JP2011049636A - Communication controller and communication control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication controller capable of reducing the work load during maintenance, and the like. <P>SOLUTION: An accepting means accepts an instruction for selecting a specific transmitter side apparatus from among a plurality of communication apparatuses. A control means stops update of all the transmission data transmitted from the transmitter-side apparatus, selected via the accepting means or updating of receiving data in the receiver-side apparatus for receiving the transmission data as received data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication control apparatus and a communication control method for controlling a communication system configured by connecting a plurality of communication devices to a control bus.

  In a safety instrumented system for ensuring plant safety, data is exchanged between a plurality of safety control stations by communication via a control bus.

  In the transmitting station, a producer function block is arranged for each transmission data on application logic described in a predetermined language (for example, IEC61131 language), and transmission data is given as an input value of the producer function block. The producer function block creates communication data by adding safety information and transfers it to the communication function. The communication function transmits communication data from the producer function block to the control bus.

  On the other hand, in the receiving station, a consumer function block is arranged for each communication data on the application logic described in the above language, and received data is acquired as an output value of the consumer function block.

JP 2009-147793 A

  The application logic of the safety control station can be changed online, i.e. without stopping the station. In addition, the safety control station is provided with a lock function that prevents the values of variables (transmission data, reception data) from being changed.

  For example, when changing the application logic of the transmitting station online, if the contents of the logic are wrong, the influence may reach the receiving station. In order to avoid this, a procedure is recommended for the user in that abnormal data is not transmitted to the receiving station by locking the transmission data of the transmitting station before changing the application.

  If the transmitting station stops for some reason, the consumer function block of the receiving station detects a communication error, which affects the application logic of the receiving station. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to lock the received data at the receiving station so that the influence of the communication error is not transmitted to the application logic before stopping the transmitting station.

  However, in the conventional system, it is necessary to perform a lock operation or a release operation on individual data in order to lock transmission data or reception data or release the lock. However, since the amount of data that can be transmitted from one safety control station is enormous (for example, a maximum of 200), these operations are extremely complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication control device that can reduce the work load during maintenance and the like.

The communication control device of the present invention is an instruction to select a specific transmission-side device among the plurality of communication devices in a communication control device that controls a communication system configured such that a plurality of communication devices are communicably connected. And a receiving side that updates all transmission data transmitted from the transmitting side device selected via the receiving unit, or acquires the transmission data as received data among the plurality of communication devices Control means for stopping the update of the received data in the device.
According to this communication control device, all the transmission data transmitted from the transmission side device selected via the accepting means is updated, or the reception data in the reception side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data is updated. Because it stops, the work load during maintenance can be reduced.

  The control unit may be provided in the transmission side device selected via the reception unit, and may stop updating the transmission data transmitted from the transmission side device.

  The control means may be provided in the receiving-side device and stop updating the received data from the transmitting-side device selected via the receiving means.

  The accepting unit accepts an instruction to select a specific receiving-side device from the plurality of communication devices, and the control unit stops updating the received data only in the receiving-side device selected via the accepting unit. May be.

  The receiving unit may receive a designation of a data value of the transmission data or the reception data whose update has been stopped by the control unit.

  The communication device is a safety control station that executes a calculation for ensuring the safety of the plant, and the transmission data and the reception data may be data used for calculation in the safety station or data obtained by the calculation. .

In the communication control method for controlling a communication system configured such that a plurality of communication devices are communicably connected to each other, the communication control method of the present invention provides an instruction to select a specific transmitting device from the plurality of communication devices. Updating the transmission data transmitted from the transmission-side device selected through the receiving step and the step of receiving the instruction, or updating the reception data in the reception-side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data. And a step of stopping.
According to this communication control method, the update of all transmission data transmitted from the selected transmission side device or the reception data in the reception side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data is stopped. Can reduce the workload.

  According to the communication control device of the present invention, all the transmission data transmitted from the transmission-side device selected via the accepting unit is updated, or the reception data in the reception-side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data. Since the update is stopped, the work load during maintenance can be reduced.

  According to the communication control method of the present invention, since updating of all transmission data transmitted from the selected transmission side device or updating of reception data in the reception side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data is stopped, Work load during maintenance can be reduced.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the communication control apparatus of one Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of a safety control station functionally. The figure which shows the combination form of a transmission side station and a receiving side station. It is a figure which shows the communication form of the data transmitted / received via a control bus, (a) is a figure which shows a network structure, (b) is a figure which shows the data structure of link transmission data. It is a figure which shows the communication form of the data transmitted / received via a control bus, (a) is a figure which shows the content of the data which can be written in each station, (b) is a figure which illustrates the transmission timing of link transmission data. . The block diagram which shows the function of a producer function block. It is a figure which shows the function of the consumer function block 22, (a) is a block diagram which shows the function of the consumer function block 22, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of lock state value information. The figure which shows the procedure in the case of changing the application logic of a transmission side station online. The figure which shows the procedure in the case of stopping a transmission side station. The figure which shows the procedure at the time of debugging the application logic in a receiving side station.

  Embodiments of a communication control apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the communication control apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the safety control station.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication control apparatus of the present embodiment includes an engineering computer EN that functions as an accepting unit, and safety control stations SCS, SCS,... That execute calculations for ensuring plant safety. , Field control stations FCS, FCS,... For controlling field devices (not shown) arranged in the plant, and operation monitoring for comprehensively monitoring field devices via the field control stations FCS, FCS,. A device HIS. The engineering computer EN, the safety control stations SCS, SCS,... And the field control stations FCS, FCS,.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a transmission side logic 1, a reception side logic 2, and a communication function 3 are mounted on the safety control station SCS.

  The transmission-side logic 1 generates communication data by adding safety information to the transmission data obtained from the logic unit 11 and the transmission data obtained from the logic unit 11 for executing a calculation for ensuring the safety of the plant. Producer function blocks 12, 12,... The safety information will be described later.

  In addition, the reception side logic 2 generates a reception data by removing safety information from the communication data obtained from the communication unit 3 and a logic unit 21 that executes a calculation for ensuring the safety of the plant. Consumer function blocks 22, 22,... To be passed to the logic unit 21 are provided.

  As will be described later, the producer function blocks 12, 12,... And the consumer function blocks 22, 22,.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a combination form of a transmitting station and a receiving station.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which both the transmission side logic 1 and the reception side logic 2 are mounted on the safety control station SCS. However, only one of the transmission side logic 1 and the reception side logic 2 may be mounted. it can. That is, the safety control station SCS functions as one or both of the transmitting station and the receiving station. For this reason, various forms are realized as a combination form of the transmitting station and the receiving station. For example, FIG. 3A shows an example in which data transmitted from one transmitting station is received by a plurality of receiving stations, and FIG. 3B shows that data transmitted from a plurality of transmitting stations is 1. Each example is shown received at one receiving station.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when both the transmission side logic 1 and the reception side logic 2 are implemented, the transmission side station shown in FIG. 3 (a) or FIG. 3 (b) can simultaneously function as the reception side station. Alternatively, the receiving station shown in FIG. 3 (a) or FIG. 3 (b) simultaneously functions as a transmitting station.

  Similarly to the safety control station SCS, the field control station FCS that controls the field devices also functions as a transmitting station or a receiving station, and between the field control station FCS and the safety control station SCS and between the field control stations FCS. Data communication via the control bus 50 is possible.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the communication form of the data transmitted / received via the control bus 50 is demonstrated. In the present embodiment, link transmission data is transmitted and received between stations via the control bus 50.

  4A shows the individual safety stations connected to the control bus 50 as safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64, and the individual field control stations as control stations FCS1, FCS2,. As shown respectively.

  FIG. 4B shows the data structure of link transmission data.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the link transmission data has areas corresponding to the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 and the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,. Yes. The safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 and the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,..., FCS64 can read / write data only in the areas corresponding to their own stations. For, only data can be read.

  FIG. 5A shows the contents of data writable by each station.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 write transmission data (calculation data) and safety information related to the transmission data in their own areas. For example, when the size of each area is 32 bytes, the first 16 bytes can be used as an area for calculation data, and the latter 16 bytes can be used as an area for safety information. The safety information is used for communication diagnosis when link transmission data is transmitted and received between the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2, ..., SCS64. The safety information is, for example, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code. In the safety control station that has received the link transmission data, communication diagnosis is performed by comparing the operation data with the code. Further, the transmission time of link transmission data may be written as safety information. In this case, communication diagnosis can be performed by comparing the transmission time with the reception time.

  The operation data that can be transmitted from the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 to the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,..., FCS64 is, for example, 128-bit BOOL type data.

  On the other hand, the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,..., FCS64 write calculation data in their own areas. For example, when the size of each area is 32 bytes, the entire area for 32 bytes is used as an area for calculation data. The operation data that can be transmitted from the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,..., FCS64 to the other safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 and the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,. Bit BOOL type data. When the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2, ..., SCS64 receive data from the field control stations FCS1, FCS2, ..., FCS64, the 256-bit BOOL type data can be used as operation data.

  FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating transmission timing of link transmission data.

  In the example of FIG. 5B, link transmission data is broadcasted toward the control bus 50 sequentially from the safety control stations SCS1, SCS2,..., SCS64 and the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,. The transmission cycle is 100 milliseconds. Link transmission data is broadcast from each station at a cycle of 100 milliseconds. Each station that has received the link transmission data receives operation data necessary for logic processing from another station. Also, if necessary, the calculation result is written in the corresponding area, and then the link transmission data is broadcast. The sending station is not aware of which station is using its data. Each of the field control stations FCS1, FCS2,..., FCS64 takes a passive communication form in which data is received at the timing when it is activated.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing functions of the producer function block 12.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the producer function block 12 is provided with a lock function that prohibits changing the value of transmission data (transmission data value) transmitted to the control bus 50.

  When the lock function of the producer function block 12 is used, the operator specifies a station (transmission side station) to be operated via the engineering computer EN. Next, an operation for locking the transmission data of the specified station is performed via the engineering computer EN. This operation content is transferred to the corresponding station, and the lock state value of the station becomes “locked”. Similarly, by specifying a station (transmission side station) to be operated via the engineering computer EN and performing an unlock operation for the station, the lock status value of the station becomes “unlocked”.

  This lock state value is set for each station, and the lock state value is reflected in all the producer function blocks 12 installed in the station.

  When the lock state value is “unlocked”, the “transmission data value” shown in FIG. 6 is always the value of the transmission data obtained from the logic unit 11 and is reflected in the link transmission data. When the lock state value is “lock”, the update of the transmission data value is stopped, and the transmission data value is fixed to the value of the transmission data immediately before the lock state value becomes “lock”. In this case, even if the transmission data is updated, the transmission data value is not updated, and the transmission data (link transmission data) is not updated.

  Since the lock state value is commonly referred to by all the producer function blocks 12 in the station block, setting the lock state value to “lock” via the engineering computer EN causes all transmissions transmitted from the station to be transmitted. Data will be locked.

  When the lock state value is “locked”, the transmission data value of the producer function block 12 installed in the station can be individually changed for each producer function block 12 by an operation via the engineering computer EN. .

  FIG. 7A is a block diagram showing functions of the consumer function block 22.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the consumer function block 22 is provided with a lock function that prohibits updating of received data.

  When the lock function of the consumer function block 22 is used, the operator specifies the receiving station to be operated via the engineering computer EN. Next, an operation for editing the lock state value information of the identified station is performed via the engineering computer EN. This operation content is transferred to the corresponding station and reflected in the lock state value information of the station.

  FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the configuration of the lock state value information. As shown in FIG. 7B, the lock state value information is information that associates a data transmission side station with a lock state value. The operator can edit the lock state value information by designating the transmission side station via the engineering computer EN and setting the lock state value of the transmission side station.

  Next, the operation of the consumer function block 22 will be described.

  Upon receiving the communication data (link transmission data), the consumer function block 22 extracts the transmission source information (information identifying the sum station) from the communication data, and acquires the lock state of the received data based on the lock state value information. To do.

  If the received data from the transmitting station is not locked, the received data is acquired from the communication data, and the acquired value of the consumer function block 22 is set as the received data value. In this case, the acquired value is sequentially updated with the received data value, and delivered to the logic unit 22 as the received data value.

  On the other hand, when the received data is locked, the communication data is ignored and the data value received before being locked is held as the acquired value. In this case, the fixed acquired value is delivered to the logic unit 22 as the value of the received data. That is, the update of received data is stopped.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure when the application logic of the transmitting station is changed online.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which two transmission data (transmission data A1 and transmission data A2) are transmitted from the transmission side station and received by three reception side stations.

  In such a system, when the application logic (logic of the logic unit 11) is changed online with respect to the transmission side station, a lock operation is performed on the transmission side station from the engineering computer EN. Further, after the lock operation is performed, the transmission data value (FIG. 6) is forcibly changed as necessary.

  When the lock operation is performed, the transmission data value is recognized by the receiving station as the value of the reception data (reception data B, C, D), and the value is used in the application logic (logic of the logic unit 21).

  When changing application logic online for a station with multiple transmission data, it is necessary to lock all the transmission data to avoid adverse effects on the receiving station. Therefore, in the conventional system, an operation for locking all the transmission data one by one is required, and a complicated operation is forced. On the other hand, according to the communication control device of the present embodiment, all transmission data transmitted from the transmitting station can be locked by one operation to lock the transmission data, and unlocking can be performed by the same operation. It is. For this reason, the work load can be greatly reduced.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a procedure for stopping the transmitting station. In the example of FIG. 9, the transmitting station SCS1 transmits transmission data A1 and transmission data A2, and the transmitting station SCS2 transmits transmission data A3. The receiving station SCS3 receives transmission data A1 and transmission data A2 from the transmitting station SCS1 and transmission data A3 from the transmitting station SCS2. Further, the receiving station SCS4 receives the transmission data A1 from the transmitting station SCS1.

  In such a system, when the transmitting station SCS1 is stopped, a necessary locking operation is performed from the engineering computer EN to the receiving station SCS3 and the receiving station SCS4. Here, an operation of locking transmission data (reception data B and reception data C) from the transmission side station SCS1 (editing of lock state value information) is performed. In this case, since the received data from the transmitting station SCS2 is not locked, the received data D of the receiving station SCS3 is updated as usual.

  The locked received data can be forcibly changed as needed for each consumer function block. The value given by the forcible change is used in the application logic (logic of the logic unit 21) at the subsequent stage as the output value of the consumer function block.

  In order to avoid an adverse effect on the receiving station due to a communication error when the station is stopped, it is necessary to lock received data in all receiving stations. In the conventional system, it is necessary to lock received data one by one. On the other hand, in the communication control apparatus according to the present embodiment, by specifying a transmitting station, the received data from the stations are batched. Can lock. Similarly, the lock can be released by a collective operation. For this reason, the work burden at the time of maintenance can be greatly reduced.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a procedure for debugging application logic in the receiving station.

  In the application logic development stage, there is a case where a station as a communication partner is not ready at the time of debugging including a communication function between stations. If there is no source, the consumer function block of the receiving station will always detect a communication error. In this case, by locking all received data from the transmitting station that is the transmission source in the receiving station, it is possible to ignore the communication error and debug the application logic in the receiving station.

  For example, in the system shown in FIG. 10, when debugging the application logic (logic of the logic unit 22) of the receiving station SCS3, the transmitting station SCS1 and the transmitting station SCS2 may not exist. In this case, the reception data from the transmission station SCS1 and the reception data from the transmission station SCS2 are locked to the reception station SCS3 by an operation from the engineering computer EN. In addition, by forcibly changing the acquired value (FIG. 7A) for the locked reception data, it is possible to pass arbitrary data to the application logic in the subsequent stage (logic of the logic unit 22). Become.

  This makes it possible to debug the application logic by the receiving station SCS3 alone.

  As described above, according to the communication control device of the present invention, all the transmission data transmitted from the transmission-side device selected via the accepting unit is updated, or reception for acquiring the transmission data as reception data. Since the updating of the received data in the side device is stopped, the work load during maintenance can be reduced.

  The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be widely applied to a communication control apparatus and a communication control method for controlling a communication system configured by connecting a plurality of communication devices to a control bus.

EN Engineering computer (reception means)
12 Producer function block (control means)
22 Consumer function blocks (control means)

Claims (7)

In a communication control apparatus that controls a communication system configured by connecting a plurality of communication devices so as to communicate with each other,
An accepting unit that accepts an instruction to select a specific transmitting device among the plurality of communication devices;
Update of all transmission data transmitted from the transmission side device selected via the accepting means, or of the reception data in the reception side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data among the plurality of communication devices Control means for stopping the update;
A communication control apparatus comprising: 2. The communication control according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided in the transmission-side device selected via the reception unit, and stops updating the transmission data transmitted from the transmission-side device. apparatus. 3. The communication control according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided in the receiving-side device and stops updating the received data from the transmitting-side device selected via the receiving unit. apparatus. The accepting unit accepts an instruction to select a specific receiving-side device from the plurality of communication devices, and the control unit stops updating the received data only in the receiving-side device selected via the accepting unit. The communication control device according to claim 3. 5. The communication control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives a specification of a data value of the transmission data or the reception data whose update has been stopped by the control unit. The communication device is a safety control station that executes a calculation for ensuring the safety of the plant, and the transmission data and the reception data are data used for calculation in the safety station or data obtained by the calculation. The communication control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. In a communication control method for controlling a communication system configured such that a plurality of communication devices are communicably connected to each other,
Receiving an instruction to select a specific transmitting device among the plurality of communication devices;
Updating all transmission data transmitted from the transmission side device selected via the step of accepting the instruction, or stopping updating of the reception data in the reception side device that acquires the transmission data as reception data; ,
A communication control method comprising:

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