Method and system for connecting to a field device

• US 7,685,267 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Original Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG (Grieshaber Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH)
• Inventors: Isenmann, Andreas, Faist, Fridolin, Schaetzle, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US11/588,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,245 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-228, 710/305, 702/127, 700/19, 700/83
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/802 Particular electronic circuits for digital processing equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25204 Translate between different communication protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25217 Configure communication protocol, select between several
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34039 Access central database through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A communication module for a measuring instrument may include a first interface, a second interface, and an integrated web client. To the first interface a measuring instrument can be connected, whereas to the second interface a database can be connected. The communication module is configured to receive at the first interface a measurement value and to forward it to the second interface by the web client.

Claims

1. A measurement value logging system, comprising:

at least one communication module for a measuring instrument measuring one of a pressure and a level, comprising;

a processor;

a web client performed in the processor;

a processing device connected to the web client for preparing a transmission;

a first interface connected to the processing device; and

a second interface linked to the web client;

wherein the first interface is configured to connect to the measuring instrument to tap a measurement value from the measuring instrument;

wherein the second interface is configured to connect to a server connected to a database;

wherein the web client is configured to receive a measurement value via the first interface and the processing device;

wherein the web client is configured to edit the measurement value and encode the measurement value in a HTTP-header of a HTTP-request,

wherein the HTTP-header comprises at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST, and HEAD;

wherein the web client is configured to transmit the measurement value via the second interface to the database by transmitting the HTTP-request to the server;

wherein the communication module is configured for forwarding the measurement value in an event-driven manner;

wherein the event is at least one event selected from a group of events consisting of the presence of a measurement value in the communication module, the expiration of a timing element in the communication module, falling below a given measurement value, exceeding a given measurement value, a failure of a sensor and a failure of the communication module;

wherein the first interface is selected from the group consisting of I²C, HART®

, Profibus, Fieldbus Foundation™

, and VEGA VBUS;

and the logging system further comprising;

a database for a device which measures one of a pressure and a level, comprising;

a database interface;

a server; and

a storage device; and

wherein the server is configured to connect to the second interface of the communication module via the database interface,

wherein the server is configured to receive the HTTP-request includes the edited and encoded measurement value from the web client;

wherein the HTTP-header includes at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST and HEAD;

wherein the database is configured to extract the measurement value from the HTTP-request, and the measurement value encoded in the HTTP-header of the HTTP-request;

wherein the database is adapted to archive the measurement value in the storage device; and

wherein the measurement value logging system is configured so that the communication module provides the database with measurement values by using the web client for logging at least one measurement value.

2. A measuring instrument assembly, comprising:

a measuring instrument logging a measurement value;

a communication module for a measuring instrument measuring one of a pressure and a level, comprising;

a processor; and

a web client performed in the processor;

a processing device connected to the web client for preparing a transmission;

a first interface connected to the processing device;

a second interface linked to the web client;

wherein the first interface is configured to connect to the measuring instrument to tap a measurement value from the measuring instrument;

wherein the second interface is configured to connect to a server connected to a database;

wherein the web client is configured to receive a measurement value via the first interface and via the processing device;

wherein the web client is configured to edit the measurement value and to encode the measurement value in a HTTP-header of a HTTP-request,

wherein the HTTP-header comprises at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST and HEAD; and

wherein the web client is configured to transmit the measurement value via the second interface to the database by transmitting the HTTP-request to the server;

wherein the communication module is configured for forwarding the measurement value in an event-driven manner;

wherein the event is at least one event selected from the group of events consisting of the presence of a measurement value in the communication module, the expiration of a timing element in the communication module, falling below a given measurement value, exceeding a given measurement value, a failure of a sensor and a failure of the communication module;

wherein the first interface is selected from the group consisting of I²C, HART®

, Profibus, Fieldbus Foundation™

, and VEGA VBUS; and

wherein the communication module is integrated into the measuring instrument by a physically integrating link.

3. The communication module of claim 2,

wherein the physically integrating link is a screwed joint.

4. A communication module for a measuring instrument measuring one of a pressure and a level, comprising:

a processor; and

a web client performed in the processor;

a processing device connected to the web client, the processing device preparing a transmission;

a first interface connected to the processing device; and

a second interface linked to the web client,

wherein the first interface is configured to connect to the measuring instrument to tap a measurement value from the measuring instrument;

wherein the second interface is configured to connect to a server connected to a database;

wherein the web client is configured to receive a measurement value via the first interface and processing device;

wherein the web client is configured to edit the measurement value and encode the measurement value in a HTTP-header of a HTTP-request;

wherein the HTTP-header includes at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST, and HEAD;

wherein the web client is configured to transmit the measurement value via the second interface to the database by transmitting the HTTP-request to the server,

wherein the communication module is configured to forward the measurement value in an event-driven manner,

wherein the event is at least one event from a group of events consisting of the presence of a measurement value in the communication module, the expiration of a timing element in the communication module, falling below a given measurement value, exceeding a given measurement value, a failure of a sensor, and a failure of the communication module, and

wherein the first interface is selected from a group consisting of I²C, HART®

, Profibus, Fieldbus Foundation™

, and VEGA VBUS.

5. The communication module according to claim 4,

wherein the first interface is an interface internal to the measuring instrument.

6. The communication module according to claim 4,

wherein the second interface is written in a script language.

7. The communication module according to claim 4,

wherein the communication module connects to the database via at least one communication medium selected from the group consisting of the Internet, a telephone network, and a direct link.

8. The communication module according to claim 4,

wherein the web client is designed as a software module.

9. The communication module of claim 4, further comprising:

a thread forming a screwed joint with a thread of the measuring instrument.

10. A method for processing measurement values by a communication module, comprising:

receiving a measurement value from a measurement instrument at least at a first interface and via a processing device of the communication module;

wherein the first interface of the communication module is selected from the group consisting of I²C, HART®

, Profibus, Fieldbus Foundation™

, and VEGA VBUS;

editing the measurement value and encoding the measurement value in a HTTP-header of a HTTP-request;

wherein the HTTP-header comprises at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST and HEAD; and

forwarding the measurement value via a web client performed in a processor of the communication module to a second interface of the communication module, the second interface linked to the web client and forwarding the measurement value to a database connected to the second interface by transmitting the HTTP-request;

wherein the forwarding of the measurement value is carried out in an event-driven manner, and

wherein the event is at least one event selected from a group of events consisting of the presence of a measurement value in the communication module, the expiration of a timing element in the communication module, falling below a given measurement value, exceeding a given measurement value, a failure of a sensor and a failure of the communication module.

11. A database for a measuring instrument which measures one of a pressure and a level, comprising:

a database interface;

a server; and

a storage device,

wherein the server is configured to connect to a second interface of a communication module via the database interface,

the communication module further including

a processor;

a web client performed in the processor of the communication module;

a processing device connected to the web client for preparing a transmission,

a first interface connected to the processing device;

a second interface linked to the web client;

wherein the first interface is configured to connect to the measuring instrument to tap a measurement value from the measuring instrument;

wherein the second interface is configured to connect to the server connected to a database;

wherein the web client is configured to receive a measurement value via the first interface and via the processing device;

wherein the web client is configured to edit the measurement value and to encode the measurement value in a HTTP-header of a HTTP-request,

wherein the HTTP-header includes at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST and HEAD;

wherein the web client is configured to transmit the measurement value via the second interface to the database by transmitting the HTTP-request to the server;

wherein the communication module is configured to forward the measurement value in an event-driven way; and

wherein the event is at least one event selected from a group of events consisting of the presence of a measurement value in the communication module, the expiration of a timing element in the communication module, falling below a given measurement value, exceeding a given measurement value, a failure of a sensor and a failure of the communication module;

wherein the first interface being selected from the group consisting of I²C, HART®

, Profibus, Fieldbus Foundation™

, and VEGA VBUS;

wherein the server is configured to receive the HTTP-request comprising an edited and encoded measurement value from the web client;

wherein the HTTP-header includes at least one transmission scheme selected from the transmission schemes GET, POST and HEAD;

wherein the database is configured to extract the measurement value from the HTTP-request and the measurement value encoded in the HTTP-header of the HTTP-request, and

wherein the database is adapted to archive the measurement value in the storage device.

12. The database according to claim 11, further comprising:

a displaying device;

wherein the displaying device is configured to display the measurement value.

13. The database according to claim 11,

wherein the database interface is written in a script language.

14. The database according to claim 11,

wherein the database connects to the communication module via a communication medium selected from the group consisting of the Internet, a telephone network, and a direct link.