Remote management of field devices in a manufacturing plant

• US 7,191,021 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Premraj, Mannikkath K, Prasad, Raghavendra TS
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard; Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr.; Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US10/727,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/65, 700/83, 700 19- 20, 709/225, 709226-230, 709/201, 709/208, 709221-223, 340/825.01, 340/825.37, 340/2.1, 340/2.23, 340/3.1, 370/225, 370/351
• US Class Current: 700/83
• 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: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A client connected to a field device management station (FDMS) by a wireless path. An operator can issue commands to any field devices from the client. As a result, the operator can manage the field devices from any remote location. In addition, the FDMS may be connected to other clients by wire-based paths as well. As a result, commands from both wire-based and wireless clients may be channeled through the FDMS, thereby simplifying tracking of various of configuration changes and status of the field devices. According to another aspect of the present invention, the wireless client is connected to a field device by a wire-line medium. Connectivity between FDMS and field devices is established through wireless client, thereby providing path redundancy (in addition to control network).

Claims

1. A method of enabling an operator to remotely manage a plurality of field devices designed to implement a process in a plant, said plant further containing a field device management station (FDMS) coupled to said plurality of field devices by a control network, wherein said FDMS is designed to issue a plurality of commands to each of said plurality of field devices on said control network, said method comprising:

providing a wireless connection from a first client, wherein said wireless connection provides communication between said first client and said FDMS, wherein said wireless connection is provided to cover the entire communication path between said FDMS and said first client;

enabling said operator to issue a first command from said first client to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, wherein said first command is contained in said plurality of commands;

transferring an indication from said first client to said FDMS on said wireless connection in response to said first command being issued by said operator, said indication indicating that said operator has issued said first command from said first client;

forwarding said first command from said FDMS to said first field device on said control network in response to receiving said indication,

whereby said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client based on said wireless connection,

providing a wire-based connection between a second client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue an another command from said second client, said another command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring an another indication from said second client to said FDMS on said wire-based connection upon said operator issuing said another command; and

forwarding said another command from said FDMS to said second field device on said control network upon receiving said another indication,

whereby commands from said first client and said second client are channeled through said FDMS.

2. A method of enabling an operator to remotely manage a plurality of field devices designed to implement a process in a plant, said plant further containing a field device management station (FDMS) coupled to said plurality of field devices by a control network, wherein said FDMS is designed to issue a plurality of commands to each of said plurality of field devices on said control network, said method comprising:

providing a wireless connection from a first client, wherein said wireless connection provides communication between said first client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue a first command from said first client to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, wherein said first command is contained in said plurality of commands;

transferring an indication from said first client to said FDMS on said wireless connection in response to said first command being issued by said operator, said indication indicating that said operator has issued said first command from said first client;

forwarding said first command from said FDMS to said first field device on said control network in response to receiving said indication,

whereby said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client based on said wireless connection,

providing a wire-based connection between a second client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue an another command from said second client, said another command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring an another indication from said second client to said FDMS on said wire-based connection medium upon said operator issuing said another command;

forwarding said another command from said FDMS to said second field device on said control network upon receiving said another indication,

whereby commands from said first client and said second client are channeled through said FDMS;

connecting said first client to said second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring a second command from said FDMS to said first client using said wireless connection, wherein said second command is directed to said second field device; and

sending said second command from said first client to said second field device, whereby said second command is forwarded from said FDMS to said second field device without using said control network.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling said operator to issue said second command from said first client, wherein said FDMS receives a second indication from said first client, said second indication indicating that said second command has been issued at said first client and performs said forwarding said second command upon receiving said second indication.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said wireless connection is provided to cover the entire communication path between said FDMS and said first client.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said wireless connection is provided between said first client and a network device, wherein said network device is connected to a network connecting said network device to said FDMS by a wire-based medium.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising maintaining a central log of said first command, said second command and said another command in said FDMS, wherein said central log is updated after said operator issues said first command, said second command and said another command respectively.

7. A field device management station (FDMS) enabling management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, said FDMS comprising:

a wireless interface providing connectivity to a first client by a wireless medium; and

a data manager block receiving an indication from said first client on said wireless medium, said indication indicating that a first command has been issued from said first client, said first command being directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, said data manager block forwarding said first command on said control network in response to receiving said indication,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator from said first client such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client from locations distant from said FDMS,

a wire-line interface providing connectivity to a second client by a wire-line based medium,

said data manager block receiving another indication from said second client by said wire-line based medium, said another indication indicating that a second command directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of devices has been issued, said data manager block forwarding said second command to said second field device on said control network in response to receiving said another indication.

8. A field device management station (FDMS) enabling management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, said FDMS comprising:

a wireless interface providing connectivity to a first client by a wireless medium; and

a data manager block receiving an indication from said first client on said wireless medium, said indication indicating that a first command has been issued from said first client, said first command being directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, said data manager block forwarding said first command on said control network in response to receiving said indication,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator from said first client such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client from locations distant from said FDMS,

a wire-line interface providing connectivity to a second client by a wire-line based medium,

said data manager block receiving another indication from said second client by said wire-line based medium, said another indication indicating that a second command directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of devices has been issued, said data manager block forwarding said second command to said second field device on said control network in response to receiving said another indication,

wherein said data manager block is operable to receive a third indication from said first client on said wireless medium, said third indication indicating that a third command directed to a third field device contained in said plurality of field devices has been issued from said first client, said third field device being connected to said first client, said data manager block forwarding said third command on said wireless medium to said first client in response to receiving said third indication.

9. The FDMS of claim 8, further comprising:

a wireless client handler provided between said wireless interface and said data manager block, said wireless client handler receiving said first indication on said wireless medium, said wireless client handler further receiving a first response from said data manager block and forwarding said first response on said wireless medium to said first client; and

a wire-line client handler provided between said wire-line interface and said data manager block, said wire-line client handler receiving said second indication on said wire-line based medium, said wire-line client handler further receiving a second response from said data manager block and forwarding said second response on said wire-line based medium.

10. The FDMS of claim 9, wherein said data manager block receives a request to establish a connection from said first client and instantiates said wireless client handler in response to receiving said request.

11. The FDMS of claim 8, wherein said data manager block maintains a central log containing information on said first command and said second command.

12. The FDMS of claim 8, further comprising a database interface maintaining a central log of said first command and said another command, wherein said central log is updated after said operator issues said first command and said another command respectively.

13. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a field device management station (FDMS) to enable management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said FDMS causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

receiving a first indication from a first client on a wireless medium, said first indication indicating that a first command directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices has been issued from said first client;

forwarding said first command on said control network to said first field device in response to receiving said first indication,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator from said first client such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client,

receiving a third indication from a third client on a wire-line based medium, said third indication indicating that a third command directed to a third field device contained in said plurality of devices has been issued from said third client; and

forwarding said third command to said third field device on said control network in response to receiving said third indication.

14. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a field device management station (FDMS) to enable management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to said FDMS by a control network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said FDMS causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

receiving a first indication from a first client on a wireless medium, said first indication indicating that a first command directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices has been issued from said first client;

forwarding said first command on said control network to said first field device in response to receiving said first indication,

wherein said first command is issued by an operator from said first client such that said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client,

receiving a third indication from a third client on a wire-line based medium, said third indication indicating that a third command directed to a third field device contained in said plurality of devices has been issued from said third client;

forwarding said third command to said third field device on said control network in response to receiving said third indication;

receiving a second indication from said first client on said wireless medium, said second indication indicating that a second command directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices has been issued from said first client, said second field device being connected to said first client; and

forwarding said second command on said wireless medium to said first client in response to receiving said indication.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a central log containing information on said first command, third command and said second command.

16. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for causing a client to enable remote management of a plurality of field devices, said plurality of field devices being coupled to a field device management station (FDMS) by a control network, wherein execution of said one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors contained in said client causes said one or more processors to perform the actions of:

enabling an operator to issue a first command directed to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

sending an indication to said FDMS on a wireless medium, said first indication indicating that said command directed to said first field device has been issued;

receiving a first response on said wireless medium from said FDMS;

wherein said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said client,

wherein said client is connected to a second field device by a path,

enabling said operator to issue a second command from said client, wherein said second command is directed to said second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

sending a second indication to said FDMS on said wireless medium indicating that said second command directed to said second field has been issued;

receiving said second command from said FDMS on said wireless medium; and

forwarding said second command to said second field device on said path after said receiving from said FDMS.

17. A method of enabling an operator to remotely manage a plurality of field devices designed to implement a process in a plant, said plant further containing a field device management station (FDMS) coupled to said plurality of field devices by a control network, said method comprising:

providing a wireless connection from a first client, wherein said wireless connection provides communication between said first client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue a first command from said first client to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring said first command from said first client to said FDMS on said wireless connection;

forwarding said first command from said FDMS to said first field device on said control network,

whereby said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client,

connecting said first client to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring a second command from said FDMS to said first client using said wireless connection, wherein said second command is directed to said second field device;

sending said second command from said first client to said second field device, whereby said second command is forwarded from said FDMS to said second field device without using said control network; and

enabling said operator to issue said second command from said first client, wherein said FDMS receives said second command and performs said forwarding said second command.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said wireless connection is provided to cover the entire communication path between said FDMS and said first client.

19. A method of enabling an operator to remotely manage a plurality of field devices designed to implement a process in a plant, said plant further containing a field device management station (FDMS) coupled to said plurality of field devices by a control network, wherein said FDMS is designed to issue a plurality of commands to each of said plurality of field devices on said control network, said method comprising:

providing a wireless connection from a first client, wherein said wireless connection provides communication between said first client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue a first command from said first client to a first field device contained in said plurality of field devices, wherein said first command is contained in said plurality of commands;

transferring an indication from said first client to said FDMS on said wireless connection in response to said first command being issued by said operator, said indication indicating that said operator has issued said first command from said first client;

forwarding said first command from said FDMS to said first field device on said control network in response to receiving said indication,

whereby said operator manages said plurality of field devices using said first client based on said wireless connection,

providing a wire-based connection between a second client and said FDMS;

enabling said operator to issue an another command from said second client, said another command being directed to a second field device contained in said plurality of field devices;

transferring an another indication from said second client to said FDMS on said wire-based connection upon said operator issuing said another command; and

forwarding said another command from said FDMS to said second field device on said control network upon receiving said another indication,

whereby commands from said first client and said second client are channeled through said FDMS; and

maintaining a central log of said first command and said another command in said FDMS, wherein said central log is updated after said operator issues said first command and said another command respectively.