Method and supporting configuration user interfaces for streamlining installing replacement field devices

• US 8,527,888 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Bump, Scott S., Kostadinov, Vladimir, Piper, Charles W., Linscott, Richard L., Tegnell, Johan I., Camino, Nestor J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALVESTEFFER, STEPHEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/403,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 715/762, 700/1
• US Class Current: 715/748
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31132 FDT interfacing profibus field device drivers DTM with engineering tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31334 Database with devices, configuration, of plant
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32137 Configure, connect, combine different program modules
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32144 Define device description using dd files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method and user interfaces are described herein installing a field device as a replacement for a previously installed field device of a same type in a process control system. The disclosed method includes initially specifying a device type commissioning definition that includes a set of device-type specific parameters. A first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values are then stored for a first field device. When replacing the first field device by a second field device of the same type on a process control network, the commissioning definition and the previously stored parameters for the first device are used to automatically configure the second device.

Claims

1. A method for installing a field device as a replacement for a previously installed field device of a same type, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying a device type commissioning definition including a set of device-type specific parameters for which parameter values are downloaded to render the replacement for the previously installed field device operational, wherein the device type commissioning definition includes a mode field for specifying, on an individual parameter basis, an operational mode for a device when writing a parameter value to support device replacement, and wherein the device type commissioning definition specifies a timing requirement for writing specific parameters on an individual parameter basis;

storing, in a database, a first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values for a first field device corresponding to the set of device-type specific parameters;

physically replacing the first field device by a second field device on a process control network, wherein the first field device and second field device are of the same type;

identifying for the second field device, via a user interface, a configuration data source identification corresponding to the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values in the database; and

invoking a configuration procedure for the second field device, connected to the process control network, wherein the configuration procedure comprises a sequence of automated operations carried out according to;

the device type commissioning definition; and

the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specifying step is carried out via a configuration graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the configuration graphical user interface is presented in accordance with a device-type specific editor definition.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the device-type specific editor definition is a component of a device object instance stored in the application database corresponding to the first field device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values is stored as a device object instance.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the object instance is created from a device template corresponding to a specific device type.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the device template is stored in a device definition database that is separate and distinct from an application database that stores the object instance.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration step is performed while the second device is connected at an intended operating location in a plant.

9. A process control system configuration component facility that facilitates streamlined installation of a second field device as a physical replacement for a previously installed first field device of a same type in a process control system, the facility comprising:

a processor;

a memory device communicatively connected to the processor;

a database, stored on the memory device, for storing instance specific information associated with a first device, the instance-specific information comprising;

a device type commissioning definition including a set of device-type specific parameters for which parameter values are downloaded to render the physical replacement for the previously installed first field device-type specific parameters, wherein the device type commissioning definition includes a mode field for specifying, on an individual parameter basis, an operational mode for a device when writing a parameter value to support device replacement, and wherein the commissioning definition specifies a timing requirement for writing specific parameters on an individual parameter basis, and

a first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values for the first field device corresponding to the set of device-type specific parameters;

a configuration component comprising;

a user interface for identifying, for the second field device, a configuration data source identification corresponding to the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values in the database; and

a user-initiated configuration procedure for the second field device, connected to the process control network, wherein the configuration procedure comprises a sequence of automated operations carried out according to;

the device type commissioning definition, and

using the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values.

10. The facility of claim 9 further comprising a configuration graphical user interface for specifying the device type commissioning definition.

11. The facility of claim 10 wherein the configuration graphical user interface is presented in accordance with a device-type specific editor definition.

12. The facility of claim 11 wherein the device-type specific editor definition is a component of a device object instance stored in the application database corresponding to the first field device.

13. The facility of claim 9 wherein the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values is stored as a device object instance.

14. The facility of claim 13 wherein the object instance is created from a device template corresponding to a specific device type.

15. The facility of claim 14 wherein the device template is stored in a device definition database that is separate and distinct from an application database that stores the object instance.

16. A non-transient computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for facilitating installing a field device as a replacement for a previously installed field device of a same type, the computer executable instructions facilitating performing the steps of:

specifying a device type commissioning definition including a set of device-type specific parameters for which parameter values are downloaded to render the replacement for previously installed field device operational, wherein the device type commissioning definition includes a mode field for specifying, on an individual parameter basis, an operational mode for a device when writing a parameter value to support device replacement, and wherein the device type commissioning definition specifies a timing requirement for writing specific parameters on an individual parameter basis;

storing, in a database, a first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values for a first field device corresponding to the set of device-type specific parameters;

physically replacing the first field device by a second field device on a process control network, wherein the first field device and second field device are of the same type;

identifying for the second field device, via a user interface, a configuration data source identification corresponding to the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values in the database; and

invoking a configuration procedure for the second field device, connected to the process control network, wherein the configuration procedure comprises a sequence of automated operations carried out according to;

the device type commissioning definition, and

using the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values.

17. A method for installing a field device as a replacement for previously installed field device of a same type, the method comprising steps of:

specifying a device type commissioning definition including a set of device-type specific parameters for which parameter values are downloaded to render the replacement for the previously installed field device operational;

storing, in a database, a first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values for a first filed device corresponding to the set of device-type specific parameters;

physically replacing the first field device by a second field device on a process control network, wherein the first field device and second field device are of the same type;

identifying for the second field device, via a user interface, a configuration data source identification corresponding to the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values in the database;

invoking a configuration procedure for the second field device, connected to the process control network, wherein the configuration procedure comprises a sequence of automated operations carried out according to;

the device type commissioning definition, and

the first set of instance-specific configuration parameter values; and

wherein the commissioning device definition includes a mode field, the mode field specifying, on an individual parameter basis, a set of rules defining when to update a parameter value to support the device replacement, and wherein the device type commissioning definition specifies a timing requirement for writing specific parameters on an individual parameter basis.