DE102015113756A1 - Method and system for identifying at least one field device of automation technology - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a method and a system for identifying at least one field device of automation technology, at least comprising - a plurality of field devices; - a device for detecting a local position (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7); A database (9) for storing local information (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), timestamps, and diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices; A computation unit (10) accessing the database and listing the respective local locations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and the associated timestamp, diagnostic and calibration data (8) of one of the plurality of Field devices created.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for identifying at least one field device of the automation technology, comprising at least a plurality of field devices, a device for detecting a local position, a database for storing local information of time stamps and diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices , and a computing unit accessing the database and compiling a listing of the respective local locations and associated timestamps, diagnostic and calibration data of one of the plurality of field devices.

Field devices are already known from the prior art, which are used in industrial plants. In automation technology, in particular process automation and factory automation technology, field devices are often used. In principle, field devices are all devices that are used close to the process and that provide or process process-relevant information. For example, field devices are used to detect and / or influence process variables. Measuring devices or sensors are used to record process variables. These are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurement, conductivity measurement, flow measurement, level measurement, etc., and record the corresponding process variables pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, level, flow etc. Actuators are used to influence process variables. These are, for example, pumps or valves that can influence the flow of a liquid in a pipe or the level in a container. In addition to the measuring devices and actuators mentioned above, field devices are also understood as remote I / Os, radio adapters or general devices which are arranged at the field level.

A large number of such field devices are produced and sold by the Endress + Hauser Group.

During their life cycle, field devices go through a wide range of stations, from the manufacture of the field device, through its delivery and installation in a process plant, to the final expansion and scrapping of the field device. Each of these operations is usually logged. If a field device is located as a replacement device in a user's camp and if the protocol of this field device can not be found, the user is confronted with a wide variety of problems because he does not receive any information about the preloading of the field device.

For example, it is not clear to the user which data or information from the life cycle of the field device is still valid. For example, a field device could have a calibration certificate with measurement-specific influences. However, the validity of the calibration certificate would be lost in another plant or at another measuring point of the plant which has different measuring-site-specific influences.

The invention is therefore based on the object to present a method and a system that allows to track the location of a field device.

• – Erfassen und Speichern von Seriennummern von einer Vielzahl von Feldgeräten;
• – Erfassen von örtlichen Positionen für jedes der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte über zumindest einen Teilbereich des Lebenszyklus‘ der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte und Zuordnen der örtlichen Positionen zu den Seriennummern der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte;
• – Erstellen und Zuordnen von Zeitstempeln zu den örtlichen Positionen, um der jeweiligen Erfassung der örtlichen Informationen einen eindeutigen Zeitpunkt zuzuordnen, und Speichern der örtlichen Positionen und der diesen zugeordneten Zeitstempel;
• – Erheben von Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte beim Zeitpunkt des Erfassens der örtlichen Positionen, Zuordnen der Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten zu dem jeweils zugeordneten Zeitstempel und Speichern der Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten;
• – Suchen zumindest eines der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte in der Datenbank anhand dessen Seriennummer, wobei bei erfolgreicher Suche eine Auflistung der jeweiligen örtlichen Positionen und der zugeordneten Zeitstempel, Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten des Feldgeräts erstellt wird.

The object is achieved by a method for identifying at least one field device of automation technology, which comprises the following steps:

• Acquiring and storing serial numbers from a plurality of field devices;
• - detecting local positions for each of the plurality of field devices over at least a portion of the life cycle of the plurality of field devices and associating the local locations with the serial numbers of the plurality of field devices;
• - creating and assigning time stamps to the local locations to assign a unique time to the respective acquisition of the local information, and storing the local locations and the time stamp associated therewith;
• - collecting diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices at the time of detecting the local positions, associating the diagnostic and calibration data with the respective associated time stamp, and storing the diagnostic and calibration data;
• - Searching at least one of the plurality of field devices in the database on the basis of its serial number, wherein upon successful search, a listing of the respective local positions and the associated time stamp, diagnostic and calibration data of the field device is created.

The advantage of the method according to the invention is that accurate tracking of the stations of a field device over its life cycle is possible. Via the search via serial number, not only the respective local positions, but also further relevant information of the respective location, such as the diagnostic data that occurred there or the current calibration data of the field device are listed. Thus, for example, it can be checked whether and how a field device has been calibrated and whether the calibration certificate has retained its validity. Likewise, in the case of a radio connection to a field device, it can be determined whether the device is being communicated with the device by comparing the known position of the field device with the location position reported by the device.

Furthermore, a recall action can be initiated by the manufacturer if errors occur in a whole of a product type of a field device. For this purpose, all serial numbers of the field devices of a product type are identified, their current location is determined by means of the method according to the invention and the customers who have field devices of the product type concerned are subsequently informed directly.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the acquisition of the local information, the creation and assignment of the time stamp and the collection, assignment and storage of the diagnostic and calibration data of at least one of the field devices is performed at each time at which the geographical Position of the field device changes. Thus, an exact local tracking of a field device is possible.

In an advantageous variant of the method according to the invention, the acquisition of the local information, the creation and allocation of the time stamp and the collection, assignment and storage of the diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices is carried out at fixed times. As a result, in addition to the times at which the geographical position of one of the field devices changes, an information gain can be achieved. For example, it can be determined in this way whether diagnostic data has been generated in a certain period, for example during operation in a system, and / or a failure of the field device has been present.

• – eine Vielzahl von Feldgeräten;
• – eine Vorrichtung zum Erfassen einer örtlichen Position;
• – eine Datenbank zum Speichern von örtlichen Informationen, von Zeitstempeln und von Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte;
• – eine Recheneinheit, die auf die Datenbank zugreift und eine Auflistung der jeweiligen örtlichen Positionen und der zugeordneten Zeitstempel, Diagnose- und Kalibrierungsdaten eines der Vielzahl der Feldgeräte erstellt.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a system for identifying at least one field device of automation technology, which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, at least comprising

• A plurality of field devices;
• - a device for detecting a local position;
• A database for storing local information, timestamps, and diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices;
• A computational unit that accesses the database and generates a listing of the respective local locations and the associated timestamp, diagnostic and calibration data of one of the plurality of field devices.

An advantageous embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the device for detecting a local position is a GPS chip. With the aid of this GPS chip, a sufficiently accurate position determination is possible.

In a preferred variant of the system according to the invention, the GPS chip is attached to each of the plurality of field devices. The field devices thus independently raise local positions. The transfer of the local positions takes place via one or more networks to which the plurality of field devices is connected. In principle, any common WAN or LAN network protocol can be used. But it can be used etc., a field network of automation technology such as Foundation Fieldbus ^®, Profibus ^®, HART ^®, Modbus ^®, to which the field devices are connected.

An advantageous development of the system according to the invention provides that the GPS chip is attached to a mobile unit. If the field system has a battery or is designed for low power consumption, the energy required by the GPS chip may be too high. If the GPS chip is located in a mobile unit, the field device does not need any additional energy to determine its position. For determining the position by means of a mobile unit, the serial number of a field device whose position is to be stored is recorded. The detection can take place, for example, by manually typing the serial number into the mobile unit or by scanning a barcode or QR code located on the field device. After the serial number has been recorded, the location is determined by means of the GPS chip in the mobile unit.

If the field device is located in a location of a process plant which is shielded against electromagnetic waves from outside, for example a factory hall with a metal roof, then the local position of a field device can also be detected without a GPS signal. For example, a true-to-scale plan of the process plant with the equipment used to locate it is used. For this, the local positions of two points, ideally corner points of the plant building, are determined in advance on the plan, for example by means of GPS. These serve as reference points, whereby the position of the desired field devices is determined by the scale-accurate plan sufficiently accurate and manually entered into the operating unit.

A preferred variant of the system according to the invention provides that the mobile unit communicates with at least one of the plurality of field devices by means of a radio link. This is particularly advantageous when the field device is located in an inaccessible or hard to reach place of a process plant. The radio connection can be, for example, Bluetooth, WLAN and / or RFID.

A preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the mobile unit is a mobile terminal. As a mobile device, for example, smart phones, tablet PCs, or similar. designated.

A preferred development of the system according to the invention provides that the device for detecting a local position is an arrangement of at least three access points of a wireless network, wherein the local position of the access points is known and wherein each of the plurality of field devices through its local position a comparison of signal strengths from each of the three access points determined. A field device having a radio unit determines the signal strength of each of the three access points. The farther away the field device is from an access point, the weaker its signal becomes. In this way, a field device can determine its exact local position.

The exact location of the access points, such as wireless routers, are usually available. The wireless network in this case is WLAN, for example. The BSSID of each access point, ie its address, is linked to a geographical location. This can for example be done automatically by mobile devices that are connected to the wireless router and have a GPS chip. These mobile devices automatically detect the location of the access point and send this information to an online server. An example of such a method is a method of the company Skyhook Wireless, which automatically raises the location of wireless routers using iPhones Apple.

A preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention provides that the device for detecting a local position is an arrangement of at least three access points of a mobile radio network, wherein the local position of the access points is known and wherein each of the plurality of field devices through its local position a comparison of signal strengths from each of the three access points determined. The access points are thus base stations of the mobile radio network, wherein the mobile radio network is for example GSM, UMTS or LTE. If a field device has a corresponding receiving unit, a field device can thus also determine its local position via the three access points of the mobile radio network.

A particularly advantageous variant of the system according to the invention provides that the remote database can be reached by means of cloud computing. Cloud computing in this case describes the storage of data in a remote data center, in this case in a remote database. The advantage is that there is a centralization of the databases, since each field device stores its data in the form of serial numbers and local positions on this database.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figure. It shows

1 : An embodiment of the method according to the invention for the identification of a field device.

1 shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention for the identification of a field device. On a time axis t, which represents the life cycle of a field device, are different local positions 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 entered, in which the field device is in the course of its life cycle.

The first detection of the spatial position can already during or immediately after the production 1 take place of the field device. The spatial position is determined by means of a GPS chip which is located either on the field device itself or in a mobile unit. Simultaneously with the detection of the spatial position, a time stamp is created and diagnostic and calibration data 8th of the field device. This data to a computing unit 10 Posted.

The arithmetic unit 10 maps this data to a database 9 stored serial number of the field device and then stores this on the database 9 , The access of the field device or the mobile unit to the arithmetic unit 10 takes place via a network. In principle, any common protocol of a WAN or LAN network can be used, depending on the distance of the arithmetic unit 10 to the respective field device or the mobile unit. But it can also be used a field network of automation technology, such as Foundation Fieldbus ^®, Profibus ^®, HART ^®, Modbus ^®, to which the field device is connected. The arithmetic unit accesses the database via cloud computing.

For all other local positions 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 of the life cycle, the procedure described above is repeated. Additionally, capturing local information 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 , creating and assigning the timestamp and collecting, associating and saving the diagnostic and calibration data 8th be carried out at fixed times. The user 11 This will give you a detailed list of the local positions 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 of the field device, the time stamp and the diagnostic and calibration data valid at that time 8th of the field device.

In particular, information about whether the field device, for example, due to a failure in the workshop 5 could, for the user 11 be important. The field device is, for example, after temporary installation in a plant 3 in stock 4 and serves as a replacement device, the user can 11 determine the preload of the field device, and thus the suitability for the new site by the inventive method.

The user wants 11 Obtaining information about a specific field device, he gives the serial number of the desired field device via a PC 14 into the arithmetic unit 10 one. The connection of the user PC 14 to the arithmetic unit 10 takes place for example via the Internet. By means of a protection unit 15 For example, a firewall or a proxy server, the connection can be secured. Upon successful search of a field device based on the serial number, the arithmetic unit creates 10 a list of the respective local positions 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 and the associated timestamp, diagnostic and calibration data 8th of the field device and presents this listing to the user 11 via his PC 12 to disposal.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

 local positions

8th

 Diagnostic and calibration data

9

 Database

10

 computer unit

11

 user

12

 User PC

13

 protection unit

t

 timeline

Claims (12)

Method for identifying at least one field device of automation technology, comprising the following steps: detecting and storing serial numbers of a plurality of field devices; - recording local positions ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) for each of the plurality of field devices over at least a portion of the life cycle of the plurality of field devices and associating the local locations ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) to the serial numbers of the plurality of field devices; - Creating and assigning time stamps to the local positions ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) in order to determine the local position ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) assign a unique time and save the local positions ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) and the time stamp associated therewith; - collecting diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) of the plurality of field devices at the time of detecting the local positions ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ), Assigning the diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) to the respectively assigned time stamp and storing the diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ); Searching for at least one of the plurality of field devices on the basis of its serial number, whereby, if the search is successful, a listing of the respective local positions is provided ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) and associated timestamp, diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) of the field device is created. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the local information ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ), creating and assigning the timestamp and collecting, assigning and saving the diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) of at least one of the plurality of field devices is performed at each time point at which the geographical position of the field device changes. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the detection of the local positions ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ), creating and assigning the timestamp and collecting, assigning and saving the diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) of the plurality of field devices is performed at predetermined times. A system suitable for carrying out the method of claims 1 to 3, at least comprising - a plurality of field devices; A device for detecting a local position ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ); - a database ( 9 ) for storing local information ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ), timestamps, and diagnostic and calibration data of the plurality of field devices; A computing unit ( 10 ), which accesses the database and a list of the respective local 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) and associated timestamp, diagnostic and calibration data ( 8th ) creates one of the plurality of field devices. A system according to claim 4, wherein the device for detecting a local position ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) is a GPS chip. The system of claim 5, wherein the GPS chip is attached to each of the plurality of field devices. The system of claim 5, wherein the GPS chip is attached to a mobile unit. The system of claim 7, wherein the mobile unit communicates with at least one of the plurality of field devices by way of radio communication. A system according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the mobile unit is a mobile terminal. A system according to claim 4, wherein the device for detecting a local position ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) is an array of at least three access points of a wireless network, where the location of the access points is known, and wherein each of the plurality of field devices determines its location by comparing signal strengths from each of the three access points. A system according to claim 4, wherein the device for detecting a local position ( 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 ) is an array of at least three access points of a cellular network, where the location of the access points is known, and wherein each of the plurality of field devices determines its location by comparing signal strengths from each of the three access points. System according to one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the database ( 9 ) is accessible via cloud computing.

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