Method and apparatus for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions
US6044305A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a set of field devices communicatively linked over a bus includes an operational scheduler that schedules the execution of each of a number of process control functions and communication functions performed by the field devices to define a process control scheme and an indicator that indicates one or more process control scheme locations at which the process control scheme is to be automatically or conditionally interrupted to thereby enable debugging and/or tuning of the process control network. A controller interrupts execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow locations, communicates process data to a user to display the current or a past state of the process to a user and waits for user input before continuing with operation of the process control scheme. In a tuning mode, the controller delivers data pertaining to a process parameter to a tuning device or to a user which determines a new tuning parameter, such as a gain, to be used within the process control scheme based on the process parameter data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.