Slave units and network system as well as slave unit processing method and device information collecting method

• US 7,369,902 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Toshiyuki, Nakayama, Teruyuki, Muneta, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight; Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Sunray
• Application Number:
  US10/478,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20050017875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 700/3, 702/56, 702/182, 340/573.1, 399/12, 705/29, 89/15.6, 356/459, 709208-211, 710/110
• US Class Current: 700/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/14012 Safety integrity level, safety integrated systems, SIL, SIS

Abstract

A network system is constructed by connecting a safety PLC constituting a master unit and safety slaves 2 to each other through a safety network 3. The safety slaves each have a device information storage unit 25 for storing individual information and status information of the safety devices connected. The individual information is acquired and stored in advance, while the stored contents of the status information are updated based on the result of monitoring the status of the safety devices in operation. These processes are executed by a MPU 23. In response to a request from the safety PLC, the device information stored are transmitted, so that the safety PLC can collect and manage the device state as well as the normal state of the slave units.

Claims

1. A slave unit connectable to a network, comprising:

information collecting means for collecting information on devices connected to the slave unit;

device information storage means for storing the information on said devices collected by said information collecting means; and

means for transmitting the information stored in said device information storage means through the network to a controller connected to the network, wherein the information includes individual information for specifying the devices and status information indicating the status of the devices.

2. The slave unit according to claim 1, wherein the information includes individual information for specifying the devices, the individual information for specifying the devices including at least one of model, maker name, type, or specification, corresponding to the device, wherein the information includes status information indicating the status of the devices, the status information including at least one of life setting, on/off state, turn-on times, number of times operated, or self-diagnosis results by the devices, corresponding to the device.

3. The slave unit of claim 2,

wherein the information transmitted includes either the individual information or the status information.

4. A method of processing a slave unit connected to a network to execute:

a collecting process for collecting information on devices connected to the particular slave unit;

a process of storing in a device information storage means of said slave unit said information obtained by executing said collecting process; and

a process of transmitting through said network the information stored in said device information storage means to a controller connected to the network, wherein the information includes individual information for specifying the devices and status information indicating the status of the devices.

5. The method of claim 4,

wherein the individual information includes at least one of model, maker name, type and specification corresponding to the device, and wherein the status information includes at least one of life setting, on/off status, turn-on times, number of times operated and self-diagnosis results by the devices corresponding to the device.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the information transmitted includes either the individual information or the status information.

7. A device information collecting method for a network system constructed by connecting a controller and a slave unit through a network, wherein said slave unit executes:

a collecting process for collecting information on devices connected to the slave unit;

a process of storing in the device information storage means said device information obtained by executing said collecting process; and

a process of transmitting through said network to the controller connected to the network the information stored in said device information storage means, and

wherein said controller acquires and stores said information output from said slave unit, wherein the information includes individual information for specifying the devices and status information indicating the status of the devices.

8. The device information collecting method of claim 7,

wherein the individual information includes at least one of model, maker name, type and specification corresponding to the device, and wherein the status information includes at least one of life setting, on/off status, turn-on times, number of times operated and self-diagnosis results by the devices corresponding to the device.

9. The device information collecting method of claim 8,

wherein, the information transmitted includes either the individual information or the status information.

10. A device information collecting method for a network system constructed by connecting a controller and a slave unit through a network, wherein said network system is connected with a monitoring device, said controller and said slave unit perform a control operation by transmitting and receiving control information,

wherein said slave unit executes:

a collecting process for collecting information on the devices connected to the slave unit;

a process of storing in a device information storage means of the slave unit said information obtained by executing said collecting process, and

a process of transmitting, through said network to the monitoring device connected to the network, the information stored in said device information storage means; and

wherein said monitoring device acquires and stores said device information output from said slave unit, wherein the information includes individual information for specifying the devices and status information indicating the status of the devices.

11. The device information collecting method of claim 10,

wherein the individual information includes at least one of model, maker name, type and specification corresponding to the device, and wherein the status information includes at least one of life setting, on/off status, turn-on times, number of times operated and self-diagnosis results by the device corresponding to the device.

12. The device information collecting method 11,

wherein the information transmitted includes either the individual information or the status information.