Industrial process device management software

• US 6,490,493 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1999
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dharnipragada, Sudhakar
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US09/235,079
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 700/97, 700/105, 700/108
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and medium readable by a computer processor for specifying and managing process devices such as measurement instruments and valves are provided. Sequences of instructions are used to: receive process requirements, select and specify a process device meeting process requirements, order the specified process device, evaluate the ordered process device creating a built process device database, and manage the built process device using the built process device database to make decisions regarding the built process device.

Claims

1. An industrial process device management computer system, comprising:

a computer having;

a processor, an input coupled to the processor, an output coupled to the processor, memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store predetermined process device data describing physical characteristics of industrial process devices comprising a transmitter or a controller for use in an industrial process, and storing the following sequences of instructions;

a device requirement sequence of instructions adapted to receive process requirements though the input to define the operating requirements for a process device;

a device selection sequence of instructions adapted to evaluate the process requirements against the predetermined process device data and to create a specified process device definition meeting process requirements;

a device order sequence of instructions adapted to place the specified process device definition into an ordered database that is stored in the memory and sendable through the output to a process device manufacturer to initiate building of the specified process device;

a device evaluation sequence of instructions adapted to receive built process device data through the input to obtain built process device data representing performance characteristics of a built process device; and

a device management sequence of instructions that uses the built process device data to create a built database that is stored in the memory and accessed by the computer to make decisions regarding the built process device.

2. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 1, wherein during the device selection, device order, device evaluation and device management sequences of instructions no substantial reentry of data through the input is required.

3. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 1, wherein the built database is compatible with a process device communication protocol.

4. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 1, wherein the device evaluation sequence of instructions further comprises:

a device comparison sequence of instructions adapted to compare the ordered database stored in the memory with the built database stored in the memory to create a discrepancy database that is used to determine whether the built process device meets process requirements.

5. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 1, wherein the device management sequence of instructions further comprises:

a device maintenance sequence of instructions adapted to receive a request for a replacement built process device through the input, recalls the built process device data from the built database stored in the memory and orders a replacement built process device through the output from the process device manufacturer.

6. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 5, wherein device maintenance sequence of instructions recalls the built process device data and orders the replacement process device from the process device manufacturer without the need to reenter built process device data.

7. An industrial process device management computer system, comprising:

a computer having;

a processor, an input coupled to the processor, an output coupled to the processor, memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store predetermined process device data describing physical characteristics of industrial process devices comprising a transmitter or controller for use in an industrial process, and storing the following sequences of instructions;

a device requirement sequence of instructions adapted to receive process requirements though the input to define the operating requirements for a process device;

a device selection sequence of instructions adapted to evaluate the process requirements against the predetermined process device data to create a specified process device definition meeting the process requirements;

a device order sequence of instructions adapted to place the specified process device definition into an ordered database that is stored in the memory and sendable through the output to a process device manufacturer to initiate building of the specified process device;

a device evaluation sequence of instructions adapted to receive built process device data through the input to obtain built process device data representing performance characteristics of a built process device; and

a means for managing the built process device with the computer by making decisions regarding the built process device using a built database created from built process device data.

8. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 7, wherein during the device selection, device order, device evaluation and device management sequences of instructions reentry of data through the input substantially is not required.

9. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 7, wherein the built database is compatible with a process device communication protocol.

10. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 7, wherein the device management sequence of instructions, further comprises:

a means for determining whether the built process device meets the process requirements.

11. The industrial process device management computer system as in claim 7, wherein the device management sequence of instructions, further comprises:

a means for ordering a replacement process device without reentering process device data.

12. A method of industrial process device management, comprising:

providing a computer having;

a processor, an input coupled to the processor, an output coupled to the processor, memory coupled to the processor and adapted to store predetermined process device data describing physical characteristics of industrial process devices comprising a transmitter or controller for use in an industrial process, and storing the following sequences of instructions;

receiving process requirements though the input to define the operating requirements for a process device;

selecting a process device by evaluating the process requirements against predetermined process device data to create a specified process device definition meeting process requirements;

ordering a process device by placing the specified process device definition into an ordered database that is stored in the memory and sent through the output to a process device manufacturer to initiate building of the specified process device;

obtaining built process device data through the input to obtain built process device data representing performance characteristics of a built process device; and

managing the built process device by using the built process device data to create a built database that is stored in the memory and accessed by the computer to make decisions regarding the built process device.

13. The method of industrial process device management as in claim 12, wherein managing the built process device, further comprises:

comparing the ordered database stored in the memory with the built database stored in the memory to create a discrepancy database that is used to determine whether the built process device meets process requirements.

14. The method of industrial process device management as in claim 12, wherein managing the built process device, further comprises:

maintaining the built process device by receiving a request for a replacement built process device, recalling the built process device data from the built database, and ordering a replacement built process from the process device manufacturer.

15. An industrial process device integration software product on a medium readable by a processor, the medium storing a plurality of sequences of instructions, comprising:

a device requirement sequence of instructions adapted to receive process requirements to define operating requirements for a process device comprising a transmitter or a controller for use in an industrial process;

a device selection sequence of instructions adapted to evaluate the process requirements against predetermined process device data to create a specified process device definition meeting the process requirements;

a device order sequence of instructions adapted to place the specified process device definition into an ordered database that is sendable to a process device manufacturer to initiate building of the specified process device;

a device evaluation sequence of instructions adapted to receive built process device data to obtain built process device data representing performance characteristics of a built process device; and

a device management sequence of instructions adapted to use the built process device data to create a built database stored on the medium that is used to make decisions regarding the built process device.

16. The industrial process device integration software product as in claim 15, wherein the device management sequence of instructions comprises:

a device comparing sequence of instructions adapted to compare the ordered database with the built database to create a discrepancy database that is used to determine whether the built process device meets the process requirements.

17. The industrial process device integration software product as in claim 15, wherein the device management sequence of instructions comprises:

a device maintenance sequence of instructions adapted to receive a request for a replacement built process device, recalls the built process device data from the built database and orders a replacement built process device from the process device manufacturer.