JP2010220012A - Communication stack evaluation apparatus for field device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accomplish a communication stack evaluation apparatus for a field device which is capable of evaluating a communication stack of the field device associated with process control without applying any load to the field device. <P>SOLUTION: The invention relates to a communication stack evaluation apparatus for a field device including a communication stack evaluating means for evaluating a communication stack in a field device based on response data, from the field device, which are received in response to test data transmitted via a field bus. The communication stack evaluation apparatus for the field device further includes a field device simulating means for executing an operation provided by the field device within the communication stack evaluation apparatus for the field device, creating the response data to the test data as the field device when the test data are obtaind, and transmitting the response data to the field bus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to evaluation of a communication stack in a field device, and more particularly to a communication stack evaluation device for a field device that can evaluate a communication stack without the hardware of the field device.

  In recent plant control systems, Foundation Fieldbus FF-H1 (registered trademark), in which various field devices (hereinafter referred to as field devices) such as sensors, actuators, and controllers such as differential pressure gauges, flow meters, and thermometers are laid in the plant, In many cases, the field devices are connected to a two-wire bus-powered field bus such as PROFIBUS-PA (registered trademark), and these field devices are configured to perform data communication with each other via the field bus.

  Conventionally, an evaluation device that evaluates the communication stack of these field devices receives a reply packet from the field device according to a packet transmitted based on a prepared Test Scenario (evaluation contents), and transmits the transmitted packet The communication stack of the field device has been evaluated by checking whether the packet received from the field device is correct.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices and a field device as an evaluation target thereof. In FIG. 4, the communication stack of the evaluation target device (field device 2) is evaluated via a control bus. An evaluation device 1 such as a field control station (FCS) that communicates with an information command station (ICS), a field device 2 to be evaluated, and a field bus 100 are included.

  In FIG. 4, the evaluation apparatus 1 is connected to a common field bus 100 via a communication control unit 12. The field device 2 is connected to the communication control unit 12 of the evaluation device 1 via the field bus 100. The evaluation device 1 and the field device 2 communicate with each other via the communication control unit 12 and the field bus 100.

  The evaluation device 1 performs data communication with the field device 2 via the communication control means 12 in accordance with a predetermined fieldbus protocol, and performs an evaluation test of the communication stack of the field device 2. Specifically, the evaluation apparatus 1 has fieldbus protocol information for communicating with other devices connected to the fieldbus 100, and based on this protocol information, the test data is converted to fieldbus data. The communication test is performed to evaluate the communication stack.

  Further, the evaluation apparatus 1 includes a driver unit 11 for securing a line for data communication with the communication control unit 12, a field bus interface for performing data communication with the field device 2 via the field bus 100, and the like. Communication control means 12, operation control means 13 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for controlling the operation of each function such as transmitting data in accordance with protocol specifications and performing a communication test, and for evaluating a communication stack Test scenario (contents of evaluation), test case or test data, evaluation application, storage means 14 for storing fieldbus protocol information, and the like.

  The Test Scenario (evaluation content) and test case referred to in the present application are test tools for verifying the operation of the system, equipment, software, and the like. A test case is, for example, a precondition such as a system environment, an operation on a test target, test setting information that describes the result of the test, a program / script for a software test, etc. 4 is used to verify whether the communication stack (protocol stack) 4 is normal.

  The field device 2 performs data communication with the evaluation device 1 via the field bus 100. The field device 2 includes sensors such as a differential pressure gauge, a flow meter, and a thermometer, and has a function of transmitting measurement data to another field device (not shown) connected to the field bus 100. Note that the field device 2 and the field device (not shown) include an actuator, a controller, and the like in addition to those having these sensors.

  More specifically, the field device 2 performs data communication with the evaluation device 1 via the field bus 100 and the driver unit 21 for securing a line for data communication with the specific communication control unit 22. The communication control means 22 such as a field bus interface to be performed, the process amount obtained by controlling the sensor or the control data for process control is controlled by the driver means 21 and the communication control means 22 through the field bus 100 and the evaluation device Arithmetic control means 23 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (for microcomputer) that communicates with other devices, controls each part and each function of the field device 2 and executes FF communication based on FOUNDATION fieldbus (registered trademark). FF program, function block set in advance A program for executing an application, and a storage unit 24 for storing such protocol information for the fieldbus.

  Further, the communication control means 12 of the evaluation apparatus 1 and the communication control means 22 of the field device 2 have the same function, and are hardware for transmitting and receiving data via the field bus 100. The communication control means 12 and 22 have two buffers, a transmission buffer and a reception buffer, and are used in transmission processing and reception processing, respectively. When the communication stack is Foundation Fieldbus (registered trademark), a product called Find-1 corresponds to the communication control means 12 and 22.

  Under such a configuration, the conventional communication stack evaluation system for field devices performs the following operation. In FIG. 4, the flow of data is represented as (1) to (6), and the conventional operation will be described below along (1) to (6).

  The conventional evaluation apparatus 1 performs a communication test with the field device 2 through a hierarchical protocol stack. That is, data received by a physical layer such as a fieldbus interface is passed to the test case (data is inserted) through the fieldbus protocol stack as shown in FIG.

  (1) The arithmetic control means 13 of the evaluation apparatus 1 creates test data (for example, Data1 in FIG. 4) based on a predetermined evaluation content (Test Scenario), and performs communication control via the driver means 11. Transmit to means 12. The communication control means 3 writes and stores the data (Data 1) from the evaluation device 1 in the transmission buffer.

  The arithmetic control unit 13 of the evaluation apparatus 1 controls the entire evaluation apparatus 1 by starting up an OS stored in the storage unit, reading out and executing a program stored on the OS, Based on the defined evaluation content (Test Scenario), the driver means 11 is controlled to transmit test data to the communication control means 12.

  (2) The communication control means 12 of the evaluation apparatus 1 reads the test data (Data1) obtained in the operation (1) from the transmission buffer, converts the test data into data for the fieldbus 100, and is the field to be evaluated. Transmit to device 2.

  (3) The communication control means 22 of the field device 2 receives the data (Data 1) from the communication control means 22 via the field bus 100, writes and stores it in the reception buffer. The communication control means 22 notifies the arithmetic control means 23 that the data (Data 1) has been received via the driver means 21. In response to the data reception notification from the communication control unit 22, the arithmetic control unit 23 reads (Data 1) from the reception buffer of the communication control unit 22.

  (4) The calculation control means 23 of the field device 2 creates response data (for example, Data2 in FIG. 4) according to the test data (Data1) read from the communication control means 22, and communicates via the driver means 21. Response data (Data 2) is written in the transmission buffer of the control means 22.

  (5) The communication control means 22 of the field device 2 reads the response data (Data 2) from the transmission buffer, converts the test data into data for the field bus 100, and transmits it to the field bus 100. That is, the response data (Data 2) created in the operation (4) flows on the field bus 100 as shown in FIG.

  (6) The communication control means 12 of the evaluation apparatus 1 receives the response data (Data 2) via the field bus 100, writes it in the reception buffer, and stores it. Then, the communication control means 12 notifies the evaluation device 1 that the response data (Data 2) has been received.

  The calculation control means 13 of the evaluation apparatus 1 reads the response data (Data2) from the reception buffer of the communication control means 12 via the driver means 11 in response to the notification from the communication control means 12, and uses the evaluation data (Test Scenario). Whether or not the received data (Data 2) is correct is determined.

  Specifically, the communication test related to the evaluation of the communication stack performed by the evaluation apparatus 1 includes a normal communication test and an abnormal communication test. The normal communication test is a test of communication in which data having a data specification defined in advance by a protocol is transmitted and received according to a predetermined sequence.

  When performing a normal communication test, the evaluation apparatus 1 transmits data defined by the protocol to the field device 2 as test data. The field device 2 transmits data according to the protocol to the test apparatus 1 based on the test data received via the field bus 100.

  The evaluation device 1 determines whether the response data to the test data from the field device 2 is data according to the protocol, and determines that the communication operation of the field device 2 is normal or abnormal.

  When performing an abnormal communication test, it is necessary to manually put noise on the signal line of the fieldbus 100 in order to generate abnormal data.

  Specifically, the operator performs an abnormal communication test by grasping data flowing through the field bus 100 and performing work such as cutting the data line at the timing.

  Based on the abnormal data received via the fieldbus 100, the field device 2 transmits data to be transmitted to the evaluation apparatus 1 via the fieldbus 100 when receiving predetermined abnormal data.

  Then, the evaluation device 1 determines whether the response data for the abnormal data from the field device 2 is response data determined in advance, and determines that the communication operation of the field device 2 is normal or abnormal.

  In this way, the conventional communication stack evaluation device for field devices receives the response data from the field device according to the test data transmitted based on the Test Scenario (evaluation contents) prepared in advance and transmits the test data. By checking whether the response data received from the field device is correct, the communication stack of the field device can be evaluated.

  As a prior art document relating to a communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices that evaluates a communication stack of a field device connected to such a field bus, there is the following Patent Document 1.

JP 2002-118579 A

  However, in the conventional communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices, if a communication stack evaluation or a communication test is performed on a field device that is executing an operation related to process control, a load is generated on the operation control means of the field device. There is a problem that the operation related to the process control being executed is affected.

  In addition, in the conventional communication stack evaluation device for field devices, when a failure occurs in the field bus connecting the field device and the evaluation device, it is not possible to perform an accurate communication stack evaluation or communication test. was there.

  In addition, in the conventional communication stack evaluation device for field devices, if it is determined that there is an abnormality by evaluating the communication stack in the field device, corresponding debugging work is required, but the field device is an embedded device, Normally, a JTAG debugger or the like is used for debugging, but in order to use the JTAG debugger, functions and interfaces for connecting to the debugger on the embedded device side are necessary. Otherwise, there was a problem that development efficiency was poor.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and its purpose is to communicate field device communication that can evaluate the communication stack of the field device without relatively affecting the operation related to process control during execution of the field device. It is to realize a stack evaluation apparatus.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a field device communication stack evaluation apparatus that can improve development efficiency in debugging a program for operating a field device held by the field device.

In order to achieve such a problem, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is:
Is.

The present invention has the following effects.

It is a block diagram of a communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices according to the present invention. It is a block diagram of the communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices which evaluates the communication stack in the data communication of the field device simulation means via a TCP / IP network. It is a block diagram of the communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices which evaluates the communication stack in the data communication of a field device simulation means via a file system. It is a block diagram of a conventional communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices. It is explanatory drawing of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a field device communication stack evaluation apparatus according to the present invention. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in FIG. The difference from FIG. 4 is that the evaluation device simulates the operation as a conventional field device and communicates with field device simulation means 53a operating in the evaluation device 5 by transmitting data according to the protocol specifications. A communication stack evaluation unit 53b that performs a test in the evaluation device 5 and a communication control simulation unit 53c that performs data communication in accordance with the fieldbus protocol in the evaluation device 5 are conventionally used in field devices. Since the communication stack can be operated on the evaluation device, the communication stack of the field device can be evaluated without the hardware of the field device.

  In FIG. 1, it is a field control station (FCS) that communicates with an information command station (ICS) via a control bus for evaluating a communication stack of an evaluation target device (field device 2), or a dedicated evaluation computer. An evaluation device 5 is illustrated.

  In FIG. 1, the evaluation apparatus 5 is connected to a common field bus 100 via communication control means 52a and 52b. These communication control means 52a and communication control means 52b communicate with each other via the fieldbus 100.

  The evaluation device 5 includes a communication control unit 52a, a field bus 100, a communication control unit 52b, a communication control unit 52a and a communication stack evaluation unit 53b in accordance with a predetermined fieldbus protocol. Data communication is performed via the control simulation means 53c, and an evaluation test of the communication stack of the field device is performed.

  Specifically, the communication stack evaluation unit 53b of the evaluation device 5 is a fieldbus protocol information for communicating with other devices via a fieldbus model unit connected to the communication control unit 52a via the fieldbus 100. Based on this protocol information, the test data is converted into field bus data and a communication test for evaluating the communication stack of the field device simulating means 53a is performed.

  The evaluation device 5 also includes a driver unit 51 for securing a line for data communication with the communication control units 52a and 52b, and a field bus interface for performing data communication with the field device 2 via the field bus 100. The communication control means 52a, 52b, etc., and the operation of each function such as transmitting data in accordance with the protocol specifications to perform a communication test and simulating the operation as a conventional field device in the evaluation apparatus Operation control unit 53 such as CPU (Central Processing Unit), Test Scenario (evaluation contents) for evaluation of communication stack, test case or test data and evaluation application, protocol information for fieldbus, and conventional field device Application program to operate, conventional communication Storage means 54 for storing an application program for operating the control means, and a like.

  The arithmetic control unit 53 simulates the operation as a conventional field device and operates in the evaluation device 5. The arithmetic control unit 53 transmits data according to the protocol specifications and performs a communication test on the evaluation device 5. The communication stack evaluation means 53b performed in the communication device and the communication control simulation means 53c for performing data communication in accordance with the fieldbus protocol in the evaluation device 5.

  The field device simulating unit 53a performs an operation as a field device in the conventional field device in the evaluation device 5, and is an evaluation target of the communication stack of the communication stack evaluation unit 53b of the evaluation device 5. That is, the field device simulating means 53a executes the operation provided by the field device in the field device communication stack evaluation apparatus. Specifically, the application program for executing the field device simulation means 53a is equivalent to the application program for executing the conventional field device 2 (FIG. 1), and is stored in the storage means 54. Has been.

  The field device model means 53a does not operate as it is by the CPU of the evaluation device 5 because the operation of the field device is software that operates on the CPU for the microcomputer. Therefore, the field device simulation is performed by simulating the instruction of the CPU for the microcomputer. CPU (for microcomputer) simulation means for operating the operation means 53a on the evaluation device 5 (remark: if the CPU is ARM (registered trademark), there is a development tool called ARMulator (registered trademark)), and communication control simulation A driver simulating unit for performing an operation as a conventional driver unit for a microcomputer for securing a line for data communication with the unit in the evaluation device 5 is provided.

  The communication stack evaluation unit 53b performs a communication test by transmitting data in accordance with the protocol specifications. The communication stack evaluation means 53b is a field device simulation means via a driver means 51, a communication control means 52a, a field bus 100, a communication control means 52b, and a communication control simulation means 53c in accordance with a predetermined fieldbus protocol. An evaluation test of the communication stack 53a is performed.

  The Test Scenario (evaluation content) and test case referred to in the present application are test tools for verifying the operation of the system, equipment, software, and the like. A test case is, for example, a precondition such as a system environment, an operation on a test target, test setting information that describes the result of the test, a program / script for a software test, etc. This is used for verifying whether or not the communication stack (protocol stack) of the simulation means 53a is normal.

  The communication control simulating means 53c simulates and executes the operation of a conventional communication control means such as a field bus interface for performing data communication according to the field bus protocol via the field bus 100 in the evaluation device 5. . Like the conventional communication control means, the communication control simulation means 53c has a transmission buffer and a reception buffer. The communication control simulation means 53c performs the following operations (A) and (B) in order to simulate the operation of the conventional communication control means.

  (A) When there is a transmission request from the driver simulation means of the field device simulation means 53a, the communication control simulation means 53c reads the data in the transmission buffer of the communication control means 52a and simulates the communication control through the driver means 51. Write to the transmission buffer of the means 53c to perform transmission / reception processing.

  (B) Upon receiving the reception notification from the communication control unit 52a, the communication control simulating unit 53c reads the data in the reception buffer of the communication control unit 52a and stores (transfers) the data in the reception buffer of the communication control simulation unit 53c. The reception notification is sent to the CPU simulating means (for microcomputer) of the field device simulating means 53a.

  Under such a configuration, the communication stack evaluation system for field devices of the present invention performs the following operation. Further, in FIG. 1, the flow of data is represented as (1) to (8), and the conventional operation will be described below along (1) to (8).

  Note that the arithmetic control unit 53 such as a CPU of the evaluation device 5 activates the OS stored in the storage unit 54, reads out and executes the program stored on the OS, and thereby executes the entire evaluation device 5. Control.

  (1) The communication stack evaluation unit 53b of the evaluation device 5 creates test data (for example, Data1 in FIG. 1) based on a predetermined evaluation content (Test Scenario), and performs communication control via the driver unit 51. Data is written to the transmission buffer of the means 52b. The communication control means 3 writes and stores the data (Data 1) from the evaluation device 1 in the transmission buffer.

  (2) The communication control means 52b of the evaluation device 5 reads the test data (Data1) obtained from the driver means 52 from the transmission buffer, converts the test data into data for the fieldbus 100, and evaluates it via the communication control means 52a. It transmits to the target field device simulation means 53a. That is, the test data (Data 1) created in the procedure (1) flows on the field bus 100.

  (3) Upon receiving the test data (Data 1) from the communication control unit 52b via the fieldbus 100, the communication control unit 52a of the evaluation device 5 writes and stores it in the reception buffer. The communication control unit 52a notifies the communication control simulation unit 53c that the data (Data1) has been received via the driver unit 51. In response to the data reception notification from the communication control means 52a, the communication control simulation means 53c reads the test data (Data1) from the reception buffer of the communication control means 52a, and writes and stores it in the reception buffer of the communication control simulation means 53c. .

  (4) The communication control simulation means 53c sends the test data from the communication stack evaluation means 53b to the field equipment simulation means 53a via the CPU (for microcomputer) simulation means and driver simulation means of the field equipment simulation means 53a. Notify that you have received The field device simulating means 53a reads the test data (Data1) received from the reception buffer of the communication control simulating means 52a.

  (5) The field device simulation means 53a creates response data (Data2) in accordance with the test data (Data1) received from the communication stack evaluation means 53b, and simulates the CPU (for microcomputer) of the field device simulation means 53a. The data is written and stored in the transmission buffer of the communication control simulating means 53c via the communication means and the driver simulating means.

  (6) The communication control simulating means 53c reads the response data (Data2) from the transmission buffer of the communication control simulating means 53c via the driver means 51 of the evaluation device 5, and the response data (Data2) is read by the communication control means 52a. Write to and store in the send buffer.

  (7) The communication control means 52a of the evaluation device 5 reads the response data (Data2) obtained from the driver means 52 from the transmission buffer, converts the test data into data for the fieldbus 100, and converts the test data into data for the fieldbus 100 and the communication control means. It transmits to the communication stack evaluation means 53b which is an evaluation object via 52b. That is, the response data (Data 2) created in the procedure (5) flows on the fieldbus 100.

  (8) The communication control means 52b of the evaluation device 5 receives the response data (Data2) via the fieldbus 100, writes this response data in the reception buffer, and stores it. Then, the communication control unit 52b notifies the communication stack evaluation unit 53b that the response data (Data2) has been received via the driver unit 51.

  The communication stack evaluation unit 53b of the evaluation device 5 reads the response data (Data2) from the reception buffer of the communication control unit 52b via the driver unit 51 in response to the notification from the communication control unit 52b, and the contents of the evaluation (Test Scenario) It is determined whether or not the received response data (Data2) is correct.

  Specifically, the communication test related to the evaluation of the communication stack performed by the communication stack evaluation unit 53b of the evaluation device 5 includes a normal communication test. The normal communication test is a test of communication in which data having a data specification defined in advance by a protocol is transmitted and received according to a predetermined sequence.

  When performing a normal communication test, the evaluation device 5 transmits data defined by the protocol to the field device simulation unit 53a as test data. Based on the test data received via the fieldbus 100, the field device simulation means 53a transmits data according to the protocol to the communication stack evaluation means 53b of the evaluation device 5.

  The communication stack evaluation unit 53b determines whether the response data to the test data from the field device simulation unit 53a is data according to the protocol, and the communication operation of the field device simulation unit 53a is normal or abnormal. Judge that.

  As described above, the communication stack evaluation device for field devices according to the present invention evaluates the communication stack in the field device based on the response data from the field device received according to the test data transmitted via the field bus. And field device simulating means for executing the operation provided by the field device in the communication stack evaluation apparatus for field device and generating test data as response data for the test data and transmitting it to the field bus when the test data is acquired. , The communication stack of the field device can be evaluated without the hardware of the field device.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the communication stack of the field device can be evaluated without the hardware of the field device, it is possible to evaluate the communication stack for the field device that is executing the operation related to the process control as in the past. Implementation of the communication test is effective in that it can eliminate the problem that a load is generated on the arithmetic control means of the field device and the operation related to the process control being executed is affected.

  Further, according to the present invention, when debugging a program for operating a field device held by the field device, the field device simulating means in the evaluation apparatus 5 is not directly debugged to the field device as in the prior art. Since it is sufficient to debug the program / application for executing 53a, it is effective in that the development efficiency can be improved.

(Other Example 1)
The field device communication stack evaluation apparatus according to the present invention has been described with respect to the evaluation of the communication stack in the data communication of the field device simulating means via the field bus 100. You may evaluate the communication stack in the data communication of the field apparatus simulation means via a network.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices that evaluates a communication stack in data communication of field device simulation means via a TCP / IP network. 2, the fieldbus 100 in FIG. 1 is a network for data communication for TCP / IP such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and the driver means 51 of the evaluation apparatus 5 is for securing a data communication line for IP. The communication control means 52a and 52b may be communication control means in IP data communication.

  In this way, the actual communication form can be used not only for the fieldbus but also for Ethernet (registered trademark) which is widely used in the world, so the communication stack can be used regardless of the actual communication form. It is effective in that it can be evaluated.

(Other Example 2)
The field device communication stack evaluation device of the present invention has been described with respect to the evaluation of the communication stack in the data communication of the field device simulation means via the field bus 100. However, the evaluation device 5 is not limited to this. By having a file system that temporarily stores the test data from the stack evaluation unit and the response data from the field device simulation unit, the field device simulation unit can be provided via the file system without a network such as the field bus 100. The communication stack in the data communication may be evaluated.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a communication stack evaluation system for field devices that evaluates a communication stack in data communication of field device simulation means via a file system.

  In FIG. 3, the field bus 100 and the communication control means 52a and 52b in FIG. 1 are not provided, but instead the test data from the communication stack evaluation means and the response data from the field device simulation means are temporarily stored in the evaluation device 5. And a file device driver for enabling the field device simulating means 53a and the communication stack evaluating means 53b to read or write (access) the test data and response data to the file system. It may be a thing.

  With this configuration, it is possible to evaluate the communication stack in the field device simulating means even if there is no actual data communication via the field bus 100 or the like. This is effective in that the protocol can be evaluated.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the communication stack of the field device can be evaluated without the hardware of the field device, when a failure occurs in the field bus connecting the conventional field device and the evaluation device, Although an accurate communication stack evaluation or communication test could not be performed, it is effective in that the communication stack of a field device can be evaluated without being affected by the failure of the fieldbus.

As described above, the communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices according to the present invention evaluates the communication stack in the field device based on the response data received from the field device according to the test data transmitted via the field bus. Field device simulation in which the stack evaluation means and the operation provided by the field device are executed in the communication stack evaluation device for this field device, and when the test data is acquired, the response data for the test data is generated as the field device and transmitted to the field bus. Since the communication stack of the field device can be evaluated without the hardware of the field device, a load is generated on the operation control unit of the field device, and the operation related to the process control being executed is affected. Give It is effective in terms of problem that can be solved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Evaluation apparatus 11 Driver means 12 Communication control means 13 Operation control means 14 Storage means 2 Field device 21 Driver means 22 Communication control means 23 Operation control means 24 Storage means 5 Evaluation apparatus 51 Driver means 52a, b Communication control means 53 Operation control means 53a Field device simulation means 53b Communication stack evaluation means 53c Communication control simulation means 54 Storage means

Claims (5)

A field device communication stack evaluation device comprising a communication stack evaluation means for evaluating a communication stack in the field device based on response data from a field device received according to test data transmitted via a field bus,
Field device simulating means for executing the operation provided by the field device in the communication stack evaluation device for the field device and generating the response data for the test data as the field device when the test data is acquired and transmitting the response data to the field bus A communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices. A communication stack evaluation device for a field device comprising communication stack evaluation means for evaluating a communication stack in the field device based on response data from the field device received according to test data transmitted via a network,
Field device simulating means for executing the operation provided by the field device in the communication stack evaluation device for field device, and obtaining response data for the test data as the field device when the test data is acquired and transmitting it to the network With
The communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices, wherein the network is a network that performs data communication according to a TCP / IP protocol. The field device simulating means includes
CPU simulating means for a microcomputer for simulating instructions of the CPU for the field equipment included in the field equipment and operating the field equipment simulating means in the communication stack evaluation device for the field equipment;
The field device communication stack evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A fieldbus interface that performs data communication with a field device via the fieldbus, and converts the test data from the communication stack evaluation unit to data according to a predetermined fieldbus protocol and transmits the data to the fieldbus. First communication control means for transmitting the response data received via the fieldbus to a communication stack evaluation means;
It is a fieldbus interface that communicates data with field devices via the fieldbus, or the response data received via the fieldbus is converted to data according to a predetermined fieldbus protocol and transmitted to the fieldbus. And, when receiving the test data via the field bus, the second communication control means for transmitting to the field device simulating means,
The communication stack evaluation apparatus for field devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: The communication stack evaluation means includes
Based on the response data, the field device simulating means to be tested based on a preset test scenario is operating normally or abnormally in the field device communication stack evaluation device. The field device communication stack evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

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