Industrial automation system and method for efficiently transferring time-sensitive and quality-sensitive data

• US 6,505,247 B1
• Filed: 02/02/1999
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pierce, David, Steger, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/243,224
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/201, 709/224, 709/230, 709/236, 709/245, 714/4.6, 700/9, 700/122, 702/122, 710/1, 710/5
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/00 Programme-control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33149 Publisher subscriber, publisher, master broadcasts data to slaves, subscriber
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The system and method of industrial automation provides improved network transfer of data between nodes. The system comprises a plurality of computer systems which are interconnected through a network, wherein each of the computer systems executes industrial automation software. One or more of these computer systems interface to various hardware I/O devices for data acquisition. Each computer system is home to one or more client and/or server processes. Before data acquisition begins, every server process registers a plurality of time/quality (TQ) groups, wherein each TQ group is identified by a time/quality identification value (TQID), and wherein each TQ group represents a set of associated data elements. When a hardware I/O device generates data, a server process which is linked to that device through a device driver receives a block of data from the device. The driver assigns to the block a single timestamp and a single quality value. Using a real-time protocol, the server adds one or more blocks of data to a packet and transmits the packet to every client which has subscribed to the data. For increased network and computational efficiency, the real-time protocol includes compression techniques and is exception-based: only changed data elements, changed timestamps, and changed quality values are sent to clients. Both the clients and the server store the TQID for each block, so that the client can more efficiently update the changed timestamps and changed quality values for all data elements in a TQ group.

Claims

1. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;

receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;

assigning a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements;

assigning a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;

wherein the first plurality of data elements, the first timestamp, and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;

wherein the second plurality of data elements, the second timestamp, and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;

a server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining whether the second timestamp for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block;

the server process determining whether the second quality value for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block; and

the server process providing the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to the one or more clients, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same hardware device, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block, wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients comprises the server process providing as the second block only those second plurality of data elements which have changed, the second timestamp if changed, and the second quality value if changed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

registering one or more time/quality groups with the server process, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;

the server process creating one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

the server process storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;

one or more clients storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value;

wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those second plurality of data elements which have changed, the second timestamp if changed, and the second quality value if changed.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the first timestamp, if changed, with the second timestamp only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the first quality value, if changed, with the second quality value only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server process generating a packet comprising one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

the server process providing the packet to one or more clients in the industrial automation system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value;

wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

each of the clients receiving the packets;

each of the clients updating the first timestamp, if changed, with the second timestamp only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising

each of the clients updating the first quality value, if changed, with the second quality value only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

10. The method of claim 1,

wherein a server process comprises one or more drivers and a real-time server, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices, and wherein the real-time server provides each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements of data elements to one or more clients in substantially real time.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the quality value comprises a plurality of bits, wherein each bit signifies the presence or absence of a specific error condition.

12. The method of claim 1,

wherein the method is performed for a plurality of hardware devices and a plurality of drivers, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein the industrial automation system comprises a network, wherein the network comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein the plurality of computer systems comprises one or more server processes and one or more clients.

14. The method of claim 1,

wherein the hardware device generating the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements, the receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements, the assigning the first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements and the assigning the second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements, the assigning the first quality value to the first plurality of data elements and the assigning the second quality value to the second plurality of data elements, and the server process providing each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to one or more clients occur a plurality of times.

15. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a plurality of data elements;

receiving the plurality of data elements;

assigning a single timestamp to the plurality of data elements;

assigning a single quality value to the plurality of data elements;

wherein the plurality of data elements, the timestamp, and the quality value compose a block of data elements;

a server process providing the block of data elements to one or more clients;

registering one or more time/quality groups with the server process, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;

the server process creating one or more tine/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

the server process storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups; and

one or more clients storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the server process providing to one or more clients a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

the server process determining whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the block only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the timestamp, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the quality value, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the server process generating a packet comprising one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

the server process providing the packet to one or more clients in the industrial automation system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

the server process determining whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

each of the clients receiving the packets;

each of the clients updating the timestamp, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the quality value, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

23. The method of claim 15,

wherein a server process comprises one or more drivers and a real-time server, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices, and wherein the real-time server provides the block of data elements to one or more clients in substantially real time.

24. The method of claim 15,

wherein the quality value comprises a plurality of bits, wherein each bit signifies the presence or absence of a specific error condition.

25. The method of claim 15,

wherein the method is performed for a plurality of hardware devices and a plurality of drivers, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices.

26. The method of claim 15,

wherein the industrial automation system comprises a network, wherein the network comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein the plurality of computer systems comprises one or more server processes and one or more clients.

27. The method of claim 15,

wherein the hardware device generating a plurality of data elements, the receiving the block of data elements, the assigning a single timestamp to the block of data elements, the assigning a single quality value to the block of data elements, and the server process providing the block to one or more clients occur a plurality of times.

28. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;

receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;

assigning a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements;

assigning a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;

wherein the first plurality of data elements, the first timestamp, and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;

wherein the second plurality of data elements, the second timestamp, and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;

the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining whether the second timestamp for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block; and

the server process determining whether the second quality value for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block;

the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those second plurality of data elements which have changed, the second timestamp if changed, and the second quality value if changed.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

the server process generating a packet comprising one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

the server process providing the packet to one or more clients in the industrial automation system.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

each of the clients receiving the packets;

each of the clients updating the first timestamp, if changed, with the second timestamp only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

each of the clients updating the first quality value, if changed, with the second quality value only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

32. The method of claim 28,

wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and a real-time server, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices, and wherein the real-time server provides each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to one or more clients in substantially real time.

33. The method of claim 28,

wherein the quality value comprises a plurality of bits, wherein each bit signifies the presence or absence of a specific error condition.

34. The method of claim 28,

wherein the method is performed for a plurality of hardware devices and a plurality of drivers, wherein each driver is coupled to one or more hardware devices.

35. The method of claim 28,

wherein the industrial automation system comprises a network, wherein the network comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein the plurality of computer systems comprises one or more server processes and one or more clients.

36. The method of claim 28,

wherein the hardware device generating the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements, the receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements, the assigning the first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements and the assigning the second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements, the assigning the first quality value to the first plurality of data elements and the assigning the second quality value to the second plurality of data elements, and the server process providing each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to one or more clients occur a plurality of times.

37. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;

wherein the server process is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same I/O device, wherein the second block is provided to the client computer systems after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block; and

wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises only those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

38. The system of claim 37,

wherein the server process is executable to register one or more time/quality groups, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;

wherein the server process is executable to create one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

wherein the server process stores the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;

wherein the one or more client computer systems store the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

39. The system of claim 38,

wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises the time/quality identification value for the block, only those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

40. The system of claim 39,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the timestamp, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

41. The system of claim 39,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the quality value, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

42. The system of claim 37,

wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system.

43. The system of claim 42,

wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value;

wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

44. The system of claim 43,

wherein each of the client computer systems receives the packet;

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the timestamp, if changed, only for those data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

45. The system of claim 43,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the quality value, if changed, only for those data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

46. The system of claim 37,

wherein the real-time server provides the blocks of data elements to one or more client computer systems in substantially real time.

47. The system of claim 37,

wherein the quality value comprises a plurality of bits, wherein each bit signifies the presence or absence of a specific error condition.

48. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a network, wherein the network comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein the plurality of computer systems comprises one or more server computer systems and one or more client computer systems.

49. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;

wherein the server process is executable to register one or more time/quality groups, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;

wherein the server process is executable to create one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

wherein the server process stores the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups; and

wherein the one or more client computer systems store the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

50. The system of claim 49,

wherein the server process is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same I/O device, wherein the second block is provided to the client computer systems after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises the time/quality identification value for the block, only those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

51. The system of claim 50,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the timestamp, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

52. The system of claim 50,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the quality value, if changed, only for data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

53. The system of claim 49,

wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system.

54. The system of claim 53,

wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

55. The system of claim 54,

wherein each of the client computer systems receives the packet;

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the timestamp, if changed, only for those data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

56. The system of claim 54,

wherein each of the client computer systems updates the quality value, if changed, only for those data elements of the first block having the same time/quality identification value as the second block.

57. The system of claim 49,

wherein the real-time server provides the blocks of data elements to one or more client computer systems in substantially real time.

58. The system of claim 49,

wherein the quality value comprises a plurality of bits, wherein each bit signifies the presence or absence of a specific error condition.

59. The system of claim 49, further comprising:

a network, wherein the network comprises a plurality of computer systems, wherein the plurality of computer systems comprises one or more server computer systems and one or more client computer systems.

60. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems;

wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system;

wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block; and

wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

61. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;

receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;

assigning at least one of the following;

a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements; and

a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning at least one of the following;

a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements; and

a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;

wherein the first plurality of data elements and at least one of the first timestamp and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;

wherein the second plurality of data elements and at least one of the second timestamp and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;

a server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining whether the second timestamp, if present, for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block;

the server process determining whether the second quality value, if present, for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block; and

the server process providing the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to the one or more clients, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same hardware device, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block, wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients comprises the server process providing as the second block only those second plurality of data elements which have changed, and at least one of the second timestamp if changed and the second quality value if changed.

62. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a block of data elements, wherein the block comprises a plurality of data elements;

receiving the block of data elements;

assigning at least one of the following;

a single timestamp to the block of data elements; and

a single quality value to the block of data elements;

a server process providing the block to one or more clients, wherein the block includes a plurality of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

registering one or more time/quality groups with the server process, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

the server process creating one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

the server process storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;

one or more clients storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

the server process providing to one or more clients a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining at least one of the following;

whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the block only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, and at least one of the timestamp if changed and the quality value if changed.

64. A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;

receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;

assigning at least one of the following;

a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements; and

a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;

assigning at least one of the following;

a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements; and

a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;

wherein the first plurality of data elements and at least one of the first timestamp and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;

wherein the second plurality of data elements and at least one of the second timestamp and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;

a server process providing each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to one or more clients;

the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

the server process determining at least one of the following;

whether the second timestamp for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block; and

whether the second quality value for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block; and

the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those second plurality of data elements which have changed, and at least one of the second timestamp if changed and the second quality value if changed.

65. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;

wherein the server process is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same I/O device, wherein the second block is provided to the client computer systems after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine at least one of the following;

whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block; and

whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises only those data elements which have changed, and at least one of the timestamp if changed and the quality value if changed.

66. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;

wherein the server process is executable to register one or more time/quality groups, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

wherein the server process is executable to create one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;

wherein the server process stores the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;

wherein the one or more client computer systems store the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

67. An industrial automation system, comprising:

one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;

a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;

wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;

wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;

wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;

wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;

one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;

wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;

wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system;

wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to determine at least one of;

whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block; and

whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;

wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, and at least one of the timestamp if changed and the quality value if changed.