Dynamic host profiles for option modules
First Claim
1. A method for converting data objects to a host data, the method comprising:
- storing, in a memory device of a communications device, a first profile image of a plurality of profile images, wherein each profile image of the plurality of profile images is based on characteristics of a different host device and includes a different configuration data object and wherein each profile image is associated with a different host type and wherein each profile image is enabled for reconfiguring an existing firmware operating on the communications device without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware;
accessing, by the communications device, the first profile image from the memory device;
reconfiguring, by the communications device, the existing firmware operating on the communications device, without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware, in accordance with a configuration data object included in the first profile image;
exchanging a first message between the communications device and a first networked device communicatively coupled to the communications device via a network interface, the first message containing a first network data object and wherein the network interface is configured to interface with at least one fieldbus network and configured for exchanging at least the first message with the first network device via the at least one fieldbus network;
mapping, by the communications device in accordance with the configuration data object of the first profile image, the first network data object received from the first networked device to first host data utilizing characteristics of a first host device from the first profile image for exchange with the first host device, wherein the first host device is characterized by a first host type; and
exchanging the first host data between the first host device and the communications device.
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Abstract
Aspects of the invention support different products having a host device and a communications device. The host device may interact with the communications device to exchange messages containing data objects over a fieldbus network for transporting messages containing data objects. Read/write requests to the fieldbus data objects may be answered locally in the communications device, or the fieldbus data object may be mapped to host data when host access is required. The communications device stores a profile image associated with a designated host type, so that the communications device may map the data object to host data for the host device and then exchange the host data with the host device. The communications device may subsequently interact with a different host type if a corresponding profile image is downloaded to the memory device.
18 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for converting data objects to a host data, the method comprising:
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storing, in a memory device of a communications device, a first profile image of a plurality of profile images, wherein each profile image of the plurality of profile images is based on characteristics of a different host device and includes a different configuration data object and wherein each profile image is associated with a different host type and wherein each profile image is enabled for reconfiguring an existing firmware operating on the communications device without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware; accessing, by the communications device, the first profile image from the memory device; reconfiguring, by the communications device, the existing firmware operating on the communications device, without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware, in accordance with a configuration data object included in the first profile image; exchanging a first message between the communications device and a first networked device communicatively coupled to the communications device via a network interface, the first message containing a first network data object and wherein the network interface is configured to interface with at least one fieldbus network and configured for exchanging at least the first message with the first network device via the at least one fieldbus network; mapping, by the communications device in accordance with the configuration data object of the first profile image, the first network data object received from the first networked device to first host data utilizing characteristics of a first host device from the first profile image for exchange with the first host device, wherein the first host device is characterized by a first host type; and exchanging the first host data between the first host device and the communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:
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storing, in a memory device of a communications device, a first profile image of a plurality of profile images, wherein each profile image of the plurality of profile images is based on characteristics of a different host device and includes a different configuration data object, and wherein each profile image is associated with a different host type and wherein each profile image is enabled for reconfiguring an existing firmware operating on the communications device without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware; accessing, by the communications device, the first profile image from the memory device; reconfiguring, by the communications device, the existing firmware operating on the communications device, without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware, in accordance with a configuration data object included in the first profile image; exchanging a first message between the communications device and a first networked device communicatively coupled to the communications device via a network interface, the first message containing a first network data object and wherein the network interface is configured to interface with at least one fieldbus network and configured for exchanging at least the first message with the first network device via the at least one fieldbus network; mapping, by the communications device in accordance with the configuration data object of the first profile image, the first network data object received from the first networked device to first host data utilizing characteristics of a first host device from the first profile image for exchange with the first host device, wherein the first host device is characterized by a first host type; and exchanging the first host data between the first host device and the communications device. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A communications device for an automation and control system including a first host device and a first networked device, the communications device comprising:
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a network interface configured to interface with at least one fieldbus network and configured to exchange a message containing a first network data object with the first networked device via the at least one fieldbus network; a memory device configured to store a plurality of profile images including a first profile image, wherein each profile image in the plurality of profile images is associated with a different host type, wherein each profile image in the plurality of profile images is based on characteristics of a different host device and includes a different configuration data object, and wherein each profile image enables reconfiguration of an existing firmware operating on the communications device, without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware; and a processing device configured to; access the first profile image from the memory device; reconfigure the existing firmware operating on the communications device, without changing the existing firmware to a different firmware, in accordance with a configuration data object included in the first profile image; map the first network data object received from the first networked device to a first host data utilizing characteristics of the first host device from the first profile image for exchange with the first host device, wherein the first host device is characterized by a first host type; and exchange the first host data with the first host device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification