JPH07129433A - Total test device for computer system for process control - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve ability for verifying the function or character of a computer system for process control. CONSTITUTION:An operation simulator 2 at a host computer is constituted by providing a test scenario storage part 24 for storing schedule information corresponding to the time schedule of a real process and prescribed message information, response information storage part 29 for storing prescribed response information, received information analysis part 26 for detecting the response information to be outputted corresponding to the information sent from a computer system 1 for process control, matching decision information storage part 27, test scenario managing part 25 for managing the transmission timing or the like of message information or response information, and response information request part 28. Then, the information is alternately exchanged with the system 1 according to the time schedule by using a communication system so as to simulate the operation of the host computer with fidelity, and the function or performance of the system 1 can be more exactly verified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a comprehensive test device for verifying the function and performance of a process control computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a computer system for process control is extremely important in operation, and its reliability is required to be extremely high. Therefore, before the actual operation, a comprehensive simulation test of the process is performed to verify the function and performance of the process control computer system in advance. Then, a comprehensive test device as described below is used for this simulation test.

That is, the conventional comprehensive test apparatus is provided inside the process control computer system which is the system under test. The process input / output with other equipment such as electrical equipment and instrumentation equipment connected to the outside of the process control computer system during operation of the actual process, and with other computer systems such as business computers is the process. It is designed to be simulated in the control computer system itself.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional comprehensive test apparatus, the operation of the process control computer system itself is affected by the operation of simulating the process in the process control computer system. It may end up. Therefore, there is a problem that the result obtained by the simulation test may be far from the result obtained when the process control computer system is applied to the actual process.

In addition, in response to the information given from the process control computer system to the process or other equipment, the process or other equipment outputs predetermined information to the process control computer system. It was extremely difficult to perform a mock test in the conventional comprehensive test device when the alternating transfer is performed.

Further, in the conventional comprehensive test equipment, it is easy to simply simulate the process input / output, but it is based on the time schedule of the real process between the process control computer system and other equipment or processes. It was not possible to simulate the exchange of information that would take place.

Therefore, it is extremely difficult for the conventional comprehensive test equipment to accurately verify the function and performance of the process control computer system, and in addition, networking and communication of the process control computer system in recent years has been made. There was a problem that it could not cope with the change.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to improve the ability to verify the functions and characteristics of a process control computer system.

[0009]

A comprehensive test apparatus for a process control computer system according to the present invention is a process control computer system which is connected via a communication line to the outside of a process control computer system which is a system under test. A comprehensive test device, comprising a schedule scenario corresponding to a time schedule of an actual process controlled by the process control computer system, and predetermined message information to be given to the process control computer system. Scenario information storage means for storing information, and response information storage means for storing predetermined response information to be given to the process control computer system according to information sent from the process control computer system. , Stored in the scenario information storage means Scenario information management means for reading the message information from the scenario information storage means according to the schedule information according to the time schedule of the actual process and transmitting the message information to the process control computer system; The response information to be given to the process control computer system is detected based on the content of the received information and the reception time, and the detected response information is read from the response information storage means and transmitted to the process control computer system. And a response information management unit for performing the exchange of information with the process control computer system alternately according to the time schedule of the actual process based on the schedule information.

Another feature of the present invention is that
By storing the test scenario information corresponding to the operation of the host computer of the process control computer system in the scenario information storage means, by storing the response information corresponding to the operation of the host computer in the response information storage means, The comprehensive test device for the process control computer system as described above is configured as an operation simulator for a host computer.

[0011]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the operation of the process control computer system itself is affected by the simulated operation performed in the process control computer system as in the prior art. In addition, by alternately transmitting and receiving information according to the time schedule of the real process by the communication method, the operation of various equipment and processes connected when the real process is operating is faithfully simulated, and in recent years, It becomes possible to cope with system networking and communication.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a comprehensive test device of a process control computer system according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system to which the comprehensive test device of this embodiment is applied. is there.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a process control computer system, which is a system under test which is a target of a simulation test as described below. Next, 2a is a host computer such as a business computer, 3a is instrumentation equipment, and 4a is electrical equipment, which is connected to the process control computer system 1 which is the system under test when the actual process is operating.

When performing a process simulation test using various operation simulators 2 to 4 as described later, these host computer 2a, instrumentation equipment 3a and electrical equipment 4a are installed in the process control computer system 1. Does not connect.

That is, these operation simulators 2 to 2
The simulation test of the process performed by using No. 4 is an independent comprehensive test performed in a state where the above-described host computer 2a, instrumentation equipment 3a and electrical equipment 4a are not connected to the process control computer system 1.

Next, 2 to 4 are comprehensive test devices for the computer system for process control according to this embodiment, 2 is an operation simulator of a host computer, 3 is an operation simulator of instrumentation equipment, and 4 is an operation simulator of electrical equipment. is there. Each of these operation simulators 2 to 4 is composed of, for example, a personal computer (personal computer) which has recently become available at low cost.

Here, the operation simulator 2 of the host computer
Stores test scenario information composed of time schedule information corresponding to an actual process controlled by the process control computer system 1 and message information such as work instructions to be given to the process control computer system 1 according to the time schedule. is doing.

Further, the operation simulator 2 of the host computer
Also stores predetermined response information to be output according to this message information when given message information from the process control computer system 1 when the actual process is operating.

Further, similarly, the operation simulator 3 of the instrumentation equipment and the operation simulator 4 of the electric equipment also store test scenario information and predetermined response information corresponding to each equipment.

In this embodiment, at the time of executing the simulation test, these operation simulators 2 to 4 are connected to the outside of the process control computer system 1 which is the system under test via a communication line. I have to.

That is, in the present embodiment, information is exchanged between the process control computer system 1 and each of the operation simulators 2 to 4 not by using the process input / output device but by a communication method. ing.

As a result, for example, (a) and (b) of FIG.
As shown in (c), the process control computer system 1
And host computer 2a, instrumentation equipment 3a or electrical equipment 4a
For a system in which and are connected via a communication line or a common network, each operation simulator 2 of this embodiment
4 to 4 are applied so that a simulation test as described below can be performed.

That is, the host computer 2a connected to the process control computer system 1 when the actual process is operating,
The operation simulators 2 to 4 convert the operation relating to the transmission and reception of information between the instrumentation equipment 3a or the electrical equipment 4a and the process control computer system 1 into the test scenario information and predetermined response information. Based on the simulation.

As described above, in this embodiment, the comprehensive test device for the process control computer system is constructed by using a plurality of operation simulators 2 to 4 according to the respective applications. The operation simulators 2 to 4 may be integrated into one personal computer.

Next, 5 is a CRT display device, 6
Is a printer, and these constitute a man-machine input / output device. Reference numeral 7 is a magnetic recording device, 8 is a line printer, and 9 is a console, which constitute peripheral input / output devices. Even when performing a simulation test using the operation simulators 2 to 4 of this embodiment, these man-machine input / output devices and peripheral input / output devices are used as usual.

Next, the detailed structure of the operation simulator 2 of the host computer, which is one of the comprehensive test devices of the above-mentioned process control computer system, will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the operation simulator 2 of the host computer
Is composed of an information transmitting / receiving unit 21, a test scenario processing unit 22, and an alternate information processing unit 23.

Further, the test scenario processing section 22 includes a test scenario storage section 24 and a test scenario management section 2.
It is composed of 5. Also, the alternate information processing unit 23
Is the reception information analysis unit 26 and the matching determination information storage unit 2
7, a response information request unit 28, and a response information storage unit 29.

Here, the test scenario storage unit 24 stores time schedule information corresponding to an actual process controlled by the process control computer system 1 and the process control computer system 1 according to this time schedule.
It stores test scenario information composed of message information such as work instructions to be given to the test scenario information.

Further, the matching determination information storage unit 27 is
A table of determination information for detecting response information to be given to the process control computer system 1 based on the content of information sent from the process control computer system 1 to the operation simulator 2 of the host computer and its reception time. It is stored as information. Further, the response information storage unit 29 stores the response information as described above.

Each of the storage units 24, 27 and 29 is composed of a recording medium such as a floppy disk. The test scenario information, the determination information, and the response information as described above are appropriately edited by the operator as a preliminary preparation for performing the process simulation test.

The process control computer system 1 is constructed by using the operation simulator 2 of the host computer configured as described above.
When simulating the transfer of information between the host computer 2a and the host computer 2a that is connected when the actual process is operating, it is performed as follows.

That is, first, the test scenario management unit 2
5 reads out predetermined message information from the test scenario storage unit 24 according to the time schedule in the actual process based on the time schedule information stored in the test scenario storage unit 24. Then, the message information read from the test scenario storage unit 24 is transmitted to the process control computer system 1 via the information transmission / reception unit 21.

On the other hand, when simulating the operation in the case where information is alternately exchanged between the process control computer system 1 and the host computer 2a, the process control computer system will be described as follows. Information is transmitted and received between 1 and the operation simulator 2 of the host computer for simulation.

In this case, first, the information transmitting / receiving unit 21
The information transmitted from the process control computer system 1 to the operation simulator 2 of the host computer is received. Then, the information transmission / reception unit 21 supplies the received information to the reception information analysis unit 26.

Next, the reception information analysis unit 26 analyzes the table information stored in the matching determination information storage unit 27 based on the reception information given from the information transmission / reception unit 21. As a result, the reception information analysis unit 26
When certain information is given from the process control computer system 1, response information to be output to the process control computer system 1 is detected according to this information. Then, the reception information analysis unit 26 supplies the result of this analysis to the response information request unit 28.

Next, the response information request unit 28 reads the corresponding response information from the response information storage unit 29 based on the analysis result by the reception information analysis unit 26. Then, the response information thus read out is transmitted to the process control computer system 1 via the information transmitting / receiving unit 21.

Although detailed structures of the operation simulator 3 of the instrumentation equipment and the operation simulator 4 of the electric equipment shown in FIG. 2 are not shown, these constructions include the test scenario storage unit 24 and the matching. The configuration is the same as that shown in FIG. 1 except that the contents of the information stored in the determination information storage unit 27 and the response information storage unit 29 are different from those of the operation simulator 2 of the host computer. The operation is also the same as described above.

In this way, each operation simulator 2-4
Generates information from other equipment and processes such as the host computer 2a, the instrumentation equipment 3a, and the electrical equipment 4a in a timely manner in accordance with the sequence when the actual process is operated. Then, by inputting this information into the process control computer system 1 which is the system under test, it is possible to perform a simulation test as if the actual process is operating before the operation of the actual process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation of the process control computer system 1 itself can be prevented from being affected by the operation of simulating the process, and the connection can be made during the operation of the actual process. The operations of the host computer 2a, the instrumentation equipment 3a, and the electrical equipment 4a can be faithfully simulated.

Therefore, a single comprehensive test of the process control computer system 1 can be performed in a state almost the same as when the actual process is operating, and the function and performance of the process control computer system 1 can be verified more accurately. it can.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the integrated test apparatus of the present invention is connected to the outside of the process control computer system, which is the system under test, via a communication line, and the process control computer is connected. Information is exchanged with the system alternately according to the time schedule of the actual process, so the simulated operation performed in the process control computer system affects the operation of the process control computer system itself. It is possible to prevent the operation from being given, and it is possible to faithfully simulate the operation of various equipment and processes connected when the actual process is operating. Therefore, it is possible to perform a single comprehensive test of the process control computer system in almost the same state as when the process control computer system is applied to an actual process, and to more accurately verify the function and performance of the process control computer system. And its reliability can be increased. Therefore, after performing the above-mentioned independent comprehensive test, the process control computer system can be immediately applied to the actual process to perform good operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation simulator of a host computer, which is one of comprehensive test devices for a process control computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system to which a comprehensive test device for a process control computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration to which a comprehensive test device for a process control computer system according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Process Control Computer System 2 Upper Computer Operation Simulator 2a Upper Computer 3 Instrumentation Equipment Operation Simulator 3a Instrumentation Equipment 4 Electrical Equipment Operation Simulator 4a Electrical Equipment 21 Information Transmitter / Receiver 22 Test Scenario Processor 23 Alternate Information Processor 24 Test scenario storage unit 25 Test scenario management unit 26 Received information analysis unit 27 Matching determination information storage unit 28 Response information request unit 29 Response information storage unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A comprehensive test device for a process control computer system, which is connected to the outside of a process control computer system, which is a system under test, via a communication line, and is controlled by the process control computer system. Scenario information storage means for storing test scenario information composed of schedule information corresponding to a time schedule of an actual process and predetermined message information to be given to the process control computer system, and the process control computer system The response information storage means for storing predetermined response information to be given to the process control computer system according to the information sent from the above, and the schedule information stored in the scenario information storage means. The above message from the scenario information storage means Based on the scenario information management means for reading the information according to the time schedule of the actual process and transmitting it to the process control computer system, and the content of the information sent from the process control computer system and its reception time, Response information management means for detecting response information to be given to the process control computer system, reading the detected response information from the response information storage means and transmitting it to the process control computer system, the process control computer A comprehensive test device for a process control computer system, characterized in that information is exchanged with the system alternately according to a time schedule of an actual process based on the schedule information. 2. A comprehensive test device for the process control computer system, wherein scenario test information storage means stores test scenario information corresponding to an operation of a host computer of the process control computer system, and operation of the host computer. 2. An integrated test device for a process control computer system according to claim 1, wherein the integrated test device is an operation simulator of a host computer provided with response information storage means for storing the response information.