Methods and apparatus to manage process data
First Claim
1. A method to access process data, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for process data generated by a field device;
searching a database, using a processor, for a descriptor file that includes the requested process data by searching for a header of the descriptor file that matches information included within the request;
retrieving, using the processor, the process data from the descriptor file by;
accessing a schema within the header that specifies that the process data is located at an object within the descriptor file;
locating a file body that corresponds to the process data within the descriptor file based on the schema;
locating a section that corresponds to the process data within the file body based on the schema;
locating a file entry that corresponds to the process data within the section based on the schema; and
locating the object that corresponds to the process data within the file entry based on the schema;
accessing, using the processor, an Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) file for the field device to determine how the process data is to be displayed, the EDDL file including a reference to the process data based on the schema; and
generating a display file describing an arrangement of the process data based on the EDDL file.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example methods and apparatus to manage process control data are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request for process data associated with a field device, searching a database for a descriptor file that includes the requested process data, and accessing the descriptor file to retrieve the process data to display within an application, wherein the process data is retrieved using a schema that specifies that the process data is located at an object referenced by a file entry that is part of a section of a file body included within the file. In the example method, the object may include at least one of an expression to calculate a value using the process data in a mathematical formula or a display transformation to instruct how the process data is to be displayed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method to access process data, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for process data generated by a field device; searching a database, using a processor, for a descriptor file that includes the requested process data by searching for a header of the descriptor file that matches information included within the request; retrieving, using the processor, the process data from the descriptor file by; accessing a schema within the header that specifies that the process data is located at an object within the descriptor file; locating a file body that corresponds to the process data within the descriptor file based on the schema; locating a section that corresponds to the process data within the file body based on the schema; locating a file entry that corresponds to the process data within the section based on the schema; and locating the object that corresponds to the process data within the file entry based on the schema; accessing, using the processor, an Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) file for the field device to determine how the process data is to be displayed, the EDDL file including a reference to the process data based on the schema; and generating a display file describing an arrangement of the process data based on the EDDL file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus to access process data, the apparatus comprising:
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a file processor to search a database for a descriptor file that includes requested process data originated from a field device within a process control system; a process data reader to; access a schema that specifies that the requested process data is located at an object within the descriptor file; locate a file body within the descriptor file corresponding to the process data; locate a section within the file body corresponding to the process data; locate a file entry within the section that corresponds to the process data; locate the object within the file entry that corresponds to the process data; and retrieve the process data from the descriptor file; a renderer to; access an electronic device description language (EDDL) file for the field device to determine how the process data is to be displayed, the EDDL file comprising a reference to the process data based on the schema; and generate a display file describing an arrangement of the process data based on the EDDL file; and a processor to implement at least one of the file processor, the process data reader, or the renderer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification