Tool for configuring and managing a process control network including the use of spatial information

• US 6,772,017 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Gardner, David Richard, Dove, Andrew Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/488,335
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/97, 700/98, 700/83, 700/275, 345/969, 345/965
• US Class Current: 700/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23182 3D display of controlled system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32085 Layout of factory, facility, cell, production system planning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32356 For diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32365 For resource planning
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/965 for process control and configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/967 Visual or iconic programming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a tool which includes spatial information for configuring and managing a process control system which conforms to a standard protocol. Such a tool advantageously allows the efficient design and use of a process control system while ensuring that the physical characteristics of the system conform to the standard. In addition, the tool provides for more efficient diagnostics, on-line debugging, alarm monitoring and device maintenance.

Claims

1. A method for configuring and managing a process control network, the process control network including a computer having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:

providing the computer with information regarding a spatial layout of a facility;

providing the computer with information regarding the configuration of the process control network;

presenting a layout of the configuration of the process control network in relation to the spatial layout of the facility; and

analyzing the layout of the process control network in relation to the physical layout of the facility to assure that the layout of the process control network conforms to criteria of a standard protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising managing the process control system in a run-time environment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the managing the process control system includes providing a blinking device representation in a spatial view of the process control system to indicate active alarms.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a layout of the process control network includes automatically generating the layout.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing a layout of the process control network includes displaying the layout of the process control network over a schematic view of a facility.

6. An apparatus for configuring and managing a process control network, the apparatus comprising:

a computer having a processor and a memory;

a tool operated on the computer;

means for providing the computer with information regarding a spatial layout of a facility;

means for providing the computer with information regarding materials used in the process control network;

wherein the tool is used to provide a layout of the process control network applied to the spatial layout of the facility; and

wherein the tool is used to analyze the layout of the process control network applied to the spatial layout of the facility to assure that the layout of the process control network conforms to criteria of a standard protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising wherein the tool is used for managing the process control system in a run-time environment.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the tool used for managing the process control system includes a blinking device representation in a spatial view of the process control system to indicate active alarms.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tool used to provide a layout of the process control network further includes the tool automatically generating the layout.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tool is used to display the layout of the facility over a schematic view of the facility.

11. A method for configuring and managing a process control network, the method comprising:

providing a tool operated on a computer;

providing the computer with information regarding materials used in the process control network;

using the tool to provide a layout of the process control network; and

providing at a later time the computer with information regarding a spatial layout of a facility;

applying the layout of the process control network to the spatial layout of the facility and

analyzing the layout of the process control network in relation to the physical layout of the facility to assure that the layout of the process control network conforms to criteria of a standard protocol.