Computerized system for remote diagnostics and configuration on a field device

• US 7,792,953 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB SPA (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Ferraro, Antonio, Cassara', Salvatore, Vanini, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue; Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gillis; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/451,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,189 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/220, 709/221, 702/188
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device

Abstract

A computerized system for performing remote diagnostics and configuration operations of a field device with a control unit includes a first communications module suitable to automatically handle the remote exchange of data/information with a remote station through a first communications network; and a second communications module, linked to the first communications module and suitable to automatically handle the exchange of data/information with the control unit of the field device by virtue of a second communications network. A third communications module suitable to automatically handle the remote exchange of data/information with the first communications module is connected through the first communications network. A first diagnostics and configuration module is linked to the third communications module and is suitable to remotely and automatically handle diagnostic operations and/or configuration operations on the control into the field device.

Claims

1. A computerized system for performing remote diagnostics and configuration operations of a field device for measuring process values, which comprises a control unit, said computerized system comprising:

first computerized means comprising a first computer, connected to a first communications network and to a second communications network that is functionally distinct from said first communications network and which implements an instrument communications protocol for connecting said first computerized means with the control unit of said field device, said first computerized means further comprising;

a first communications module suitable to automatically handle the remote exchange of data/information with a remote station through said first communications network; and

a second communications module, linked to said first communications module and suitable to automatically handle the exchange of data/information with the control unit of said field device through said second communications network;

second computerized means comprising a second computer, connected to said first computerized means and comprising a third communications module suitable to automatically handle the remote exchange of data/information with said first communications module by means of said first communications network;

wherein said second computerized means further comprises a first diagnostics and configuration module, linked to said third communications module and suitable to remotely and automatically handle, using said third communications module and said first computerized means, diagnostics operations and/or configuration operations on the control unit of said field device;

third-computerized means comprising a third computer that is remotely linked to said second computerized means and further comprises a fourth communications module suitable to handle automatically the remote exchange of data/information with said first diagnostics and configuration module, through said first communications network or through a third communications network;

wherein said second computerized means comprise an interfacing module that can be accessed by said first computerized means and by said third computerized means, said interfacing module comprising a plurality of resources that can be shared by said first computerized means and by said third computerized means;

wherein said shared plurality of resources establishes a common platform for data sharing which is used by said first computerized means and/or said third computerized means for performing configuration and diagnostic operations;

wherein said common platform allows a first user, who accesses said second computerized means, to check upon request by a second user, a configuration or a diagnostics operation performed on the control unit of the field device by the second user.

2. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said first computerized means comprise a second diagnostics and configuration module connected to said first communications module and said second communications module, said second diagnostics and configuration module being suitable to support said first diagnostics and configuration module during diagnostics operations and/or configuration operations on the control unit of said field device.

3. The computerized system according to claim 2, wherein said first diagnostics and configuration module interacts with said second diagnostics and configuration module according to a master-slave mode.

4. The computerized system according to claim 3, wherein said first communications network and/or said third communications network is an Internet communications network.

5. The computerized system according to claim 2, wherein said first communications network and/or said third communications network is an Internet communications network.

6. The computerized system according to claim 2, wherein said first communications network and/or said third communications network is a telephone and/or satellite communications network.

7. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said first communications network and/or said third communications network is an Internet communications network.

8. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said first communications network and/or said third communications network is a telephone and/or satellite communications network.

9. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said second communications network is a field communications network.

10. The computerized system according to claim 1, further comprising fourth computerized means that are suitable to support remotely the execution of manual testing operations on the control unit of said field device.

11. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said diagnostics operations comprise:

the acquisition and processing of data regarding physical values and/or parameters related to the operation of said field device; and

/or

the acquisition and processing of data regarding physical values and/or parameters related to the execution of tests on said field device.

12. The computerized system according to claim 1, wherein said configuration operations comprise the acquisition and/or processing and/or sending of data/commands related to the operating configuration of the control unit of said field device.