Method for evaluating, an automation system and a controller

• US 8,112,165 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Meyer, Mikael, Pauly, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/202,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20080319555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 700/4, 700/11, 700/79, 700/81, 700/87, 717/168, 717/169, 717/170, 717/173, 717/174, 714/11, 714/32
• US Class Current: 700/87
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31418 NC program management, support, storage, distribution, version, update
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for evaluating an application for controlling a process within an automation system. The application is stored within a controller, and at least two versions of it are present within the controller. The method comprises the steps of: inputting to the different versions of the application an input signal obtained from the process; executing, in the controller, tasks based on this input signal for the different versions; generating a report comprising comparisons of the outputs from the different versions of the application; and evaluating, based on the generated report, the version(s) not used for controlling the process. An improved way of revising an automation system is thereby achieved. The invention also relates to such controller and an automation system.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating an application for controlling a process within an automation system, said application residing within a controller, characterised in that the method comprises the steps of:

inputting to all of at least two different versions of the application, which versions reside within the same controller and of which one version is controlling said process, an input signal obtained from said process,

executing, in the controller, the same tasks based on said input signal for the at least two different versions of the application,

generating a report comprising comparisons of outputs obtained from the execution of the at least two different versions of the application, and

evaluating, based on said generated report, the version(s) not used for controlling the process.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said step of evaluating shows that the new version is functioning properly the method comprises the further steps of:

hindering the outputs from the version currently controlling the process from being used to control the process, and

putting a version not controlling the process to actively control the process.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of preventing the outputs from all versions expect the version that is currently controlling the process from affecting the process.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if said step of evaluating shows that the new version is not functioning properly the method comprises the further step of:

outputting from the version currently controlling the process an output signal obtained during said execution for controlling said process.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of executing tasks are performed in sequence for the different versions.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of executing tasks are performed in a quasi-parallel manner for the different versions.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of generating a report comprises comparing the outputs from all of the at least two versions and establishing differences between said outputs.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said difference report is dynamic.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of executing at least two versions of the application comprises the steps of:

receiving, by said different versions, the same input signals from an I/O arrangement of said controller and executing the same tasks,

performing, by said different versions, process related calculations, and

using the results from only one of said versions for controlling the process.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of presenting found differences to a user.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of generating a report on differences is performed in order to establish the functionality of a new version of the application under real process circumstances.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of inputting to all of at least two different versions of the application, comprises inputting external variables.

13. An automation system comprising a controller, said controller having stored therein an application for controlling a process within the automation system, characterised in that the system comprises:

means for inputting to all of at least two different versions of the application, which versions reside within the controller, an input signal obtained from said process,

means for executing, in the controller, tasks based on said input signal for the at least two different versions of the application in parallel,

means for generating a report comprising comparisons of outputs obtained from an execution of the at least two different versions of the application, and

means for evaluating, based on said generated report, the version(s) not used for controlling the process.

14. The automation system as claimed in claim 13, comprising

means for hindering the outputs from the version currently controlling the process from being used to control the process, and

means for putting a version not controlling the process to actively control the process.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the means for preventing the outputs from all versions expect the version that is currently controlling the process from affecting the process.

16. The automation system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said versions of an application are arranged to be executed in sequence under real process conditions.

17. The automation system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for storing at further memory locations differing variable values.

18. The automation system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for presenting found differences to a user.

19. A controller for controlling processes within an automation system, said controller comprising an application and an input/output arrangement, characterised in that said controller comprises:

at least two different versions of said application, said versions being arranged to receive the same data from said input/output arrangement,

means for executing the same tasks based on said input signal for the at least two different versions of the application,

means for generating a report comprising comparisons of outputs from an execution of the at least two different versions of the application, and

means for evaluating, based on said generated report, the version(s) not used for controlling the process.

20. The controller as claimed in claim 19, wherein said I/O arrangement comprises connections connecting said controller to sensors and actuators located within said automation system and related to processes therein.