Efficient architecture for interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system
First Claim
1. A system for interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system, the system comprising:
- a first field bus module (FBM) communicably coupled to the distributed control system;
the first FBM coupled to a first switch;
a second FBM communicably coupled to the distributed control system;
the second FBM coupled to a second switch;
the first and second FBMs communicably coupled to one another by the switches;
a pair of field devices (FDs), coupled to the switches;
the FDs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween;
one FD of the pair having an address;
the first and second FBMs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween through the first and second switches;
the first and second FBMs configured to adopt respective roles as master FBM and tracker FBM, wherein the master FBM is configured to capture data from the one FD using the address, and to pass any data changes periodically to the tracker FBM, through the switches;
the other FD of the pair configured to assume the address in the event of a failure of the one FD;
the master FBM configured to point to the other field device in the event the other field device has assumed the address;
the first and second FBMs configured to switch roles in the event communication is disrupted between the master FBM and the FD having the address;
wherein the system is redundant so that data is preserved in the event of failure of any one of the FBMs, FDs or switches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system, includes a first and second redundant field bus modules communicably coupled to the distributed control system and to one another via switches. A pair of redundant field devices are coupled to the switches, one FD having an address. The FBMs adopt respective roles as master FBM and tracker FBM, so that the master FBM is configured to capture data from the one FD using the address, and to pass any data changes periodically to the tracker FBM, through the switches. The master FBM is configured to point to the other field device in the event the other field device has assumed the address. The FBMs are configured to switch roles in the event communication is disrupted between the master FBM and the FD having the address.
67 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system, the system comprising:
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a first field bus module (FBM) communicably coupled to the distributed control system; the first FBM coupled to a first switch; a second FBM communicably coupled to the distributed control system; the second FBM coupled to a second switch; the first and second FBMs communicably coupled to one another by the switches; a pair of field devices (FDs), coupled to the switches; the FDs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween; one FD of the pair having an address; the first and second FBMs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween through the first and second switches; the first and second FBMs configured to adopt respective roles as master FBM and tracker FBM, wherein the master FBM is configured to capture data from the one FD using the address, and to pass any data changes periodically to the tracker FBM, through the switches; the other FD of the pair configured to assume the address in the event of a failure of the one FD; the master FBM configured to point to the other field device in the event the other field device has assumed the address; the first and second FBMs configured to switch roles in the event communication is disrupted between the master FBM and the FD having the address; wherein the system is redundant so that data is preserved in the event of failure of any one of the FBMs, FDs or switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 24, 25)
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12. A method of interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system, the system comprising:
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(a) communicably coupling a first field bus module (FBM) to the distributed control system; (b) coupling the first FBM to a first switch; (c) communicably coupling a second FBM to the distributed control system; (d) coupling the second FBM to a second switch; (e) communicably coupling the first and second FBMs to one another by the switches; (f) coupling a pair of field devices (FDs) to the switches, the FDs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween, one FD of the pair having an address; (g) configuring the first and second FBMs to be redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween through the first and second switches; (h) configuring the first and second FBMs to adopt respective roles as master FBM and tracker FBM, wherein the master FBM is configured to capture data from the one FD using the address, and to pass any data changes periodically to the tracker FBM, through the switches; (i) configuring the other FD of the pair to assume the address in the event of a failure of the one FD; (j) configuring the master FBM to point to the other field device in the event the other field device has assumed the address; and (k) configuring the first and second FBMs to switch roles in the event communication is disrupted between the master FBM and the FD having the address; wherein the system is redundant so that data is preserved in the event of failure of any one of the FBMs, FDs or switches. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27)
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23. An article of manufacture for interfacing redundant devices to a distributed control system, said article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer usable medium having; computer readable program code for; (a) communicably coupling a first field bus module (FBM) to the distributed control system; (b) coupling the first FBM to a first switch; (c) communicably coupling a second FBM to the distributed control system; (d) coupling the second FBM to a second switch; (e) communicably coupling the first and second FBMs to one another by the switches; (f) coupling a pair of field devices (FDs) to the switches, the FDs being redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween, one FD of the pair having an address; (g) configuring the first and second FBMs to be redundant of one another, wherein data is synchronized therebetween through the first and second switches; (h) configuring the first and second FBMs to adopt respective roles as master FBM and tracker FBM, wherein the master FBM is configured to capture data from the one FD using the address, and to pass any data changes periodically to the tracker FBM, through the switches; (i) configuring the other FD of the pair to assume the address in the event of a failure of the one FD; (j) configuring the master FBM to point to the other field device in the event the other field device has assumed the address; and (k) configuring the first and second FBMs to switch roles in the event communication is disrupted between the master FBM and the FD having the address; wherein the system is redundant so that data is preserved in the event of failure of any one of the FBMs, FDs or switches.
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Specification