METHODS AND APPARATUS TO BIND PROPERTIES IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20090217200A1
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Lucas, John Michael, Campney, Bruce Hubert, Gilbert, Stephen Copps, Hammack, Stephen Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 8,896,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23174 Display of parameter and several suggested values for that parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23258 GUI graphical user interface, icon, function bloc editor, labview
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23291 Process, graphic programming of a process, text and images
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23335 History, log of program modifications
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25067 Graphic configuration control system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32095 Text, menu driven editor for batch programming, phase sequence, parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to bind properties in a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves associating a binding type with a property of a configuration element. A plurality of values for the property are then retrieved based on the plurality of values being associated with the binding type. At least some of the plurality of values are presented to a user. The example method also involves receiving a user-selected value from the at least some of the plurality of property values and generating a binding reference to bind the user-selected value to the configuration element.

Claims

1. A method to bind a property in a process control system, the method comprising:

associating a binding type with a property of a configuration element;

retrieving a plurality of values for the property, wherein the plurality of values are associated with the binding type;

presenting at least some of the plurality of values to a user;

receiving a user-selected value from the at least some of the plurality of property values; and

generating a binding reference to bind the user-selected value to the configuration element.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least some of the plurality of values presented to the user are presented based on whether each of the at least some of the plurality of values matches a partial user input.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the partial user input includes at least one of a character string, a number, or a symbol.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising presenting the plurality of values using an auto-suggestion list displaying the at least some of the plurality of values.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising validating that the user-selected value can be used to generate a valid binding reference.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising displaying an indicator to indicate that the user-selected value is not a valid binding reference.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising storing the user-selected value in a local memory of an editor, loading an updated binding reference for the property of the configuration element, and replacing the user-selected value in the local memory of the editor with an updated value from the updated binding reference.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration element is a graphic element representative of one of a device, equipment, or function in a process control system.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user-selected value is a control module identifier value indicative of a control module configured to interface with one of a device, equipment, or function in a process control system.

10. An apparatus to bind a property in a process control system, the apparatus comprising:

a binding provider to retrieve a plurality of values for a property of a configuration element, wherein the binding provider retrieves the plurality of values based on a binding type associated with the property; and

an element editor to;

present at least some of the plurality of values to a user;

receive a user-selected value from the at least some of the plurality of property values; and

generate a binding reference to bind the user-selected value to the configuration element.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the element editor presents the at least some of the plurality of values to the user based on whether each of the at least some of the plurality of values matches a partial user input.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the partial user input includes at least one of a character string, a number, or a symbol.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the element editor is further to present the plurality of values using an auto-suggestion list displaying the at least some of the plurality of values.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the element editor is further to validate that the user-selected value can be used to generate a valid binding reference.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the element editor is further to display an indicator to indicate that the user-selected value is not a valid binding reference.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the element editor is further to store the user-selected value in a local memory of the element editor, load an updated binding reference for the property of the configuration element, and replace the user-selected value in the local memory with an updated value from the updated binding reference.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the configuration element is a graphic element representative of one of a device, equipment, or function in a process control system.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the user-selected value is a control module identifier value indicative of a control module configured to interface with one of a device, equipment, or function in a process control system.

19-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A method to update a binding reference in a process control system, the method comprising:

retrieving an updated binding reference associated with a configuration element;

loading the configuration element and a first identifier associated with the configuration element; and

associating an updated identifier of the updated binding reference with the configuration element.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the configuration element is a graphic element.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein loading the configuration element includes retrieving a memory model of the configuration element from a local memory associated with a graphic editor and loading the memory model of the configuration element in the local memory.

31. A method as defined in claim 30, wherein associating the updated identifier with the configuration element includes replacing the first identifier with the updated identifier.

32. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the first identifier represents a previous identifier of a process control module, and wherein the updated identifier represents a current identifier of the process control module.

33. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the configuration element is loaded in response to a user request to load the configuration element.

34. A method as defined in claim 28, further comprising storing a binding reference identifier associated with the configuration element in a list of binding references to indicate that the first identifier associated with the configuration element is potentially outdated.

35. A method as defined in claim 34, further comprising retrieving the updated identifier of the updated binding reference based on the binding reference identifier stored in the list of binding references.

36-51. -51. (canceled)