Distributed historian architecture and interfaces

• US 8,229,577 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: McGreevy, Robert J., Sadowski, Deborah A., Herbst, Robert J., Hartman, Justin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/815,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 702/187
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31288 Archive collected data into history file
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32389 Reception, assembly, testing, management workorder, schedule, history, file, packing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A distributed historian framework is provided where historical data is collected in accordance with an organizational model of a hierarchical system that is distributed across various elements of an enterprise. A directory service operates with the organizational model to enable configuration of historian components within the organization and to enable data to be located within the organization. In one aspect, an industrial automation system is provided. The system includes at least one historian component to archive data within an organization. A common data model then exposes functionality and data of the organization to the historian component.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to implement an interface comprising:

an input object to configure a first micro-historian associated with an enterprise, wherein the input object is configured to receive configuration input indicating an address of a controller on a first level of the enterprise from which a first set of data is to be collected by the first micro-historian, and wherein the first micro-historian resides on the first level of the enterprise and is configured to collect the first set of data from the controller on the first level and a second set of data from a second level of the enterprise as specified by the configuration input;

a hierarchy object to link the first set of data and the second set of data to a common data model of the enterprise that is distributed to at least one component associated with the first micro-historian, wherein the common data model defines at least a micro-historian level and a plant level of the enterprise; and

a set of output objects to display the first set of data and the second set of data collected by the first micro-historian.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the input object allows configuration of the first micro-historian to assume data collection responsibility from a second micro-historian residing on the second level of the enterprise in response to a data collection resource at the second level becoming overloaded.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the input object allows configuration of the first micro-historian to collect data across multiple levels of the enterprise.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a diagnostics component configured to monitor a statistic on one or more data categories that include at least one of collection status, system utilization, or alerts.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the input object comprises a window configured to add a data collection plan for the first micro-historian, the data collection plan having one or more associated data points and one or more associated collection rates.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the interface further comprises a field configured to identify an equipment model, diagnostics, a chassis configuration, an administrative setting, or a report feature.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the common data model further defines an enterprise level of the enterprise.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the set of output objects includes at least a first output object configured to display a first view from a perspective of the micro-historian level, a second output object that configured to display a second view from a perspective of the plant level, and a third output object configured to display a third view from a perspective of the enterprise level.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations comprising:

presenting an input object configured to create a data collection plan for a first micro-historian residing on a first tier of an enterprise, wherein the presenting the input object includes presenting a field configured to receive configuration input indicating an address of a first controller on the first tier from which the first micro-historian is to collect a first set of data;

configuring the first micro-historian, using the input object, to collect the first set of data from the first controller and a second set of data from a second tier of the enterprise as specified by the configuration input;

presenting one or more hierarchy objects configured to link the data collection plan to a common data model of the enterprise comprising at least a micro-historian level and a plant level of the enterprise; and

presenting one or more output objects configured to display the first set of data and the second set of data collected by the first micro-historian.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising allowing, through the input object, configuration of the first micro-historian with at least one of an equipment model, diagnostics, a chassis configuration, an administrative setting, or a report feature.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the presenting the output object includes displaying at least one of an asset utilization, a product quality, a production plan, or a plant-to-plant data comparison between different geographical locations.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, the operations further comprising configuring the first micro-historian to share data collection responsibilities with a second micro-historian in accordance with the data collection plan.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the presenting the one or more hierarchy objects includes presenting the one or more hierarchy objects configured to link the data collection plan to the common data model of the enterprise further comprising an enterprise level of the enterprise.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the presenting the one or more output objects includes:

presenting a first output object configured to display a first view from a context of the micro-historian level; and

presenting a second output object configured to display a second view from a context of the plant level; and

presenting a third output object configured to display a third view from a context of the enterprise level.

15. A computer-implemented method in which at least one computing system accesses instructions from computer storage and executes the instructions to perform acts comprising:

presenting an input object for configuring a micro-historian residing on a first level of an enterprise, wherein the presenting includes presenting a field configured to receive configuration input indicating an address of a first controller on the first level from which the micro-historian is to collect a first set of data;

configuring the micro-historian to collect the first set of data from the first controller and a second set of data from a second level of the enterprise in accordance with the configuration input;

displaying a hierarchy object configured to link the first set of data and the second set of data to a common data model of the enterprise, the common data model comprising at least a micro-historian level and a plant level of the enterprise; and

displaying the first set of data and the second set of data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying the first set of data includes displaying a slot address assigned to the micro-historian.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the presenting includes presenting a window for adding a data collection plan for the micro-historian, the data collection plan assigning a data point and an associated collection rate to the micro-historian.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying the first set of data and the second set of data includes displaying at least one of an equipment model, diagnostics, a chassis configuration, an administrative setting, or a report feature.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying the first set of data and the second set of data includes displaying at least one of an asset utilization, a product quality, a production plan, or a plant-to-plant data comparison between different geographical locations.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying the hierarchy object includes displaying the hierarchy object configured to link the data associated with the plurality of micro-historians to the common data model further comprising at least an enterprise level of the enterprise.