Networked control system with real time monitoring

• US 6,816,817 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Retlich, Kevin, Blair, Dave, Luo, Jinghui
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta, Elias
• Application Number:
  US09/672,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 702/57-59, 702/66-71, 702/187, 702/188, 702/189, 702/73-74, 702/80, 702/119-124, 702/179, 702/183, 702/185, 702/FOR.103, 702/104, 702/110, 702/134, 702/139, 702/170, 702/171, 340/853.2, 340/853.9, 340/870.16, 340/870.27, 345/632, 345/667, 345/619, 345/633, 345/672, 345/740, 345/741, 700/9-17, 700/28-31, 700/108, 700/245, 700/254, 716/4, 716/18
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00

Abstract

A technique for monitoring operational parameters of networked components includes storing data within each component descriptive of the component. The data is polled by a monitoring station and provides a basis for monitor views compiled in real time. The monitor views provide a view of current levels of parameters controlled or monitored by each device, such as on virtual meters. Historical levels of operational parameters may be presented in virtual strip chart output. Textual descriptions of the components are provided, along with listings of key settings. More detailed data may be accessed by links between the monitor views and other user viewable representations for the system and the specific components.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a system of electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a user viewable monitoring-display of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data;

wherein the step of storing includes storing physical location data in the memory circuit of each component, and wherein the method includes the further step of generating a user viewable physical layout display for the system based upon the physical location data and the identity data, the monitoring display being accessible to a user from the physical layout display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identity data represents a node address of the component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring display includes at least one virtual meter indicating a level of a selected parameter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the parameter is selected based upon the identity data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring display includes at least one virtual historical chart indicating historical levels of a selected parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the parameter is selected based upon the identity data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring display includes a textual display of operating parameters of the component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring station is linked to the components via a data network and polls the components over the data network to obtain the sensed parameters and the identity data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring station accesses a database for the system to obtain data descriptive of the components, and wherein the monitoring display includes a description of the respective component.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the description includes an image of the respective component.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the description includes a textual description of the respective component.

12. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a plurality of networked electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in each component identity data and physical layout data, the identity data representative of an identity of the respective component and the physical layout data representative of a physical disposition of the respective component in the system

sensing operational parameters of the system in each component;

transmitting the sensed parameters, the identity data and the physical layout data to a monitoring station; and

generating a series of user viewable representations including a system view of a physical layout of the system and monitoring views displaying status of operational parameters for selected components.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the physical layout data includes data representative of physical coordinates of the respective component in the system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the identity data includes a standardized code for the component type.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring views include virtual graphical displays of the operational parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the operational parameters depicted in the virtual graphical displays are selected from a set of operational parameters monitored by the respective component.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operational parameters depicted in the virtual graphical displays are selected automatically based upon the identity data.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the virtual graphical displays include a virtual meter.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the virtual graphical displays include a virtual historical chart of a selected parameter level.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitoring views are accessible from the system view via user actuatable graphical devices.

21. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a plurality of networked electrical component, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a series of user viewable monitoring displays of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data, the monitoring displays including graphical presentations of parameter levels.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the graphical presentations represent levels of parameters selected separately for each respective component.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the parameters represented in the graphical presentations are selected based upon the identity data.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the parameters represented in the graphical presentations is user selected.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the graphical presentations include a virtual meter for a selected parameter level.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the graphical presentations include a virtual historical chart for a selected parameter level.

27. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a plurality of networked electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing component designation data in a memory circuit of each component;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters to a monitoring station;

referencing configuration data for each component from a database based upon the component designation data; and

generating a series of user viewable monitoring displays of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the configuration data, the monitoring displays including graphical presentations of parameter levels.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising the further step of storing component location data in each component, and wherein the method includes generating a physical view of a system comprising the components.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein parameters are selected for the graphical presentations based upon the component designation data.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of referencing the configuration data includes accessing data representative of settings for the respective components.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising referencing historical event data for each component.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the designation data includes a node address for each component.

33. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a system of electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a user viewable monitoring display of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data;

wherein the monitoring display includes at least one virtual meter indicating a level of a selected parameter.

34. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a system of electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a user viewable monitoring display of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data;

wherein the monitoring display includes at least one virtual historical chart indicating historical levels of a selected parameter.

35. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a system of electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a user viewable monitoring display of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data;

wherein the monitoring station is linked to the components via a data network and polls the components over the data network to obtain the sensed parameters and the identity data.

36. A method for monitoring operational parameters of a system of electrical components, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory circuit of each component identity data representative of an identity of the respective component in the system;

sensing operational parameters of each component and processing the sensed parameters in the respective component;

transmitting the sensed parameters and the identity data of the respective component to a monitoring station; and

generating a user viewable monitoring display of the parameters by component based upon the sensed parameters and the identity data;

wherein the monitoring station accesses a database for the system to obtain data descriptive of the components, and wherein the monitoring display includes a description of the respective component; and

wherein the description includes an image of the respective component.