Digital computer monitored and/or operated system or process which is structured for operation with an improved automatic programming process and system

US4215406A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Westinghouse Electric Company LLC · US

Inventors

• John W. Gomola · Pittsburgh, US
• Theodore C. Giras · Pittsburgh, US
• William G. Wood · Pittsburgh, US
• Richard E. Putman · Penn Hills, US
• Rodney E. Gilbreath · Pittsburgh, US
• John S. Deliyannides · Wilmington, US
• Terry B. Cullen · Pittsburgh, US
• F. David Jones · Redmond, US
• Warren A. Edblad · Penn Hills, US
• Frank E. Wallace · Irwin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 22, 1972
• Grant date: Jul 29, 1980
• Expiry date: Aug 22, 1992

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/15011
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An industrial production or other operational system is established by connecting apparatus which implements system operations to a digital computer system using an interface system. Machine readable definitions of events, of executable jobs, and of system variables are prepared for computer entry and ultimately for configuration of the system apparatus into an entity having operational characteristics corresponding to the entered definitions. The definitions of system variables may include definitions of signals which are coupled between the system apparatus and the computer through the interface system, and such signals may be put to system monitoring or control uses or both of these uses in the structured system. Some of the definitions may be computer programs, but most are preferably definitions of the system configuration written out in a language which a systems engineer can understand and use. Generally, definitions may include designators which are names or numbers. Any definition may refer to an event, a job, or a variable by making reference to the designator that is included in the definition of the event, the job or the variable. Executable job definitions may, by refe…