Process control system including a method and apparatus for automatically sensing the connection of devices to a network
US6098116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 12, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B19/0426
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A digital control system automatically senses when a new controller is attached to a network and determines the number and types of I/O Ports that are attached to the new controller. The digital control system formats and displays the I/O Port information upon request by a user. The digital control system program also includes an automatic configuration program that responds to sensing of a new controller by automatically configuring the input/output (I/O) subsystem. The user adds a new controller without setting any physical switches or nodes. A user optionally supplies configuration information for a device into a database, prior to connection of a device. Upon connection of the device, the device is automatically sensed and configured using the database configuration information, without setting of physical switches or node address information on the devices.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.