Shadow function block interface for use in a process control network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process control system comprising:
- a first process control device executing a first function block; and
a second process control device executing shadow function block, the second device communicatively connected to the first device;
wherein an output of the first function block is mirrored to an output of the shadow function block, or an input of the first function block is mirrored to an input of the shadow function block.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process control routine may include a first internal function block for executing a control operation based on an input signal and an information conduit communicatively connected to the first internal function block. The information conduit may have an output adapted to provide the input signal to the first internal function block. The process control routine may further include an external function block communicatively connected to the information conduit and adapted to generate the input signal such that the output signal is directly provided to the information conduit prior to the execution of the control operation.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A process control system comprising:
-
a first process control device executing a first function block; and a second process control device executing shadow function block, the second device communicatively connected to the first device; wherein an output of the first function block is mirrored to an output of the shadow function block, or an input of the first function block is mirrored to an input of the shadow function block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A processor readable medium on which a shadow function block is stored, when executed by a processor the shadow function block adapted to:
-
receive data from an output of an external device via a first input; store data received from the external device in a first storage location; communicate data stored in the first storage location to an input of a control routine via a first output; receive data from an output of the control routine via;
a second input;store data received from the output of the control routine in a second storage location; and communicate data stored in the second storage location to an input of the external device via a second output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method of communicating within a process control routine using a function block pair, the method comprising:
-
creating a first function block to execute on a first device; creating a shadow function block to execute on a second device providing a communications connection between the second device and the first device; interacting with one of the first function block or the shadow function block as part of the process control routine; mirroring an output of the first function block through the communications connection to an output of the shadow function block; and mirroring an input of the first function block through the communications connection to an input of the shadow function block; whereby the interaction with the first function block or the shadow function block is reflected in the other of the shadow function block or the first function block. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification