Method for operating a field transmitter

• US 7,430,746 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Original Assignee: Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG
• Inventors: Maneval, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Van H
• Application Number:
  US10/101,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20020142719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,386 Days
• Field of Search: 719/310, 719/319, 719/328, 719/320, 455/39, 455/91, 455/502, 455/50, 340/870.3, 340/286.01, 700/3, 700/17, 348/734
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers

Abstract

A method or system for operating a field transmitter F, in which a application program FA communicates with a field-transmitter s specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3. The communication is by a defined interface S in order to call standard functionalities of the field transmitter F. An expansion module EW for the application program is provided which is interposed between the application program FA and the field-transmitter specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3 in order to permit additional functionalities within the context of and using the field-transmitter specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3.

Claims

1. A system for operating, configuring and maintaining a field transmitter F, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to said processor;

a defined interface S;

an application program FA which communicates with a field-transmitter specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3 via said defined interface S;

said defined interface S being used in order to call standard functionalities of the field transmitter F from the software modules SW1, SW2 or SW3; and

an expansion module EW for the application program FA which is interposed between the application program FA and the field-transmitter specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3, whereby said expansion module EW comprises company specific functionalities for the field transmitter F, and whereby the entire communication of the application program FA with the software modules SW1, SW2 or SW3 takes place via said expansion module EW in order to permit besides access to the standard functionalities also access to the company specific functionalities within the context of and using the field-transmitter specific software module SW1, SW2, or SW3.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein foresighted maintenance is provided as an additional functionality.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein installation documentation is provided as an additional functionality.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data relating to expansion functionalities are stored in a separate database.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said expansion module EW is independent of said application program FA.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said application program FA runs on a UNIX platform.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of software modules SW1, SW2, and SW3 are provided.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said application program FA runs on a known platform.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system expansion module EW is interposed using the said defined interface S such that the standard functionalities are not influenced.