CZ28059U1 - Freely programmable communicator - Google Patents

Description

The technical solution concerns a controller for monitoring and controlling industrial processes, especially in the field of ventilation, heating and air conditioning, and a server extension for data recording and interpretation. The freely programmable communicator is part of the control system, which is further made up of input and output modules, peripherals, possibly foreign devices and other parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices or interfaces that have analog or relay inputs and outputs on the technology side or serial communication lines (RS232, RS485, CAN, etc.) are used for remote control of technology and data collection. Using these channels, process values (measured temperatures, pressures, states, etc.) are obtained, which are then usually transmitted over the Internet to the supervisory center (headquarters) or to a mobile client (field worker with a laptop and Internet connection).

The freely programmable communicator acts as a client: it establishes a connection to a server on the Internet at defined intervals and sends measured values. These are stored on the server database and the user can access them after a secure web connection. This solution is known from the Czech utility model CZ 19078.

However, the device is only used for data collection and remote control of outputs. It does not have its own free programmable control logic, as is the case with commonly used PLCs. Algorithms in the device can be programmed and changed remotely, but only within the framework of firmware update. The control algorithms would have to be programmed by the firmware author (vendor worker), not by the application programmer (customer worker or engineering firm). This makes it impossible to deploy devices as process stations (PLCs) with Web Communicator functionality. When editing (playing) an application program, it is also necessary for the programmer to be connected directly to the device with the computer. that both the computer and the device are directly accessible to each other on the computer network.

This is an obstacle preventing the spread of web communicators to areas where it is necessary not only to collect data, but also to remotely manage, regulate and control the most diverse processes and processes, especially in the field of remote management of ventilation, heating, air conditioning and power generation.

The essence of the technical solution

The freely programmable communicator, unlike the solutions used today, does not function as a server, but as a client not only for the transmission of measured data in the sense of the utility model CZ 19078, ie during normal operation, but also for all functions necessary for configuration and programming of devices according to IEC 61131-3.

The freely programmable communicator connects to the computer network to the database server, where it sends the measured data, and to the so-called proxy server, through which it creates a connection for all configuration and programming functions. (Both services, databases and proxies can run on a single computer or on different computers, depending on how it is appropriate to balance system load, resolve availability, backup, security, etc.) The proxy server is accessible from the Internet and operated either by the communicator supplier , or - in the case of a larger communicator network managed by one business - by that business. The same proxy server is then connected from anywhere in the Internet using the same technician ID and password, which the communicator can set and program as if it were connected directly to the controller in the same segment of the computer network. Any other client can connect through the proxy server, such as a visualization control center, operator terminal, other communicator that provides the communicator with data obtained elsewhere, etc.

-1 CZ 28059 Ul

The main advantages of the solution are:

possibility to transfer data from freely programmable systems from networks to which outside access is not permitted - suitable for suppliers of technologies and services that require remote management, or remote management is an advantage (cooling systems, energy, heating systems, cogeneration units, etc.)

- Possibility of building dispatching centers in heterogeneous networks (typically in district heating systems where individual heat exchanger stations are located in buildings with different types of Internet connectivity (networks are closed for communication from outside): somewhere there is a fixed Internet connection, elsewhere a GPRS router etc. , and all devices would be able to communicate securely with each other only through a VPN

- Remote programming and setup - this is the most significant benefit that saves users and application companies time on the road and facilitates diagnostics

- possibility to connect more clients to one communicator - the communicator can be based on a less powerful processor, which allows only a limited number (typically 2-5) of simultaneous TCP connections to save costs. However, it is possible to connect hundreds or thousands of clients to a powerful proxy server based on the PC platform, which can freely access data from the communicators, because the image of actual data written by the communicator can easily be provided to a larger number of clients on the PC. This feature is used for virtual energy sources, optimization of district heating networks, etc.

- central management and backup of PLC data on the server - this server can be installed at the supplier of technology (if it wants to be independent of the services of the communicator supplier) or the service operated directly by the communicator supplier can be used server).

Clarification of the drawing

The technical solution is illustrated in Fig. 1, which shows a block diagram of a communication.

Example of technical solution implementation

The topology of the system is shown in Fig. 1. The freely programmable communicator I operates as a process controller in the internal network (intranet) 6. Direct access from the Internet 7 to the internal network (intranet) 6 is prohibited on router 3.

The default setting of the internal network (intranet) 6 in the freely programmable communicator 1 can be DHCP with automatic address assignment, so if the internal network (intranet) 6 provides the DHCP service, the freely programmable communicator 1 will request an address in the internal network (intranet) 6 after receiving it, it reports itself to the database and proxy server 2 and starts sending data automatically.

The freely programmable communicator I, in addition to executing control and regulation algorithms, sends the measured data at regular intervals to the database and proxy server 2, where the data is stored and the server application makes it available to the user. At the same time, it keeps TCP connected to the proxy service and thus is available to clients such as visualization controllers 5, programmers 9, etc. They can be connected via the Internet 7 without having direct access to the internal network (intranet) 6 by configuring router 3.

Devices such as input and output modules, power meters or other systems are connected to the bus 8. This varies in type and number of projects from project to project and therefore needs to be adapted to the application program in the freely programmable communicator 1 This is done by connecting a client of the programmer 9, which has full access to the freely programmable communicator 1 control by setting variables and control algorithms by playing the application program over the network. Loosely

Programmable Communicator I may also include hardware inputs and outputs 4, such as voltage, resistance, triac, relay, etc. inputs.

Claims (1)

A freely programmable communicator (1) for controlling, regulating and collecting data from technological 5 processes, characterized in that the inputs and outputs (4), the bus (8) and the freely programmable communicator (1) are connected in an connecting via the internal network (6) via a router (3) via the Internet (7) to a server (2) to which clients (5) and (9) are connected as required.