Persistent configuration in a multiple processor repairable system
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a first redundant control computer of a plurality of redundant control computers of a control system for controlling a process or one or more machines, said control system further including a host computer, a plurality of redundant control computers, an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, each of said redundant control computers including a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said method comprising:
- obtaining a location identifier from said interface, wherein said location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer;
providing said location identifier to said host computer; and
configuring said replacement redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network address for said replacement redundant control computer that is related to said location identifier and wherein a second redundant control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant control computer and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system having a host computer and one or more control computers connected to an interface for control of a process or machinery. The control computers are capable of automatically initiated network address assignment and configuration when powered up after installation. The network address is based on a location identifier situated in the interface that corresponds to a specific connection thereof to the control computer. The control computer reads the location identifier from the interface and requests a network address. The host computer assigns the network address based on the location identifier. Configuration of the control computer then proceeds. The procedure applies to newly installed control computers, whether first time installment or a replacement for a failed control computer.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a first redundant control computer of a plurality of redundant control computers of a control system for controlling a process or one or more machines, said control system further including a host computer, a plurality of redundant control computers, an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, each of said redundant control computers including a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said method comprising:
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obtaining a location identifier from said interface, wherein said location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer; providing said location identifier to said host computer; and configuring said replacement redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network address for said replacement redundant control computer that is related to said location identifier and wherein a second redundant control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant control computer and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for configuring a host computer that includes a processor and a memory and that is part of a control system that includes a plurality of redundant control computers, an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said method comprising:
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assigning a network address to replacement redundant control computer based on a location identifier of said particular redundant connection, wherein said particular redundant connection is connected to said replacement redundant control computer; saving a relationship of said location identifier with said network and a configuration data; and providing said configuration data to said replacement redundant control computer, wherein a second redundant control computer of said plurality of redundant control computers carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A control system for controlling a process or one or more machines, said control system comprising:
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a host computer; a plurality of redundant control computers; an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines; a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers; each of said redundant control computers comprising a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, wherein a second one of said redundant control computers carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant control computer and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured, and wherein the processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes; at least a first program instruction of said configurator to obtain a location identifier from said interface;
wherein said location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer;at least a second program instruction of said configurator to provide said location identifier to said host computer; and at least a third program instruction of said configurator to configure said replacement redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network address for said replacement redundant control computer that is related to said location identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A host computer for a control system that includes a plurality of redundant control computers;
- an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines;
a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said host computer comprising;a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein said processor executes; at least a first program instruction of said configurator to assign a network address to said replacement redundant control computer based on a location identifier that is based on said particular redundant connection to said interface; at least a second program instruction of said configurator to save a relationship of said location identifier with said network and a configuration data; and at least a third program instruction of said configurator to provide said configuration data to said replacement redundant control computer, wherein a second one of said redundant control computers carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant computer and while said replacement redundant computer is being configured. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines;
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21. A memory media for at least a first redundant control computer of a plurality of redundant control computers connected in a control system that includes a host computer, an interface arranged to control a process or one or more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for
monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, each of said redundant control computers including a processor and a memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said memory media comprising: -
at least a first program instruction that said processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes to obtain a location identifier from said interface, wherein said location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer; at least a second program instruction that said processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes to provide said location identifier to said host computer; and at least a third program instruction that said processor of said replacement redundant control computer executes to configure said replacement redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network address for said replacement redundant control computer that is related to said location identifier, wherein a second redundant control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant control computer and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured.
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22. A memory media for a host computer connected in a control system that includes a plurality of redundant control computers;
- an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines;
a plurality ofredundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, and said host computer, which comprises a processor and a memory, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said memory media comprising; at least a first program instruction that said processor executes to assign a network address to said replacement redundant control computer based on a location identifier of said particular redundant connection of said replacement redundant control computer to said interface; at least a second program instruction that said processor executes to save a relationship of said location identifier with said network and a configuration data; and at least a third program instruction that said processor executes to provide said configuration data to said replacement redundant control computer, wherein a second redundant control computer of said plurality of redundant control computers carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured.
- an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines;
Specification