JPH02156339A - Controlling complex computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the movable rate of a system by switching the output of data from a high order electronic computer for control to a low order electronic computer for control by an output switching means when it is informed that an abnormal condition is generated in the high order electronic computer for control. CONSTITUTION:A DMA device 16 transfers process data, which are inputted from a process input device 7, to buses 3A and 3B and the data are stored to main storage devices 2A and 2B. Accordingly, the process data of almost same contents are accumulated to the devices 2A and 2B. In a normal condition, the device 2A forms monitor information based on the process input data and the monitor information are outputted through bus switching devices 10 and 12 to a process output device 9 and a peripheral device 11. When plant monitor operation is executed and abnormality is generated in a CPU1A side, the such a condition is alarmed through a transmitting device 5B to a CPU1B side by a transmitting device 5A. Then, the CPU1B switches the bus from the bus 3A to the bus 3B and executes connection. Thus, hereafter, the plant monitor is executed by processing unit in the CP1B side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a complex control computer system that includes a plurality of control computers and is capable of improving the reliability of the entire system.

(Prior art) For example, a plant monitoring device that monitors an industrial plant is
In order to ensure its reliability and real-time performance, it is realized as a so-called compound computer system that combines a plurality of computer systems, and a conventional example thereof is shown in FIG.

This compound computer system consists of two processing units and one
It consists of input and output units of the system, and the functions of plant monitoring equipment are distributed to each processing unit.

Each processing unit includes a CPU (central processing unit) I that executes various control processes of this electronic computer system.
A, 1B, this CPLIIA, the main storage device 1B uses as a work area [2A, 2B, and internal bus 3A.

3B, each CPUIA and IB exchange necessary information with each other via the shared memory 4, and also notify each other via the transmission devices 5A and 5B that an abnormal state has occurred and the CPU has gone down. are doing.

The input/output crab unit also has a shared external storage device 6 shared by two processing units, a process input device 7 for inputting process data from the plant (as shown in the diagram), and an internal bus 3A to which the process input device 7 is connected. , 3B, a process output device 9 for outputting various process data to the plant, and a connection destination of the process output device 9 to either the internal bus 3A or 3B. Bus switching device for selective switching 10. It consists of a peripheral device @11 consisting of a CRT display device or the like that displays plant monitoring information, and a bus switching device 12 that selectively switches the connection destination of the peripheral device 11 to either one of the internal buses 3A and 3B.

In this case, the CPUIA is always performing process data input/output processing and plant monitoring processing, and the CPUIA is
Since the PUIB outputs the monitoring information obtained as a result of the plant monitoring process to the peripheral device 11, the bus switching device 8 and the bus switching device 10 are connected to the process input device 7.
and process output device 9 are respectively connected to the internal bus 3A, and the bus switching device 12 is connected to the peripheral device 11 to the internal bus 3B.

Therefore, the main storage devices 2A and 2B have functional elements executed by the CPUIA and 1B, respectively, as shown in FIG. Note that these functional elements are C
PUIA and IB are realized by executable software (program data).

The main storage device 2A includes a process data input means PI that stores process data input from the process input device 7 in a process input data storage area IPH of the shared memory 4.
F. Perform predetermined plant monitoring calculation processing based on the storage contents of the process input data storage area IPH, and store the process output data obtained as a result of the processing in the shared memory 4.
A plant monitoring means PKS that is stored in the process output data storage area OPH, and a process data output means P that outputs the process output data stored in the process output data storage area OPH to the process output device 9 are formed.

The main storage device 2B includes a process input data storage area IP
Peripheral device output means PRC is formed for forming monitoring information based on the process input data stored in H and outputting the monitoring information to the peripheral device 11.

Further, the CPU configuration changing means CDA and CDB formed in the main storage devices 2A and 2B are connected to the transmission devices 5A and 5B.
When the other CPUUIB and IA are notified of the occurrence of an abnormality, the CPUIA.

The storage contents of the main storage devices 2A and 2B are changed so that the IB can independently perform plant monitoring processing.

With the above configuration, the process data input from the process input device 7 is normally output to the internal bus 3A via the bus switching device 8.

The data is input to the process data input means PIP and stored in the process input data storage area IPR.

The process data stored in the process input data storage area IPR is transferred to the peripheral device output means PR at an appropriate timing.
C and the plant monitoring means PKS.

The peripheral device output means PRC forms monitoring information based on the read process input data, and outputs the monitoring information to the peripheral device fill via the internal bus 3B and the bus switching device 12.

As a result, a plant monitoring screen and the like are displayed on the peripheral device 11.

On the other hand, the plant monitoring means PKS performs predetermined plant monitoring calculation processing and stores process output data obtained as a result of the processing in the process output data storage area OPR.

Then, the process data output means POP reads the process output data from the process output data storage area OPR at an appropriate timing, and transmits the read process output data to the process output device 9 via the internal bus 3A and the bus switching device IO. Output to.

As a result, process output data such as operation data is output to the plant, and the operation of the plant is controlled.

In this way, when the plant monitoring device is operating, an abnormal condition such as a power outage occurs and the CPU
If the processing unit on the A side goes down, this power outage will
A power-off detection means (not shown) detects the power-off immediately before the power-off is completed, and the transmission device 5A notifies the CPUIB via the transmission bag W5B.

In CPUIB, the CPU configuration change means CDB detects that the power has been cut off to CPU IA, and as a result,
The CPU configuration change means C port 0 transfers the functional elements of process data input/output processing and plant monitoring processing that were previously executed by the CPUIA from the shared external storage device 6 to the main storage device! Load it into 2B and start it. Further, the bus switching devices 8 and 10 are switched and connected from the internal bus 3A to the internal bus 3B.

As a result, when an abnormality occurs in the CPUIA.

Including the processing functions previously executed by CPUIA,
Since the CPUIB executes all processing functions of the process monitoring device, the functions of the process monitoring device do not stop.

Therefore, the reliability of the process monitoring device is improved.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention)However, such conventional devices have the following disadvantages.

That is, when input/output processing of process data is switched from CPUIA to CPUIB, CPUIB is unable to know the progress of processing of CPUIA up to that point, and therefore newly performs input processing of process data.

Therefore, it takes a long time for the necessary process data to be stored in the process input data storage area IPH, which causes inconveniences such as, for example, the trend graph displayed on the peripheral device 11 being interrupted.

In addition, until the necessary process data is collected in the process input data storage area IPH, the plant 1-viewing means PKS cannot obtain the data necessary for processing, and as a result, the real-time performance of plant monitoring becomes extremely poor, and the overall system This resulted in the inconvenience of poor mobility.

In addition, as a form of compound computer system, multiple processing units with completely identical configurations equipped with data input/output functions and arithmetic processing functions are operated, and the output data of the system is calculated based on the output data of each processing unit. There are things that form the.

If such a system is used, even if one processing unit goes down, the other processing unit can continue operating the system, resulting in a very good availability rate for the entire system.

However, such a system has the disadvantage that it is extremely difficult to match the output data of the respective processing units and to process when the output data differs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a compound computer system that can solve the problems of the conventional devices and improve the availability of the system.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In the present invention, the same control arithmetic processing is executed based on the same input data, and a plurality of controls in which the activation priority of the data output processing means is set in advance is provided. an electronic computer for
Output switching means for externally outputting the output data output from the control computer which has the highest start priority of the data output processing means, and giving start priority to the control computer which is currently outputting when an abnormal state occurs. The control computer which is equipped with a transmission means for transmitting data to the control computer which is set to a lower order of priority, and which has a lower startup priority.

When the higher-level control electronic computer is notified of the occurrence of an abnormal state via the transmission means, the data output processing means is activated, and the output switching means switches the data output from the higher-level control computer to the lower-level control potential computer. This is how it was done.

(Function) Therefore, even if the computer in charge of data output goes down and the data output function is transferred to another computer, the data to be output is still available on that computer. Therefore, the operation of the entire system is not interrupted, which greatly improves the availability of the system.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plant monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts and corresponding parts as in FIG. 6 are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the local external storage device 15^ is a CPU
It is used for the processing unit on the IA side, and the local external storage device 15B is used for the processing unit on the CPUIB side. These local external storage devices 15A,
15B are assigned the same address in CPUIA and 1B, respectively, and therefore CI'UIA and 1B are assigned the same address.
When completely the same process is performed in B, the storage information that needs to be saved is stored at the same address in the local external storage devices 15A and 15B.

In addition, a DMA (direct memory access) device 1
6 is equipped with a so-called multi-port function,
When a data transfer request is issued from the processing unit on the CPU IA side, the input data of the process input device 7 is transferred to the internal bus 3A by DMA.

When a data transfer request is commanded from the processing unit on the CPUIB side, the input data of the process input device 7 is sent as DM.
A Transfer.

In this case, the CPU IA normally performs process data input/output processing, plant monitoring processing, and output processing of monitoring information to the peripheral device 11, and the CPU IA
performs process data input processing and plant monitoring processing, so the bus switching device 10 and the bus switching device 11 are connected to the process output device 9 and peripheral devices ll.
are respectively connected to the internal bus 3A side.

Therefore, the main storage devices 2A and 2B have functional elements executed by the CPUIA and IB, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2(a).
, (b). In this figure, the same parts and corresponding parts as in FIG. 7 are given the same reference numerals.

In this case, the main storage devices i 2A and 2B include process data input means for storing process data input from the process input device 7 in the process input data storage area IPH formed in each of the main storage devices 2A and 2B. Based on the stored contents of PIF and process input data storage area IPR, predetermined plant monitoring arithmetic processing is performed, and the process output data obtained as a result of the processing is transferred to the process stored in each main storage device 2A, 2B. A plant monitoring means PKS that is stored in the output data storage area OPH, a process data output means POP that outputs the process output data stored in the process output data storage area OPH to the process output device 9, and a process input data storage area IPR. A peripheral device output means PRC is formed which forms monitoring information based on stored process input data and outputs the monitoring information to the peripheral device 11.

However, the peripheral device output means PRC1 and the process data output means POP, which are formed in the main storage device 2B, are in a dormant state, so that the processing unit on the CPUIB side can perform the process output device performed by the processing unit on the CPUIA side. The function of outputting process data to the peripheral device 9 and the function of outputting data to the peripheral device 11 are not executed.

With the above configuration, when a data transfer request is issued from the processing unit on the CPUIA side, the DMA device 16 transfers the process data input from the process input device 7 to the internal bus 3A. As a result, process data is stored in the process input data storage area IPH of the main storage device 2A via the process data input means PIP of the main storage bag fi2A.

Similarly, when a data transfer request is issued from the processing unit on the CPUIB side, the DMA device 16 transfers the process data input from the process input device 7 to the internal bus 3.
Transfer to B. As a result, process data is stored in the process input data storage area IPH of the main storage device 2B via the process data input means PIP of the main storage bag 272B.

Therefore, process data having identical contents is stored in the process input data storage area IPH of the main storage device 2A and the main storage device 2B.

In this state, the peripheral device output means PRC of the main storage device 2A
forms monitoring information based on process input data read from the process input data storage area IPR at appropriate timing, and outputs the monitoring information to the peripheral device 11 via the internal bus 3A and the bus switching device 12. do.

As a result, a plant monitoring screen and the like are displayed on the peripheral device 11.

Further, the plant monitoring means PKS of the main storage device 2A and the plant monitoring means PKS of the main storage device 2B perform predetermined monitoring based on the process data read at appropriate timing from the corresponding process input data storage area IPR. Arithmetic processing is executed and the process output data obtained as a result of the processing is stored in the process output data storage area O.
Store in PH.

As a result, process output data having substantially the same content is stored in the process output data storage areas OPH of the main memory bags M 2A and 2B.

Then, the process data output means PO of the main storage device 2A
P reads process output data from the process output data storage area OPR at appropriate timing, and outputs the read process output data to the process output device 9 via the internal bus 3A and the bus switching device to.

As a result, process output data such as operation data is output to the plant, and the operation of the plant is controlled.

In this way, if an abnormal power-off condition occurs and the processing unit on the CPUIA side goes down while the plant monitoring operation is being performed, the power-off is completed by a power-off detection means (not shown). CPUIB is detected by the transmission device 5A via the transmission device 5B.
will be notified.

In CPUIB, the CPU configuration change means CDB detects that the power has been cut off to CPUIA, and as a result, cp
u The configuration change means CDB changes the peripheral device output means PRC and the process data output means P which have been in a dormant state until then.
At the same time as starting the OP, the bus switching device i8.10 is
The internal bus 3A is switched and connected to the internal bus 3B (see FIG. 3).

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), when the power is cut off and the storage contents of the main storage device 2A are reset, the previous function of the plant monitoring device is stored in the main storage device 2B. Since the functional elements to realize this are complete, the plant monitoring operation is thereafter executed by the processing unit on the CPU IB side.

Also, at this time, until just before the switch.

The data stored in the process input data storage area IPR and process output data storage area OPR of the main storage device 2A is also completely aligned in the process input data storage area IPR and process output data storage area OPH of the main storage device 2B. Therefore, immediately after processing unit switching occurs, the processing unit on the CPUIB side
It is possible to take over the processing operations of the processing unit on the IA side.

This allows the CPU from the processing unit on the CPUIA side.
When the plant monitoring function is transferred to the processing unit on the IB side, it takes almost no time.

Therefore, the display contents of the peripheral bag fall may be interrupted,
It is possible to completely prevent situations in which the data necessary for the plant is no longer output, thereby greatly improving system availability.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if an abnormal state occurs in the commonly used processing unit, other processing units can continue processing operations, so there is no time loss due to switching, and the system remains operational. This has the effect of significantly increasing the rate.

In the above-described embodiment, the peripheral device output means PRC and the process data output means POP are loaded into the main storage device 2B, and they are normally set to a dormant state.
Although these functional elements are activated when the processing unit is switched to the CPUIB side, it is also possible to read these functional elements from the shared external storage bag M6 and activate them when the processing unit is switched.

Incidentally, in the above-described embodiment, one compound computer system is configured with two processing units, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where a compound computer unit is configured with three or more processing units.

In that case, the startup priority of the data output processing means is set in advance for multiple processing units, and when an abnormality occurs in the higher processing unit that is starting the data processing means, the data output processing of the lower processing unit is performed. All you have to do is start the means.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention in which a plant monitoring device is configured using four processing units. In addition, in this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, a processing unit consisting of a CPUIA, two main storage devices, an internal bus 3A, a transmission device f5A, and a local external storage device 15A, a CPUIB, a main storage device 2B, an internal bus 3B, a transmission device 5B, and ,
A processing unit consisting of a local external storage device fi 15B has a process input bag fi 15B via a DMA device 16A.
The process data input from 7A is input.

In addition, a processing unit consisting of a CPU IC 1 main storage device 2C1 an internal bus 3C1 a transmission device 5C1, and a local external storage device 15C; The processing unit has DMA
Process data input from the process input device 7B is input via the device 16B.

In addition, the CPU
IA side processing unit, CPUIB side processing unit,
The processing unit on the CPUIC side and the processing unit on the CPUID side notify each other of the occurrence of the abnormal state.

In addition, in this case, the CPUIB processing unit normally outputs process data to the plant, and the CPU
The ID outputs monitoring information to the peripheral device 11.

Therefore, the process output device 9 is connected to the internal bus 3A.

3B, 3C, 3D, and the peripheral device 11 is connected to the internal bus 3A, 3B,
Bus switching device 12 for switching connection to either 3C or 3D
always select internal bus 3B and internal bus 3D, respectively.

For example, if an abnormal state such as a power cut occurs in the processing unit on the CPUIB side, from then on, the processing unit on the CPUIA side outputs process data to the plant, and the processing unit on the CPUIB side outputs process data to the plant.

connects the process output device 9 from the internal bus 3B to the internal bus 3.
Switch to A.

This allows the processing unit on the CPUIA side to
Since the processing unit on the B side is replaced, the plant monitoring device can continue to operate.

Similarly, when an abnormal state occurs in any of the processing units, a processing unit can be set in advance to replace that processing unit.

The plant monitoring device can continue to operate.

In the embodiments described above, the present invention is applied to a plant monitoring device, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other computer systems requiring multiplexing.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the same control arithmetic processing is executed based on the same input data, and the activation priority of the data output processing means is set in advance for a plurality of control applications. When an abnormal state occurs in the electronic computer, the output switching means for outputting the output data outputted from the control electronic computer having the highest activation priority of the data output processing means, and the control computer currently outputting data. It is equipped with a transmission means for transmitting the information to a control computer whose startup priority is set to a lower order, and the control computer whose startup priority is set to a lower order transmits an abnormal state to a higher order control computer via the transmission means. When notified of the occurrence of the data output processing means, the data output processing means is activated, and the output switching means switches the data output from the upper control potential calculator to the lower control potential calculator, so that the electronic computer in charge of data output Even if the computer goes down and the data output function is transferred to a computer with a lower priority, the latter computer still has the data to be output, so the operation of the entire system will not be interrupted. , thereby achieving the effect of significantly improving system availability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a plant monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams showing the storage contents of the main storage device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a plant monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4(a) and 4(b) are block diagrams showing the storage contents of the main storage device in a state where the processing units are switched. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a state in which the processing unit is switched. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a monitoring device, FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional device, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing functional elements of the conventional device. IA, IB, IC, 1O---CP [I (Central Processing Unit), 2A, 2B, 2C. 2D...Main storage device, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3C...
Internal bus, 5A. 5B, 5G, 5D...Transmission device, 6...Shared external storage device, 7A, 7B...Process input device, 9.
...Process output device, 10.12...Bus switching device, 11...Peripheral device, 15A. 15B, 15C, 150...Local external storage device,
16A, 16B...DMA (Direct memory
access) equipment. Figure r----1--------]

Claims (1)

[Claims] The activation priority of the data output processing means that executes the same control arithmetic processing based on the same input data inputted through the data input means and forms and outputs output data based on the control arithmetic processing results is set in advance. a plurality of control electronic computers that are currently being output; an output switching means that outputs output data outputted from the control electronic computer having the highest activation priority of the data output processing means; and a control electronic computer that is currently being output. comprising a transmission means for transmitting an abnormal state to the control computer whose startup priority is set lower when an abnormal state occurs in the computer, and the control computer whose startup priority is set lower than the transmission means; When the higher-level control computer is notified of the occurrence of an abnormal state through the controller, the data output processing means is activated, and the output switching means switches the data output from the higher-level control computer to the lower-level control potential computer. A control complex computer system featuring: