Methods and apparatus to configure a process control device

• US 9,612,593 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bristol (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Bristol (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Szurek, Scott, Vanderah, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Kenneth M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huntley, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/889,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 700 28
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2222 Use of priority levels for gaining access to resources
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25428 Field device

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus are provided for configuring a process control device. An example method includes implementing a first configuration at the process control device based on a first configuration request. The example method includes setting a configuration flag. The configuration flag indicates the first configuration is being implemented. The example method includes denying a second configuration request while the configuration flag is set.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicatively coupling a first device to an output device via a first port;

communicatively coupling a second device to the output device via a second port;

implementing a first configuration of the output device based on a first configuration request from the first device;

sending the first configuration from the output device to the second device to update the second device;

generating, with a data manager of the output device, a first notification based on a status of the output device;

sending the first notification from the output device to the second device;

generating, with the second device, a second notification based on information received from the output device, the information including the first notification; and

sending one or more of the first configuration, the first notification, or the second notification from the second device to a third device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration includes data to implement a calibration of the output device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is at least one of a field device associated with the output device or a host system associated with the output device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a field device and the second device is a host system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting an information flag, the information flag indicating that the first configuration has been stored in the output device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first configuration includes an identifier of the first device that provided the first configuration request.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

sending the first configuration to the second device based on the information flag; and

removing the information flag.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein sending the first configuration from the output device to the second device to update the second device occurs when the information flag is set.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying the first configuration at the output device.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration request is associated with at least one of adjusting a setting of a sensor, verifying a process control parameter, or performing a control process calculation.

10. An output device comprising:

a first port adapted to communicatively couple to a first device;

a second port adapted to communicatively couple to a second device; and

a data manager to;

generate a first notification based on a status of the output device;

send the first notification to the second device;

receive first and second configuration requests from the respective first and second devices, the second device to generate a second notification based on information received from the output device and to send one or more of the first configuration, the first notification, and the second notification to a third device, the information including the first notification;

implement a first configuration of the output device based on the first configuration request;

and

send the first configuration to the second device to update the second device.

11. The output device of claim 10, wherein the first configuration includes data to implement a calibration of the output device.

12. The output device of claim 10, wherein the first device is at least one of a field device associated with the output device or a host system associated with the output device.

13. The output device of claim 10, wherein the first device is a field device and the second device is a host system.

14. The output device of claim 10, wherein the data manager is to give the first port priority over the second port.

15. The output device of claim 10, wherein the data manager is to:

set an information flag, the information flag indicating that the first configuration has been stored.

16. The output device of claim 15, wherein the first configuration includes an identifier of the first device that provided the first configuration request.

17. The output device of claim 15, wherein the first configuration includes a characteristic of a sensor.

18. The output device of claim 15, further comprising a display to display the first configuration.

19. The output device of claim 15, wherein the data manager is to:

send the first configuration to the second device to update the second device in response to a request from the second device to the output device for the first configuration based on the information flag; and

remove the information flag.

20. The output device of claim 15, wherein the data manager is to send the first configuration to the second device when the information flag is set.

21. A method comprising:

receiving, at a data manager of an output device, a first configuration request from a first device communicatively coupled to the output device via a first port;

receiving, at the data manager, a second configuration request from a second device communicatively coupled to the output device via a second port;

implementing a first configuration at the output device based on the second configuration request;

sending the second configuration data to the first device via the first port to update the first device;

generating, with the data manager of the output device, a first notification based on a status of the output device;

sending the first notification from the output device to the second device;

generating, with the second device, a second notification based on information received from the output device; and

sending one or more of the second configuration, the first notification, or the second notification from the second device to a third device.

22. The method of claim 21, further including determining configuration information based on the second configuration request, the configuration information including an identifier of the second device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second device is a field device.