Strobed synchronization providing diagnostics in a distributed system
US6745232B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and system are provided for executing a control function or program which minimizes or overcomes the shortcomings of conventional systems. The invention allows a user of a distributed control system to place one or more control devices into a step mode, wherein the devices will execute a specified number of iterations of their internal logic or control programs, or execute such programs for a specified time period, and then stop or suspend execution. The user may then perform system diagnostics, for example, by interrogating certain modules to obtain output and input values, etc. The system may then be further iterated and the method repeated, so as to enable the identification of logic programming and/or hardware problems in a system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.