Virtual field controller

• US 7,526,364 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Building Technologies Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Maslov, Mark, Rule, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): DeCady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapp; Chad
• Application Number:
  US11/477,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 700/65, 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/278, 700/282
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23452 Simulate sequence on display to control program, test functions
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23456 Model machine for simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control

Abstract

An arrangement includes a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station. The control station has a memory and processing circuit that is configured to execute programming instructions in the memory. The memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to: execute a first operating system; execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels, the at least one field panel employing a second operating system; and execute software performing at least one supervisory control operation for the plurality of field panels.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising a general purpose computer having a memory and processing circuit, the general purpose computer configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:

execute a first operating system;

execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for a physical field controller of a building control system; and

execute an operating system abstraction layer, the operating system abstraction layer configured to cause operating system calls in the set of instructions configured for a second operating system of the physical field controller to be made in a manner that is compatible with the first operating system.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions includes a control program.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein the control program includes a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an alarm function in the building control system.

5. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out a data trending function in the building control system.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to perform supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.

9. An arrangement comprising a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station, the control station having a memory and processing circuit configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:

execute a first operating system;

execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels; and

execute an operating system abstraction layer, the operating system abstraction layer configured to cause operating system calls in the set of instructions configured for a second operating system of the field panel to be made in a manner that is compatible with the first operating system.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of providing a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and to execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.

11. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an alarm function in the building control system.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out a data trending function in the building control system.

13. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.

14. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.

15. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to perform supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.

16. An arrangement comprising a control station for use in a building control system, the building control system having a plurality of field panels operable to communicate with the control station, the control station having a memory and processing circuit configured to execute programming instructions in the memory, the memory configured to store instructions operable to cause the processing circuit to:

execute a first operating system;

execute software compiled from a set of instructions that are substantially similar to instructions used to compile firmware for at least one of the field panels, the at least one field panel employing a second operating system; and

execute software performing at least one supervisory control operation for the plurality of field panels.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes a supervisory control function operation that is outside a set of operations which the plurality of field panels are configured to perform.

18. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes a supervisory control function operation that obtains alarm notifications generated by devices coupled to a plurality of field panels.

19. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of providing a common control function programming environment operable to receive instructions in a common control function programming language, and to execute a control function program created in the control function programming language.

20. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions includes those capable of carrying out an equipment scheduling function in the building control system.

21. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the first operating system is a general purpose operating system and wherein the second operating system is an operating system configured for use with an embedded controller.

22. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least one supervisory control operation includes an operation performing supervisory data functions with regard to data stored on a plurality of physical field controllers.