83-88, 345/963
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31098 Configuration editor for networking interconnection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31103 Configure parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31326 Database to manage communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A computer-based database management method permits management of a configuration database associated with one of a plurality of devices. Each device has a variable configuration which includes at least one adjustable parameter. The method includes the steps of selecting a particular device, selecting a particular parameter of the particular device, assigning a particular value for the particular parameter at a particular time, communicating the particular value for the particular parameter to the particular device at the particular time, creating a transaction record, and storing the transaction record in a configuration database. The transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular device and further specifies the particular parameter of the particular device, the particular value for the particular parameter, and the particular time at which the particular value is to be applied to the particular parameter.

Claims

1. A computer-based database management system for configuring a plurality of field devices each having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter of one of the field devices to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter of the one of the field devices to a second value at a second time; and

a centralized database having a transaction memory accessible by multiple ones of the plurality of the field devices, said transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions related to the multiple ones of the plurality of field devices in the order that the transactions were made, each transaction including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value, wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the corresponding time indication of each transaction includes an indication of the date and a further indication of the time on that date when the particular device configuration parameter is set to the particular value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one transaction stored in the transaction memory comprises a value for each of a plurality of adjustable device configuration parameters of a particular field device as of the time indicated by the corresponding time indication of the transaction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein one transaction stored in the transaction memory comprises a value for each adjustable device configuration parameter of a particular field device as of the time indicated by the corresponding time indication of the transaction.

5. A computer-based database management system for configuring a field device having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a second value at a second time; and

a transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions, each including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value, wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter and wherein each transaction stored in the transaction memory includes an indication of the type of the transaction, wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of historical type, current type, and future type.

6. A computer-based database management system for configuring a field device having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a second value at a second time;

a transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions each including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter; and

constructing means for constructing a current state of a particular field device by scanning the transactions in reverse-chronological order to find the last value applied to each adjustable device configuration parameter of the particular field device and then displaying the last value applied to each adjustable device configuration parameter to a user as a device configuration display separate and apart from a display of the contents of the transaction memory.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein one transaction in the transaction memory includes a value for each adjustable device configuration parameter of a particular field device.

8. A computer-based database management system for configuring a field device having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a second value at a second time; and

a transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions each including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value, wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter;

wherein one transaction in the transaction memory includes a value for a particular adjustable device configuration parameter of a particular field device and wherein the time indication of the transaction indicates only that the value is to be applied to the particular adjustable device configuration parameter at an unspecified time in the future.

9. A computer-based database management system for configuring a field device having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a second value at a second time;

a transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions, each including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value, wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter; and

means for reconciling the transactions stored in the transaction memory with transactions stored in a secondary transaction memory.

10. A computer-based database management system for configuring a field device having a configuration including at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

setting means for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a first value at a first time and for setting the adjustable device configuration parameter to a second value at a second time;

a transaction memory responsive to the setting means for storing a plurality of transactions, each including a particular value to which a particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set and a corresponding time indication of a time when the particular adjustable device configuration parameter is set to the particular value, wherein the particular value and the corresponding time indication are stored in the transaction memory in response to a change in the particular adjustable device configuration parameter; and

means for reconciling the transactions stored in the transaction memory with transactions stored in a transaction memory of a functionally identical computer-based database management system.

11. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices, said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device, the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter; and

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter;

wherein the assigning means reads an actual value of the particular device configuration parameter from the particular field device before the communicating means communicates the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the time indication of each transaction record includes an indication of the date and a further indication of the time on that date when the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein one transaction record stored in the configuration database comprises a value for each of a plurality of adjustable device configuration parameters of a particular field device as of the time indicated by the time indication of the transaction record.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein one transaction record stored in the configuration database comprises a value for each adjustable device configuration parameter of a particular field device as of the time indicated by the time indication of the transaction record.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the assigning means determines an expected value of the particular device configuration parameter from the configuration database and compares the expected value of the particular device configuration parameter to the actual value of the particular device configuration parameter.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the recording means creates a further transaction record for the actual value of the particular device configuration parameter and the storing means stores the further transaction record in the configuration database if the actual value of the particular device configuration parameter is not the same as the expected value of the particular device configuration parameter.

17. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device, the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter; and

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter;

wherein one transaction record stored in the configuration database represents a transaction of a type which is selected from the group consisting of historical type, current type, and future type, and wherein the transaction record includes an indication of the type of the transaction.

18. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices, said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter;

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter; and

constructing means for constructing a current state of a particular field device by scanning the transaction records in the configuration database in reverse-chronological order to find the last value assigned to each adjustable device configuration parameter of the particular field device and then displaying the last value applied to each adjustable device configuration parameter to a user as a device configuration display separate and apart from a display of the contents of the configuration database.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein one transaction record in the configuration database includes a value for each adjustable device configuration parameter of a particular field device.

20. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices, said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device, the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter; and

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter;

wherein a transaction record in the configuration database includes a value for a particular device configuration adjustable parameter of a particular field device and wherein the time indication of that transaction record indicates only that the value is to be applied to the particular adjustable device configuration parameter at an unspecified time in the future.

21. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device, the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter;

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter; and

means for reconciling the transaction records stored in the configuration database with transaction records stored in a secondary configuration database.

22. A computer-based database management system for managing a configuration database associated with at least one of a plurality of field devices, said one field device having a changeable configuration which includes at least one adjustable device configuration parameter, the system comprising:

first selecting means for selecting a particular field device;

second selecting means for selecting a particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device;

assigning means for assigning a particular value for the particular device configuration parameter at a particular time;

communicating means coupled to the assigning means for communicating the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter to the particular field device;

recording means for creating a transaction record, wherein the transaction record includes an identifier uniquely identifying the particular field device and wherein the transaction record further specifies the particular device configuration parameter of the particular field device, the particular value for the particular device configuration parameter, and a time indication of a particular time at which the particular value is applied to the particular device configuration parameter;

storing means for storing the transaction record in a configuration database in response to a change in the particular value of the particular device configuration parameter; and

means for reconciling the transaction records stored in the configuration database with transaction records stored in a configuration database of a functionally identical computer-based database management system.