Methods and systems for identifying and configuring networked devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A control system network comprising:
- a communication link;
a plurality of interchangeable and replaceable control devices each connected to the communication link and operatively connectable to at least one input/output device of a controlled system; and
an identification key associated with each respective control device, each identification key including configuration data corresponding to the respective control device, each identification key being electronically readable by one of the control devices when introduced to the network;
wherein each identification key includes a first data structure including configuration data and information, each control device including a second data structure including data and information stored in the control device, each control device configured to compare information from the first data structure to information in the second data structure to evaluate a compatibility of the control device with the network; and
wherein if information from the first data structure does not match information in the second data structure when a control device is introduced to the network, the control device is configured to invalidate the information in the second data structure and request correct configuration data and software from another of the control devices on the network.
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Abstract
Auto-detection and configuring systems and methods for interconnected, position dependent control devices are disclosed. Embedded identification and configuration keys are associated with each of the control devices in a network, such that specific connection nodes for each controller may be determined by electronically reading the identification as the control devices are installed. Hardware and software compatibility issues may be detected and resolved, including self configuring of the control devices with the proper software where possible. Otherwise, error conditions are signaled.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A control system network comprising:
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a communication link; a plurality of interchangeable and replaceable control devices each connected to the communication link and operatively connectable to at least one input/output device of a controlled system; and an identification key associated with each respective control device, each identification key including configuration data corresponding to the respective control device, each identification key being electronically readable by one of the control devices when introduced to the network; wherein each identification key includes a first data structure including configuration data and information, each control device including a second data structure including data and information stored in the control device, each control device configured to compare information from the first data structure to information in the second data structure to evaluate a compatibility of the control device with the network; and wherein if information from the first data structure does not match information in the second data structure when a control device is introduced to the network, the control device is configured to invalidate the information in the second data structure and request correct configuration data and software from another of the control devices on the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of detecting compatibility of an introduced control device in a control system network including a plurality of connection nodes and the introduced control device operable at each of the plurality of connection nodes, the introduced control device having first configuration data stored therein, the method comprising:
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providing an identification key at an embedded location in the network, the identification key including second configuration data for the introduced control device at the embedded location; reading the second configuration data from the identification key with the introduced control device; determining, with the introduced control device, a respective one of the nodes to which the control device has been connected based upon the second configuration data from the identification key; the introduced control device comparing a first parameter from the first configuration data with at least a second parameter from the second configuration data; and if the first parameter from the first configuration data matches the second parameter from the second configuration data, the introduced control device entering a normal operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A control system comprising:
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a plurality of interchangeable and replaceable control devices each operatively connectable to at least one input/output device of a controlled subsystem at one of a plurality of connection nodes, the control devices configured to operate at all of the plurality of connection nodes via different software routines corresponding to at least some of the connected nodes; a communication link facilitating communication between at least two of the plurality of control devices; and a plurality of identification keys each associated with a respective one of the control devices, each identification key including configuration data for a respective one of the plurality of connection nodes, and one of the identification keys being electronically readable by each of the control devices when introduced to the network; wherein each of the plurality of control devices is configured to determine, based on a reading of the associated identification key, hardware and software compatibility with the network, and if determined to be compatible, each of the control devices further configured to; determine a respective one of the plurality of connection nodes to which the control device has been connected, and execute applicable software routines corresponding to the node where the control device has been connected. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification