Method and system for communicating information and controlling equipment according to a standard protocol between two computers

• US 7,003,558 B2
• Filed: 10/15/1999
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iconics, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Iconics, Inc. (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Agrusa, Russell L., Burian, Jan, Braier, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARTON, KEVIN S
• Application Number:
  US09/419,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,321 Days
• Field of Search: 709/103, 709/203, 709/229, 709/230, 709/231, 709/235, 709/238, 709/314, 709/220, 709/224, 709/225, 709/223, 700/9, 700/2, 700/3, 700/4, 700/14, 700/17, 700/19, 700/20
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4186 by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31208 Server node to watch, store message, variable, data between lon, network
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34263 OLE object linking and embedding, OPC ole for process control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34488 One computer, controller replaces other, backup computer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A system for communicating according to a standard communication protocol for process control includes a plurality of interconnected computers. The system includes a module that permits communication of information between computers that communicate with process control equipment. The system also includes a module that permits a primary controlling machine to communicate with computers that communicate with process control equipment, and that permits a secondary controlling machine to take the place of the primary controlling machine when the primary controlling machine is unavailable. The system further includes a module that aggregates requests for information directed to one computer that communicates with a piece of process control equipment, communicates with the computer and obtains the information, and delivers the information to each of the requesters. The standard communication protocol for process control can be OPC, and the communicated information can be one or more process control parameters.

Claims

1. A computer program recorded on a computer-readable medium, said computer program comprising:

a) a first module that permits the communication of information according to OLE (“

Object Linking and Embedding”

) for Process Control (“

OPC”

) between a first computer communicating with a first piece of process control equipment and a second computer communicating with a second piece of process control equipment;

b) a second module that permits;

 

a primary controlling machine;

(i) to communicate according to OPC with the first computer; and

(ii) to communicate according to OPC with the second computer; and

a secondary controlling machine to communicate according to OPC with the first and second computers m place of the primary controlling machine; and

c) a third module that;

(i) aggregates all requests for the same information directed to one of a plurality of interconnected computers, the plurality including the first and the second computers, the one computer communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment, the requests transmitted according to OPC;

(ii) communicates with the one computer according to OPC and obtains the information;

(iii) delivers according to OPC the requested information.

2. The computer program of claim 1, wherein the requested information comprises a process control parameter.

3. The computer program of claim 1, wherein the secondary controlling machine automatically comnumicates with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine when the primary controlling machine becomes unavailable.

9. The computer program of claim 1 wherein all requests for information originate from one computer.

4. A networked computerized communication and control system, comprising;

a) a primary controlling machine of the system;

b) a plurality of interconnected computers, each computer connected via a network to the primary controlling machine, at least some of the computers each communicating with at least one of piece of process control equipment;

c) a first module that pennits communication of information according to OLE (“

Object Linking and Embedding”

) for Process Control (“

OPC”

) between a first computer of the plurality of computers and a second computer of the plurality of computers;

d) a second module that;

 

permits the primary controlling machine;

(i) to communicate according to OPC wit the first computer; and

(ii) to communicate according to OPC with the second computer; and

 

permits a secondary controlling machine of the system to communicate according to OPC with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine; and

e) a third module that;

(i) aggregates all requests for the same information directed to one of the plurality of interconnected computers, the one computer communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment, the requests transmitted according to OPC;

(ii) communicates with the one computer according to OPC and obtains the information;

(iii) delivers according to OPC the requested information.

5. The networked computerized communication and control system of claim 4, wherein the requested information comprises a process control parameter.

10. The networked computerized communication and control system of claim 4 wherein all requests for information originate from one computer.

6. A method of communicating between and controlling equipment connected via a computerized communication and control network, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a primary controlling machine;

b) providing a plurality of interconnected computers, each computer connected via the network to the controlling machine, at least some of the computers each communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment;

c) providing a first module that permits communication of information according to OLE (“

Object Linking and Embedding”

) for Process Control (“

OPC”

) between a first computer of the plurality of computers and a second computer of the plurality of computers;

d) providing a second module that;

 

permits the primary controlling machine;

(i) to communicate according to OPC with the first computer; and

(ii) to communicate according to OPC with the second computer; and

 

permits a secondary controlling machine to communicate according to OPC with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine;

e) providing a third module that;

(i) aggregates all requests for the same information directed to one of the plurality of interconnected computers, the one computer communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment, the requests transmitted according to OPC;

(ii) communicates with the one computer according to OPC and obtains the information;

(iii) delivers according to OPC the requested information;

f) operating the first module, the second module and the third module to communicate information according to OPC between at least some of the plurality of computers that are communicating with pieces of process control equipment so as to control a process.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reciuested information comprises a process control parameter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the secondary controlling machine automatically communicates with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine when the primary controlling machine becomes unavailable.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein all requests for information originate from one computer.