IE72083B1

IE72083B1 - A process control apparatus

Info

Publication number: IE72083B1
Application number: IE940684A
Authority: IE
Inventors: John Campbell
Original assignee: Agb Int Ltd
Priority date: 1994-09-02
Filing date: 1994-09-02
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Also published as: IE940684A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a process control apparatus for efficiently receiving, validating storing and processing an extremely large quantity of data.

Description

A process control apparatus The present invention relates to a process control apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to such an apparatus used to efficiently control extremely large quantities of data. By control is meant the reception, internal communication, temporary storage, permanent storage and both direct processing and monitoring of data throughput.

Presently, processing and analysis of such a large quantity of information such as is normally gathered in a market survey is only possible using extremely large, complex and powerful computers.

This presents a problem in that the availability of such computer systems is limited and specialist knowledge is required to configure and maintain them. Accordingly systems of this type are developed and offered on a commercial basis to a number of users frequently with a variety of different requirements, who are often in remote locations. As a result of the processing demands placed on these systems by the large numbers of users, system response is often slow. Further, as the connection of the system circuits and associated software elements is a complex process it is rarely cost efficient to reconfigure the system for a once-off analysis request. In addition updating the various permitted parameters associated with a given data element cannot be easily done, adversely affecting result quality.

European patent specification No. EP-B1-017534 describes a data processing arrangement. This specification is particularly directed to the avionics industry where there is a need to process data from a large number of sensors each presenting data to the arrangement for processing at the same time. The arrangement described - 2 achieves this and overcomes the need for an excessively large computer. Such an arrangement offers a solution to efficiently processing the bursts of information made available by a large number of sensors, each relaying a small amount of information, in real time, however it is not suitable for efficient processing of extremely large amounts of data.

The present invention is directed towards providing a process control apparatus to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned systems, in particular the excessive processing capacity requirements when dealing with extremely large quantities of data. It is a further objective to provide all the functionality of the systems described on a smaller scale apparatus in a responsive and easy to modify manner.

Accordingly, there is provided a process control apparatus comprising: a data validation and control device; a processing device; and a data entry device for receiving entered data and locally validating the data for efficient transmission by an associated network activity monitoring device across a coaxial local area network operating at a communication rate of greater than four megahertz to a data validation and control device; wherein the data validation and control device comprises a validation and control node connected to a comparison means with an 30 associated sixteen to thirty two bit converter for further validating the data, and a control code generator for assigning a control code to the data for communicating with the processing device; and the processing device comprises a receiving means for receiving the data and data control code, an associated storage device having a reconfigurable capacity of at least two gigabytes, a code reader for decoding the control code and determining a storage location for the data within the storage device, and a processor with a reduced instruction set operating at a speed of speed in excess of thirty ' megahertz for processing of the data in real time.

A process control apparatus formed in accordance with the invention has a number of advantages. As the processing is not centralised at a single processor or group of processors the response time of the apparatus is greatly enhanced. The distribution of the validation stages across the apparatus ensures that modification of the various validation parameters can be easily effected as the size of each set of parameters is reduced.

Preferably the data processing device has a code reader for receiving a control code from the data validation and control device connected to the control main processor and a dedicated data modification processor in turn connected to a modification matrix array located in a dedicated permanent non-volatile memory circuit for modifying the data in accordance with predefined parameters .

Ideally the code reader has means for decoding the control code to determine a storage location for the data in the data processing device. Thus, the data entered is coded and can be easily be grouped for efficient retrieval.

Preferably the modification processor has means for retrieval of data from the storage device and the modification matrix array located in a dedicated nonvolatile memory circuit, on receipt of a request from a request generation and reporting means, for modifying the data and returning it to the main processor for supply to the reporting means. Thus, data grouped on the storage device for expedient retrieval and modification in accordance with predefined parameters in response to requests.

Normally the request generation and reporting means includes a plurality of workstations with request entry means and reporting means incorporating printing and display means.

Preferably the comparison means comprises a sixteen bit 10 data comparator with associated memory circuits and dedicated cache memory of in excess of two hundred kilobytes, a sixteen to thirty two bit converter with an accompanying sixteen bit latch and a comparator controller for connection to the sixteen bit data comparator, the sixteen to thirty two bit converter and a control code generator. Thus further verification is possible by checking the data entered against its associated permitted attributes information to determine that all required relevant data has been entered and that it is within allowable ranges.

Preferably the comparator controller comprises means for reception of a conversion complete signal from the sixteen to thirty-two bit converter; means for reception of a validity signal from the sixteen bit data comparator for indicating a valid information condition based on parameters and data history located within a comparator memory circuit; and means for supplying a signal to the code generator.

Thus subsequent verification is conducted at the validation and control node and these data verification parameters are also easily modified.

Preferably the code generator has receiving means for receiving the signal from the comparator controller, and transmission means for transmitting a control code to the data processing device in response to the signal received. Thus, coding of the data with reference to data history stored in the comparator's memory circuits prior to storage ensures that related data is stored in logical groups for efficient retrieval.

Ideally the validation and control node has a fixed disk 10 with a capacity of greater than eighty megabytes, a data entry means, a display, and a memory circuit in excess of eight megabytes having a processor operating at greater than twenty five megahertz connected to a coaxial local area network operating at a speed of greater than four megahertz.

Ideally the network activity monitoring device incorporates means for receiving data from the data entry device and transmitting means for transmission of the data across the .local area network during periods of reduced network activity. Thus, ensuring that the. data is transmitted in a manner which will not adversely affect the responsiveness of the apparatus.

Ideally the dedicated network activity monitoring device is directly connected to the data entry device and has an associated local storage device. Thus, the data may be stored until a period of diminished network traffic occurs.

Normally the data entry device comprises a plurality of workstations, each workstation having a data entry means, an initial data validation means, a fixed disk, a display, and a memory circuit. Thus, validation procedures in the data entry device allow that data may be rejected before being received into the apparatus if incorrect, thereby providing considerable initial data verification.

In one arrangement the comparator incorporates data transfer means for receiving data transmitted from the main processor and transmitting the data to the comparator associated memory circuits to form a data entry history. Advantageously this allows data to be classified at the validation stage to determine its suitability for inclusion into one or more data groupings. By determining this using the data entry history before the information is stored processing requirements on the system are further reduced.

Preferably the data entry means is provided by a pattern recognition device for automatically transferring the data from a written format to a format suitable for use by the data entry device. This reduces the data entry personnel requirements by having the data entered automatically.

In one embodiment the pattern recognition device is a scanner allowing the information to be entered in a fast and efficient manner.

In an alternative embodiment the pattern recognition device is a bar code reader allowing the information to be entered in a simple and easy to modify manner.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichsFig. 1 is a general block diagram of a process control apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2. is a detailed block diagram of a data entry device portion of the invention; Fig. 3. is a detailed block diagram of a data validation and control device portion of the invention; and Fig. 4. is a detailed block diagram of a data processing device portion of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 there is provided a process control apparatus according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for entering, validating, storing and processing data. The apparatus comprises a data entry device 2 with an associated network activity monitor 3, a data validation and control device 4 with an accompanying comparator device 5 and a data processing device 6 with an associated modification processor element 7.

The data entry device 2 comprises a number of identical workstations 8, connected to a co-axial local area network cable 9 operating at a speed of sixteen megahertz. The workstation 8 has a fixed disk 10, a data entry means provided by a keyboard 11 and a monitor 12. The workstation 8 further has a sixteen Megabyte read I write memory circuit 13, and an initial data validation means provided by a look up table listing stored in the read / write memory circuit 13.

Connected to the workstation 8 and the local area network cable 9 there is a network activity monitor 14 with an associated local storage device provided by a fixed disk 15. The network activity monitoring device 14 has an input / output buffer 16 for receiving data from the workstation and for transmission of the data across the local area network cable 9 during periods of reduced network activity to the data validation and control device 4.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4. The data validation and control device 4 has a validation and control node 20 connected to the local area network cable 9 and a data processing device 6.

The data validation and control device 4 also has a comparator device provided by a sixteen bit data comparator 21 with an associated hard disk 22 and two hundred and fifty six kilobytes of cache memory 23. The sixteen bit data comparator 21 is connected to a sixteen to thirty two bit converter 24 with an accompanying sixteen bit latch 25a. A comparator controller 26 is connected to the sixteen bit data comparator 21, the sixteen to thirty two bit converter 24 and a control code generator 25. The comparator controller 26 has, an input port 28 for receiving a conversion complete signal from the sixteen to thirty two bit converter 25, and a second input port 27 for receiving a validity signal from the sixteen bit data comparator 21 indicating a valid data condition based on parameters and data history located within the fixed disk 22 and the cache memory 23. The comparator controller 26 also has a an output port 29 for supplying a signal to the code generator 25 based on the signals received.

The data processing device 6 has thirty two bit reduced instruction set main processor 30 operating at sixty six megahertz, connected to a request generation and reporting network 31. The main processor 30 accesses a thirty two megabyte read/write memory circuit 32, a monitor 33 and a three gigabyte fixed disk array 34. The fixed disk array 34 is connected to a code reader 35 through the main processor 30 to receive a data control code from the data validation and control device 4. The code reader 35 decodes the control code generated by the control code generator 25 to determine a storage location for the data within the fixed disk array 34.

The data processing device 6 also has a dedicated thirty two bit data modification processor 36 connected to a modification matrix array 37 located in a read only memory circuit.

The request generation and reporting network 31 has a number of similar workstations 39 and reporting means provided by a dot matrix printer 40 and a laser printer 41.

In use, data is entered at the keyboard 11 of the workstation 8. As the data is entered it is passed through a software data filter in the read / write memory circuit 13 of the workstation 8 to provide initial data validation.

Having been thus validated the data is transmitted to the network activity monitor 14 and temporarily stored on the fixed disk 15. When network traffic on the local area network cable 9 is acceptably low the data is retrieved from the fixed disk 15 and transmitted to the validation and control node 20.

History files and accepted data parameters are stored in the hard disk 22 and the cache memory 23. This data is compared with the data supplied from the validation and control node 20 to validate the data and to determine the appropriate control code. The validated data is passed to the sixteen to thirty two bit converter 24 and the latch 25a and the appropriate control and data valid signal is sent to the input port 27 of the comparator controller 26. The first data element is latched into the latch 25a and ignored by the sixteen to thirty two bit converter 24. When the second data element is received from the sixteen bit data comparator 21, the first data element is latched through the latch 25a and combined with the second data element in the sixteen to thirty two bit converter 24. This thirty two bit word is then connected to the data processing device 6.

The thirty two bit data word is received by main processor 30 and stored on the fixed disk array 34 having its location determined by the code from the control code generator 25. The location selected is then reported back to the hard disk 22 to update the history files to ensure continued correct code generation from the 16 bit data comparator 22.

Upon receipt of a request from the request generation and reporting network 31, the main processor 30 retrieves the stored data from the fixed disk array 34 and supplies it to the modification processor 36. The - 10 modification processor 36 retrieves the modification matrix array 38 and processes the information. When processing is complete the results are returned from the modification processor 36 to the main processor 30.

These results may then be then be sent to the request generation and reporting network 31 for printing on either the dot matrix printer 40 or the laser printer 41. Alternatively the results may be viewed on the monitor of the workstations 39.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, it is envisaged that the data entry means may be provided by a bar code reader such as a pen based system or by a scanning device rather than a keyboard.

Claims

1. Λ process control apparatus comprising: a data validation and control device; a processing device; and a data entry device for receiving entered data and locally validating the data for efficient transmission by an associated network activity monitoring device across a coaxial local area network operating at a communication rate of greater than four megahertz to a data validation and control device; wherein:the data validation and control device comprises a validation and control node connected to a comparison means with an associated sixteen to thirty two bit converter for further validating the data, and a control code generator for assigning a control code to the data for communicating with the processing device; and the processing device comprises a receiving means for receiving the data and data control code, an associated storage device having a reconfigurable capacity of at 25 least two gigabytes, a code reader for decoding the control code and determining a storage location for the data within the storage device, and a processor with a reduced instruction set operating at a 30 speed of speed in excess of thirty megahertz for processing of the data in real time. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data processing device has a code reader for receiving a control code from the data validation and control device connected to the control main processor and a dedicated data modification processor in turn connected to a 5 modification matrix array located in a dedicated permanent non-volatile memory circuit for modifying the data in accordance with predefined parameters.

2. 3. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 2 10 wherein the code reader has means for decoding the control code to determine a storage location for the data in the data processing device.

3. 4. A process control apparatus as claimed in claims 2 or 3 wherein the modification processor has 15 means for retrieval of data from the storage device and the modification matrix array located in a dedicated non-volatile memory circuit, on receipt of a request from a request generation and reporting means, for modifying the data and 20 returning it, to the main processor for supply to the reporting means.

4. 5. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the request generation and reporting means includes a plurality of workstations with 25 request entry means and reporting . means incorporating printing and display means.

5. 6. A process control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the comparison means comprises a sixteen bit data comparator with 30 associated memory circuits and dedicated cache memory of in excess of two hundred kilobytes, a sixteen to thirty two bit converter with an accompanying sixteen bit latch and a comparator controller for connection to the sixteen bit data 35 comparator, the sixteen to thirty two bit converter and a control code generator.

6. 7. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the comparator controller comprises means for reception of a conversion complete signal from the sixteen to thirtytwo bit converter; means for reception of a validity signal from the sixteen bit data comparator for indicating a valid information condition based on parameters and data history located within a comparator memory circuit; and means for supplying a signal to the code generator. .

7. 8. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the code generator has receiving means for receiving the signal from the comparator controller, and transmission means for transmitting a control code to the data processing device in response to the signal received.

8. 9. A process control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, the validation and control node has a fixed disk with a capacity of greater than eighty megabytes, a data entry means, a display, and a memory circuit in excess of eight megabytes having a processor operating at greater than twenty five megahertz connected to a co-axial local area network operating at a speed of greater than four megahertz.

9. 10. Λ process control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the network activity monitoring device incorporates means for receiving data from the data entry device and transmitting means for transmission of the data across the local area network during periods of reduced network activity.

10. 11. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the dedicated network activity 5 monitoring device is directly connected to the data entry device and has an associated local storage device.

11. 12. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 11, wherein the data entry device comprises a plurality of workstations, each workstation having a data entry means, an initial data validation means, a fixed disk, a display, and a memory Circuit; 15

12. 13. A process control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the comparator incorporates data transfer means for receiving data transmitted from the main processor and transmitting the data to the comparator 20 associated memory circuits to form a data entry history.

13. 14. A process control apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the data entry means is 25 provided by a pattern recognition device for automatically transferring the data from a written format to a format suitable for use by the data entry device.

14. 15. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 30 14, wherein the pattern recognition device is a scanner.

15. 16. A process control apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pattern recognition device is a bar code reader.

16.

17. A process control apparatus as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.