WO2017092811A1 - Configuration d'un système de commande de processus réel - Google Patents

Configuration d'un système de commande de processus réel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017092811A1
WO2017092811A1 PCT/EP2015/078517 EP2015078517W WO2017092811A1 WO 2017092811 A1 WO2017092811 A1 WO 2017092811A1 EP 2015078517 W EP2015078517 W EP 2015078517W WO 2017092811 A1 WO2017092811 A1 WO 2017092811A1
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Prior art keywords
communication
process control
link
communication network
devices
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PCT/EP2015/078517
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English (en)
Inventor
Dirk Schulz
Trygve Harvei
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Abb Schweiz Ag
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Priority to PCT/EP2015/078517 priority Critical patent/WO2017092811A1/fr
Publication of WO2017092811A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017092811A1/fr

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
    • G05B19/00—Programme-control systems
    • G05B19/02—Programme-control systems electric
    • G05B19/418—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM]
    • G05B19/4185—Total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, e.g. direct or distributed numerical control [DNC], flexible manufacturing systems [FMS], integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] or computer integrated manufacturing [CIM] characterised by the network communication
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P90/00—Enabling technologies with a potential contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
    • Y02P90/02—Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to process control systems. More particularly the present invention relates to a network configuration device as well as a method and a computer program product for defining and configuring a real process control system.
  • a process control system may be provided in an industrial plant. Such a system normally comprises a number of process control devices involved in the control of the process. The operation of these devices is typically monitored by plant operators via operator terminals of the system.
  • a network forming unit for instance in the form of a network simulation tool, may be provided for the process control system, which network forming unit may support the design of a communication infrastructure or communication network to be used for the process control system and the process control applications or functions using it. This network forming unit may not only be provided for suggesting a system model of the infrastructure, but may also be used for simulations of the communication through it.
  • the unit receives system function information and device location information and determines a communication infrastructure.
  • US 2004/0117116 is concerned with determining how many devices are to be connected to a fieldbus segment of a process control system. Such a system model may thus be created for suggesting a communication network that is to be implemented for the process control system for configuring physical devices of process control system. This model may then be used for building a real communication network.
  • the present invention addresses the problem of realizing communication network suggestions in a real process control system.
  • this object is more particularly solved with a network configuration device for defining and configuring a real process control system according to the communication requirements of at least one process control function.
  • the network configuration device comprises
  • a network forming unit that receives a user selection of at least one pair of endpoint devices that are to communicate with each other in the process control system and for every pair of user selected endpoint devices it further:
  • Each link comprises a number of items including the endpoint devices and at least one communication network element, and the communication network element of at least one link is a communication network device.
  • the network forming unit also forms a system model comprising software representations of the endpoint devices and a communication network comprising the communication network elements, where each link is included in the system model through the items of it being related to each other, determines configurations of the endpoint devices and
  • communication network devices in the system model for communicating in the communication network and provides at least some of the configurations for implementation in physical devices of the real process control system.
  • This object is according to a second aspect of the invention solved through a method for defining and configuring a real process control system according to the communication requirements of at least one process control function.
  • the method is performed by a network configuration device and comprises:
  • Each link comprises a number of items including the endpoint devices and at least one communication network element, and the communication network element of at least one link is a communication network device.
  • the method also comprises - forming a system model comprising software representations of the endpoint devices and a communication network comprising the communication network elements, where each link is included in the system model through the items of it being related to each other, - determining configurations of the endpoint devices and
  • This object is according to a third aspect of the invention solved through a computer program product for defining and configuring a real process control system according to the communication requirements of at least one process control function.
  • the computer program product is provided on a data carrier comprising computer program code operative to cause a network configuration device to, when the computer program code is loaded into the network configuration device:
  • Each link comprises a number of items including the endpoint devices and at least one communication network element and the communication network element of at least one link is a communication network device.
  • the network configuration device is further operative to
  • each link is included in the system model through the items of it being related to each other,
  • the present invention has a number of advantages. It allows a fast and simple determination and configuration of a real process control system and does not require that the user has extensive expert knowledge.
  • Fig. l schematically shows a real process control system comprising process control devices
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows one way of realizing a network configuration device for use in relation to process control systems
  • Fig. 3 schematically shows another way of realizing the network
  • Fig. 4 shows a graphical representation of a number of process control entities that may be selected by a user in the forming of a system model of a communication network for the process control system
  • Fig. 5 schematically shows a flow chart of a number of method steps being performed in a method of configuring physical devices of a real process control system
  • Fig. 6 shows a link between two communication endpoint devices being created by the user through the use of the method.
  • Fig. 7 schematically shows a floor of a building with different locations at which the endpoint devices may be placed
  • Fig. 8 schematically shows the link when communication protocols and network elements of the communication network implementing the link in the physical world have been added to the link between the endpoint devices
  • Fig. 9 shows a graphical representation of the system model, where dependencies between elements of a link are emphasized
  • Fig. 10 shows a tag that has been formed for the link in fig. 8
  • Fig. 11 schematically shows a flow chart of a first number of further method steps being performed in relation to displaying items of the system model
  • Fig. 12 shows the display of a device in the process control system together with a network element type
  • Fig. 13 schematically shows a flow chart of a second number of further method steps being performed in relation to displaying items of the system model
  • Fig. 14 shows a data carrier with computer program code, in the form of a CD-ROM disc, for performing the steps of the method.
  • Fig. 1 schematically shows a real or real-world process control system 10, which may be provided in the premises of an industrial plant.
  • the process control system 10 is a computerized process control system for controlling an industrial process.
  • industrial processes that may be controlled are electrical power generation, transmission and distribution processes, water purification and distribution processes, oil and gas production and distribution processes, petrochemical, chemical, pharmaceutical and food processes, and pulp and paper production processes. These are just some examples of processes where the system can be applied. There exist countless other industrial processes.
  • the processes may also be other types of industrial processes such as the manufacturing of goods.
  • a process may be monitored through one or more process monitoring computers or controllers, which communicate with a computer or server handling monitoring and control of the process.
  • the process control system 10 therefore includes a number of process monitoring computers (PMC) 12 and 14. These computers may here also be considered to form operator terminals and are connected to a first data bus EB, which in this example is an Ethernet databus on which a certain protocol is used, which protocol may as an example be the Profinet 10 protocol.
  • a process monitoring computer may furthermore be acting as a network configuration device.
  • PCC process control computer
  • DB database
  • PCD protocol conversion device
  • a protocol conversion device may also be termed a remote IO device.
  • a protocol conversion device may have point-to-point connections with a number of field devices. On at least one of these point-to-point connections another communication protocol is used, which as an example may be the HART protocol.
  • a protocol conversion device may also have a wireless connection with a number of field devices on which a wireless protocol may be used, such as a Wireless HART protocol WH.
  • a field device is therefore an interface, such as a sensor, via which measurements of the process are being made or an interface, such as an actuator, to which control commands are given for influencing the process.
  • a field device may also be a combined sensor and actuator.
  • a field device may as an example be a tank and another as an example a centrifuge.
  • the process control computer 18 may be involved in controlling the process based on inputs from field devices, such as from sensors, and actuating the same or other field devices, such as valves, based on the inputs.
  • the field devices and control computer are all examples of process control devices.
  • the field devices and control computer are both examples of endpoint devices in a communication infrastructure or communication network employed by the process control system
  • the remote 10 devices, buses and point-to-point-connections are examples of communication infrastructure elements or communication network elements in the form of communication network nodes and communication media.
  • the communication network may also comprise cables with the buses or communications lines as well as routers and switches.
  • the first group of further devices 24, 26 and 28 are wired devices connected to the first remote IO device 20 via a-fixed point-to-point connections and the second group of further devices 30, 32 and 34 are wirelessly connected to the second remote IO device 22.
  • one process monitoring computer may be acting as a network configuration device.
  • a network configuration device does not have to be provided in a process monitoring computer or even be a part of the process control system. It may be a separate entity, such as a wireless terminal.
  • the network configuration device may as an alternative be considered to be a network simulation tool because it is with advantage provided as a software tool that can be used to perform simulations in a system model of a communication network of the process control system.
  • One way of realizing the network configuration device 35 is schematically shown in fig. 2.
  • the network configuration device 35 may be realized as a computer comprising a processor (PR) 36 with program memory (PM) 38
  • the network configuration device 35 comprising a computer program 40 with computer program code implementing the functionality of the network configuration device 35.
  • the functionality is implemented using dedicated circuits such as Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) or Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs).
  • FPGAs Field-Programmable Gate Arrays
  • ASICs Application Specific Integrated Circuits
  • configuration device 35 may also comprise a user interface (UI) 42 for instance in the form of a display and mouse/keyboard combination.
  • UI user interface
  • the network configuration device 35 may comprise a network forming unit (NF) 44 and a visualizing unit (V) 46 in addition to the user interface (UI) 42.
  • configuration device 35 may with advantage be used by a network planning user, while the visualizing unit 46 may be used by a
  • these units are provided in the form of software or one or more dedicated circuits such as FPGAs and ASICs.
  • the network planning user may use the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 for automated calculation or modelling of a communication network that is to be used by the process control system.
  • the network forming unit 44 may thus create a system model of the communication network for use in relation to the process control system.
  • the system model may with advantage be an offline model, i.e. a model that is distinctly separate from the operated process control system.
  • the system model may thus be separate from the actual communication network being implemented.
  • the model may then comprise software objects representing actual or real life devices.
  • the model may in this case more particularly also comprise the configurations of such actual or real life devices.
  • network forming unit 44 allows the network planning user to select constraints on the planning for instance by choosing graphic objects representing implementation options for data paths between the functional end devices and over dedicated network elements and configure them in the system model of the communication infrastructure.
  • the network forming unit 44 may also perform a calculation of the communication requirements of signals used by the process control functions.
  • a functional node is thus a node in the process control system and for this reason it is also an end point device for communication with another end point device in the communication network being designed.
  • Data communication requirements may for instance be calculated from customer requirements (preferably auto or semi-automatically from a sales support tool) or process engineering outputs imported as scanned images and/or annotated images, resource documentation (e.g. in XML, Automation ML, or table-based information in CSV, Excel, etc.) of other project requirements (number of tags, translation of a PID schema etc.), and one or more selected automation application(s).
  • Communication requirements for a process control function and a pair of communication endpoints include the endpoints to connect, and quality of service (QoS) key performance indicators (KPIs) for the communication parameter, such as a signal of the process control function.
  • QoS quality of service
  • KPIs key performance indicators
  • a KPI may be bandwidth, cycle/round-trip time or simple delays, allowed jitter, availability, etc.
  • type of service i.e. in what way signals are to be sent, like cyclic/periodic, event-based/on-demand, streaming, etc. may be a part of
  • the network forming unit 44 thus allows the network planning user to select end point devices and process control functions and based on the user selections, the network forming unit 44 then suggests communication network elements to be placed between the end point devices.
  • the suggestions may not only comprise suggestions about communication network elements such as routers, switches and cables. It may also comprise logical connection suggestions according to a layered
  • the used layered model may also be an enhanced model that is based on for instance the OSI model. It is as an example possible that at least one further layer (an eighth layer) has been added to the model.
  • the network forming unit 44 may for instance make logical connection suggestions from layer 2 up to layer 7 of the OSI model and above. The suggestion may be based on pre-defined rules that are based on best practices, technology and resources, where the best practices may consider premises layout, technology may consider addressing used and resources may consider the types and availability of existing equipment.
  • the used layered model such as the OSI model, it is also possible that some layers are not used. Others may be split in two. However, the lowest and highest layer, which in the OSI model would be the physical layer and the application layer, may always be required.
  • Fig. 4 shows an example of a graphical representation of the system model where a few items are shown in the form of applications or process control functions FI, signals SI, device functions DF and end point devices ED.
  • the network planning user may select among items representing endpoint devices. Examples of selectable endpoint devices are shown in the end device column in fig. 4. A flow chart of the operation of the network forming unit 44 in allowing a user to form a system model and obtain device configurations is schematically shown in fig. 5.
  • the network forming unit 44 may provide a number of selectable objects in a network forming view presented via the user interface 42.
  • the selectable objects represent process control devices that are to communicate with each other via a communication network, which process control device may comprise control devices such as controller or control computer and sensors device and/or actuator devices for interfacing the process.
  • process control device may comprise control devices such as controller or control computer and sensors device and/or actuator devices for interfacing the process.
  • other objects may be selectable, such as a backbone or a fieldbus link, a data ring, a star topology and communication network elements such as router and switches or cables.
  • the network forming unit 44 may thus receive a user selection of at least one pair of end-point devices that are to communicate with each other in the process control system to be designed, step 50, which selection is typically received via the user interface 42. For every pair of selected endpoint devices the network forming unit 44 further obtains information about a corresponding process control function for which communication between the two endpoint devices is to be implemented, step 52. This information may be pre-determined in that the graphical object representing a certain endpoint device may also be dedicated to a specific function. There may for instance exist several selectable objects representing servers, where each such object may be related to the implementation of a certain process control function on a server. As an alternative it is possible that the user may select a function that is to be implemented between two endpoint devices.
  • the network planning user may thus possibly also select a process control function in which the endpoint devices are to communicate with each other.
  • the network forming unit 44 also obtains information about requirements of the process control function on the communication between the end point devices, step 54.
  • the requirements may comprise communication parameters, such as signals exchanged by the function and the limitations of such signals, such as their timing , latency and bandwidth.
  • the requirements may also comprise other types of requirements such as the requirement of redundancy or a requirement of functional autonomy. The concept of functional autonomy will be described later.
  • the user may optionally also select some of the communication
  • the network forming unit 44 then forms an end-to end link between the endpoint devices based on the communication requirements, step 56, where the link comprises a number of items including the endpoint devices and at least one communication network element. How this may be done will be described shortly.
  • the network forming unit forms a system model comprising software representations of the process control endpoint devices and the network elements, step 58.
  • a system model comprising software representations of the process control endpoint devices and the network elements
  • the modelling performed by the network forming unit 44 may involve deriving a selection of functional nodes for performing process control functions and a communication infrastructure layout, i.e. a layout of the communication network.
  • a communication infrastructure layout i.e. a layout of the communication network.
  • the communication network elements, end point devices, functions and signals made for an end-to-end link are stored in the system model with a reference to each other. They may with advantage be stored as software objects defining the end point devices, their functions and signals and communication network elements.
  • the dependencies may be stored as pointers, where a pointer in one software object may point to another software object.
  • the code defining these software objects may with advantage be provided in the memory 38 of the network configuration device 35. As an alternative it may be stored in the database 16.
  • the network forming unit also determines configurations of the endpoint devices and network devices for communicating in the communication network, step 60.
  • a configuring may involve configuration/parameterization of the functional nodes (sensors, actuators, controllers, etc.) and communication network nodes required by the process control functions communication.
  • a configuration may comprise various communication model layer settings, such as protocol settings, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) configurations for physical ports.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • VLAN Virtual Local Area Network
  • step 62 For instance, once the system model of the communication network has been determined, it is then possible to export the configuration parameters for every object in the model (endpoint devices and network elements) and download the configurations for each of the respective objects into a real network built according to the system model. Thus a configuration is calculated for each router, bridge and so on and these configurations are downloaded into each of the (unique) components in the network.
  • the device parameters By taking the device parameters from the system model, there is a single point of reference or data entry. Thereby inconsistencies between device parameters and intended design can be found and resolved easily.
  • configurations may be provided in one or more storage media for transfer to the physical devices in a real process control system that correspond to the endpoint devices and/or communication network devices of the system model.
  • a storage medium may be data carrier, such as a CD Rom disk or USB stick comprising one or more configuration files with configurations. It may also be configuration server used for
  • SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol
  • OPC UA Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture
  • a selection of an item by the user such as a selection of endpoint device, will lead to a corresponding software object being made a part of the system model.
  • Each software object when being made a part of the system model is then automatically associated with requirements necessary for connecting to other software objects in the model representing other endpoint devices or communication network elements.
  • the software objects are examples of software representations of the endpoint devices and communication infrastructure elements. It should be realized that other types of software representations are possible.
  • the communication parameters for an end point device may be provided as a part of the software object representing the endpoint device or as one or more separate software objects having a relationship or being linked to the software object representing the endpoint device.
  • the communication parameters for an end point device connected to a data link or backbone may as an example include signal information, configuration of e.g.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • KPI Key Performance Indexes
  • the network planning user may thus select endpoint devices that are to implement process control functions and communication parameters, such as the signals to be exchanged between the endpoint devices.
  • the network planning user may also select endpoint device functions or end point device applications performing the endpoint device functions, such as control or data input/output and possibly also communication protocols to be used.
  • An application is thus an application realising a function implemented on an endpoint device.
  • An application may be a software- based service that is engineered or delivered individually. Each application may have to work according to a specification.
  • An application may as an example be an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61131 application for closed loop control, a Device management application, a
  • IEC International Electrotechnical Commission
  • the network forming unit 44 may therefore also add a software object representing an
  • an application implemented by an endpoint device to be a part of the system model. Such an application may then be added as code in the software object representing the endpoint device or as a separate software object referencing the software object referencing or linked to the end point device.
  • the network planning user may thus select a process control computer, a field device that is to communicate with the process control computer, a process control function to be implemented by an application of the selected endpoint devices as well as the signals exchanged by the end point devices and communication protocols used.
  • the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 may then insert software objects representing these entities into the system model and add the communication requirements of the application, such as the bandwidth, latency and type of service requirements of these signals.
  • the communication requirements may be added to the above- mentioned inserted software objects or as separate software objects referencing them.
  • the network forming unit 44 may also make further communication settings, such as communication settings according to the OSI layer model. Examples of such settings are data link layer settings and network layer settings.
  • the selection of an item and the inserting of the corresponding software object as a part of the system model may also lead to an automatic selection of another item and the provision of corresponding software in the system model. It is for instance possible that an end point device is associated with a
  • the selection of a certain end point device may also be a selection of a corresponding process control function. It is also possible that the selection of a certain process control function at the same time leads to certain signals being selected. This means that a selection of a particular end point device may lead to the network configuration device 35 selecting a communication protocol and/or a corresponding endpoint device function and/or corresponding signals.
  • a network planning user may in this way select the end point devices that are to communicate with each other, the functions for which the
  • communication is to take place and some communication requirements such as signals and communication protocols. It is in this respect also possible that some or all of the rest of the communication requirements may be selected, such as time and service requirements on the signals. Some or all of the communication requirements may also be automatically set by the network configuration device 35 once a function is selected by the network planning user.
  • a user may select a process control function, such as Closed-loop control, and two endpoint devices, the process control computer 18 and the first field device 24.
  • Graphical objects representing the endpoint devices 18 and 24 may then be placed on a separate canvas by the network forming unit 44 and set to communicate with each other in the system model through the network planning user interconnecting the objects with a line that forms a communication link Li, as seen in fig. 6.
  • the network planning user may also select a physical location for the physical devices corresponding to the planned endpoint devices in the system model. The selection of physical location is thus a selection of a location for the physical end point devices in the premises. An example of such locations on a map can be seen in fig. 7.
  • the user may as an example select a first location LOCi in a room on a floor of a first building of the plant as the location of the physical process control computer 18 and may select a second location LOC2 in another room on the same floor of the same building as a location of the physical first field device 24. It should here be realized that the user may have selected one of the locations to be on another floor of the same or another building instead.
  • the location may then be translated into a Global Positioning System (GPS) position.
  • GPS Global Positioning System
  • the user selects GPS positions directly and these positions may be translated into a location on a map. Based on this input of location, the network forming unit 44 selects a logical location of the corresponding end point device in the system model. It is here possible that the network forming unit 44 visualizes the placing of the end point devices on the map in fig. 7 for the network planning user once the user selected location is known.
  • the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 determines a set of elements of the communication network that are to interconnect the endpoint devices of the communication link Li in the system model. It thus determines which endpoint devices that are to be interconnected in the system model using a virtual communication network comprising virtual communication network elements. Thereby each link comprises a number of items including the selected endpoint devices and at least one communication network element. Furthermore as there are several endpoint devices it is also clear that at least one link will comprise a communication network element that is a communication network device. At least some of the links will thus comprise a
  • the network forming unit 44 may thus with advantage be used for suggesting infrastructure that is to interconnect the various end point devices that make up the process control system.
  • the communication requirements of the applications may in this case be used as rules for the suggestions.
  • Fig. 8 schematically shows a suggestion for the example of a process control computer 18 and a first field device 24 in the link Li.
  • the process control computer 18 at the first location LOCi may need to communicate with several other end devices using a Profinet IO connection. Therefore the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 may suggest the introduction of a virtual Ethernet switch 64, for instance at a logical location corresponding to the first location LOCi, and a first virtual communication medium CMi for connection to the first virtual Ethernet switch 42, which first virtual communication medium CMi is a virtual Ethernet cable.
  • the virtual first field device 24, which needs to use the HART protocol, is in turn suggested to be connected to the virtual first remote IO device 20 at a logical location corresponding to the second location LOC2 via a third virtual communication medium CM3 in the form of a point-to-point HART link and the virtual first remote IO device 20 is then suggested to be connected to the virtual Ethernet switch 64, via a virtual second communication medium CM2, which may also be in the form of an Ethernet cable.
  • the end point devices and the network nodes are layered according to the OSI layer model.
  • the process control functions, which run on the application layer of the OSI layer model, are already connected during the process of the process control function engineering.
  • the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 refines this by adding connections on each lower OSI layer until the physical layer is reached; like two points on a nail board connected by a rubber band, if you will, the band is strung around more and more nails until it takes the path along the layers and network hops that are needed.
  • the actual connection between devices is realized by a chain or mesh of
  • one or more of the intermediate logical network layers are individually represented.
  • the logical connections may thus be implemented by application layer connections such as PROFINET IO or HART, running on an IP network or directly on a logical layer 2 network segment (Ethernet, HART network), eventually being deployed on physical layer cables or radio frequencies. It should be realized that also a wireless implementation using for instance Wireless HART is possible.
  • the suggested communication network may furthermore be selected so that the structure of the facility is considered.
  • There may for instance be an Ethernet switch on each floor in a building and a separate Ethernet switch for the whole building.
  • a number of virtual infrastructure devices in-between the two end devices are suggested by the network configuration device 35 based on the selection of the endpoint devices.
  • the time and bandwidth limitations of the communication parameters, such as signals, of the applications are also considered.
  • Virtual infrastructure devices forming network nodes are thus suggested between the end point devices based on the communication requirements.
  • the amount of communication media used i.e. the number of cables and communication lines selected in the communication infrastructure, is also based on the communication requirements. If for instance the bandwidth of a cable is too low because of too many signals, then additional cables and switches may be suggested.
  • the network planning user makes a redundancy setting regarding at least one signal or an application.
  • the network forming unit 44 it is also possible for the network forming unit 44 to suggest parallel paths via separate cables and separate switches of the link having the redundancy setting.
  • communication network elements may depend on the different data communication protocols. There may in this regard be a sequence of different protocols between two endpoint devices that need to
  • the multiple protocols may be visible in a graphic visualization (in e.g. a table structure) showing the end-to-end devices and the protocols in between nodes or devices displaying e.g. as a fieldbus hierarchy to the user.
  • the system model may be arranged with more than one alternative (redundant) communication path between many of the network nodes. Simulations may be run in which different prioritizations can be selected in one or more of the applied protocols to arrive e.g. by experiment to achieve an optimal strategy for using the protocols (e.g. according to a rule or constraint) to achieve e.g. higher KPIs for selected applications or satisfactory or improved KPIs for a selected network path when
  • a predictable possibility is that when selecting a data communication structure (ring, backbone, star etc. from a number of choices in a list) that the network forming unit 44 calculates (or simulates) and then prompts a suggested network element to the user based on a simulation or
  • the suggestion is generated by the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 and may be adapted depending on the other elements or configurations immediately connected to the same endpoint device. The same can be done with network nodes, e.g. prompting for a router or for a second (redundant) router which could be connected to a node or endpoint device.
  • the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 may thus calculate what switches (and their switching functionality) and cables that are needed to connect the signals between the end point devices according to the communication requirements of the application.
  • the number of nodes needed may be calculated from a number of end point devices (sensors, actuators) and network nodes from the calculated amounts and frequency, latency etc. of data communication traffic required by one or more automation applications. More specifically the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 may analyse one or more network layout configurations against constraints such as functional autonomy.
  • Functional autonomy of system applications is not a property of an application, but rather the relationship or lack of it between two or more applications.
  • An application is considered to be autonomous if it is unaffected by changes made in relation to any other application.
  • the degree of autonomy of a certain application thus depends on the degree with which changes or failures in another application affect it.
  • One way to achieve functional autonomy (mutual independence) of applications is to use dedicated (mutually independent) resources for each application.
  • the network layout configurations may then be arranged so that the endpoint devices, network routers and servers, as well as different communication paths (or parts of) will attain a required level of network KPIs/performance when running the required automation applications.
  • the network layout configurations may be relatively modular or otherwise designed to ensure functional autonomy of selected partitions of the resulting network to be created and validated during engineering.
  • the network layout configurations may also be designed e.g. with redundant network nodes and alternative (redundant) paths in the network to ensure so-called graceful degradation. This means that degradation in
  • performance or failure of one or more infrastructure element will still allow functioning, with reduced number of (alternative/redundant paths) and/or reduced (KPI) performance; preferably for selected automation applications.
  • the network layout designed for having functional autonomy and graceful degradation results in a functional integrity for network partitions, meaning that the degree of independence between their network elements is so high that unwanted problems or intentional changes within one partition do not affect the performance of any other partition.
  • the network forming unit 44 of the network configuration device 35 creates a series of dependencies or settings indicating the endpoint devices, process control functions, data
  • Fig. 9 shows a graphical representation of the system model, where the dependencies of a data link layer setting DLLS for a certain end point device, such as a control computer, are shown.
  • the data link layer setting DLLS "Process Area Closed-Loop Control”
  • NLS Network Layer Setting
  • ALS Application layer setting ALS
  • the application layer setting ALS comprises a setting of a first and a second signal SIi and SI2, "Motor Variable Speed Signal, Motor
  • tags TA for the link Li
  • fig. 10 schematically shows one such tag TA created for the first link Li between the endpoint devices 18 and 24.
  • the tag includes information about which software objects of the link Li that have dependencies of each other.
  • the process control function FI for which data is sent over the link
  • the endpoint devices ED that are interconnected by the link as well as their locations LOCi and LOC2
  • the communication requirements CR i.e. limitations of the communication parameters, such as the timing and bandwidth requirements of the signals SIi and SI2 and communication protocols used.
  • the parts of the communication network used in-between the endpoint devices such as the communication network devices and communication media used between them. There may also be data of the communication capability of these communication network elements.
  • the process control device needs to communicate with more field devices in respect of the process control function.
  • a separate link and optionally also a tag may be provided for this connection.
  • the user can optimize a part of the system model offline by changing given constraints like the number of links (paths) needed, redundant links, redundancy principles, ring sizes, server or network nodes etc. until the modelled KPIs for the network fit to the KPIs from the communications requirements.
  • the user may accept some or all of them and reject others. If there is a change of infrastructure, it will be reflected in the system model.
  • the configurations of the devices of the system model both the endpoint devices and the virtual communication network devices, may be provided on a storage medium and used for configuring the physical devices in the real process control system. It is possible that the settings used for the layers of the
  • the communication model in the virtual devices may be stored on such a storage medium and then used for configuring the physical devices in the process control system.
  • the display is controlled by the visualizing unit 46.
  • the visualizing unit 46 is able to visualize the links of the system model through displaying the items of the links in a view comprising any of:
  • fig. 11 shows a flow chart of a first number of further method steps being performed in relation to displaying items in links of the system model .
  • First at least some items of the system model are displayed by the visualizing unit 46 using the user interface 42, step 65. It is here possible that only a part of the system model is displayed such as a part
  • a signal table and an associated protocol table are provided for signals and communication protocols in the Application Layer AL of the OSI model
  • the network layer table is a table of Internet Protocol (IP) networks according to the Network Layer NL of the OSI model
  • the data link layer table is a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) and Serial Set Identifier (SSID) table.
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • VLAN Virtual Local Area Network
  • SSID Serial Set Identifier
  • a user may for instance select one item in the system model, which user selection may be the selection of a System Application item, a Network Function item, such as a communication model item of a layer or a Communication Device item, where any of these items may be connected in an end-to-end link in the data communication network.
  • a selection such as a VLAN selection
  • he or she will see all the signals, protocols of the signals that are linked to this item.
  • fig. 9 For the case of the user selecting a VLAN item DLLS, then the network layer element of the link for a selected device as well as the signals and communication protocols of the link are emphasized. Even though it is not shown in fig. 8, also the endpoint devices and any intermediate communication network elements that are linked to the selected item may be emphasized in the view.
  • the visualization unit 46 receives such a selection of an item belonging to a link via the user interface 42, step 66, it then emphasizes or enhances the other items of the same link in the view displayed via the user interface 42, step 68.
  • the visualization of the system model may also be made when the real process control system is running.
  • the visualization unit 46 calculates and proposes a value for the link and/or node characteristic from the at least one layer and simulates data communication parameters for the part of the data communication network based on a selected set of layer characteristics.
  • the visualizing unit 46 it is furthermore possible to display a selected device. It is for instance possible for the visualizing unit 46 or the user to select a subset of the topology, such as only the cables and the user may then wish to select a device, such as a specific cable or a specific device connected to the cable and then settings of this device are displayed together with the subset data.
  • fig. 13 shows a flow chart of a second number of further method steps being performed in relation to displaying items of the system model.
  • First at least some items of the system model are displayed by the visualizing unit 46 using the user interface 42, step 70.
  • items in a part representing a section of the physical process control system are displayed.
  • a section may be made up of the endpoint devices and communication network element shown in fig. 8.
  • the visualizing unit 46 may then receive an item property selection from the user.
  • the item property may be a value of the item. It may in fact be any type of meta data associated with the item.
  • the item property selection is an item type selection received from the user via the user interface 42, step 72, which is here exemplified by a selection of the cable item type.
  • the visualizing unit 46 filters the items of the system model based on the item type selection, which in the example given here involves retaining at least all the items of the selected type in the process control section while removing items of the non-selected type, step 74. Some items of a non-selected type may be retained, such as the devices that have a direct relation to the items of the selected type, which in this case are the devices connected to cables. As an example there is thus here shown the process control computer 18, which is connected to the Ethernet switch 64 via the first communication medium CMi, and also the first remote 10 device 20 which is connected to the Ethernet switch 64 via the second
  • the third communication medium CM3 is omitted as well as the first field device 24.
  • the reason for this is that while the first and second communication media are cables, the third communication medium is not. It is a point-to-point connection. Therefore the third communication medium is not shown. As the first field device is only connected to the third communication medium it is not shown either.
  • the visualizing unit 46 is further configured to receive a user selection of a device in the view, step 76, and when such a selection is received it goes on and displays all the configurations of this device, step 78, where the configurations may comprise all the configurations or settings of the device in the system model.
  • the process control computer 18 has been selected.
  • there are service layer settings SLS there are service layer settings SLS,
  • Application layer settings ALS, Data link layer settings DLL and Physical layer settings PHY for process control computer 18 in the system model are displayed. It can therefore be seen in fig. 12 that, when this device is selected, these service layer settings SLS, application layer settings ALS, data link layer settings DLLS and Physical layer settings PHYS in the model are displayed.
  • This aspect of the invention thus enables the selection of a part of the topology (one ring, or everything in one building i.e. connected to location data), a sub-set of the layers or parameters (e.g. just show the cables, or just the VLANs), etc.
  • the aspect enables the entire information about a single device to be displayed at the same time. This thus allows the provision of an overview together with limited detail, which avoids cluttering.
  • topology at least a part
  • topology element device or connection/cable
  • Such a wireless terminal may comprise the network configuration device.
  • the wireless terminal may be set to communicate with the visualizing unit of the network configuration device.
  • the user may be able to select a network or a node or a device in a communication network that is simulated in the system model.
  • the general properties of the device are displayed to the user regardless of which level of detail is shown for other items in the same view.
  • live online values for parameters of the selected device may be collected from the process control system and displayed on the wireless terminal (a kind of "virtual" augmented reality). It may in this case also be possible to simulate and display data communication parameters for the part of the data communication network based on the live data values for the selected object.
  • the visualizing unit obtains data of physical devices in the real process control system or corresponding system simulation data, compares the data with corresponding data in the system model and displays at least the differences to the user.
  • the data being compared may for instance comprise parameters and condition values. The comparison is not only possible to make between the current live data and the currently used version of the system model. It is also possible to make for older system model versions as well as older, i.e. historic, physical device data.
  • the selected item may furthermore be displayed as an online or historic camera image, where the general properties for the type of item and live data for the selected item could then be superimposed on the online or historic camera image.
  • the visualization unit 46 receives an operator input to change a limitation of a communication parameter, such as a sample time, related to the selected device, calculate and display a calculated parameter result from the limitation change, i.e. to determine a change in the simulated values of the parameter, which change is caused by the limitation change. This change is then with advantage displayed together with the real-life values of the same parameter. Thereafter, upon command by the operator, to make the limitation change for a network function or device.
  • the changed limitation may thus be used in the actual communication network in the real process control system if being selected by the user.
  • the new limitation may thus be exported from the visualizing unit to the real device of the process control system
  • the wireless terminal may furthermore have a constrained display size, showing only the visual property view. It is also possible that the device selection is performed through identifying the corresponding physical device on location by interacting with it locally, e.g. by near-field communication, reading of Quick Response (QR) codes, reading a tag or manually entering information on the mobile device, etc.
  • QR Quick Response
  • OPC UA Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture
  • the visualizing unit 46 also has the capacity to show the trace of a signal through the process control system. How such a trace may be displayed is essentially shown in fig. 6 and 8.
  • a user may thus select a signal via the user interface 42, such as the previously mentioned motor variable speed signal SIi.
  • the visualizing unit 46 locates the end-to-end link between the pair of endpoint devices that has been determined for the signal. It more particularly obtains the items of the end-to end-link and selects items of the link that are to be presented for the user.
  • the visualizing unit 46 more particularly shows the trace or path that this signal of the link takes been the two endpoint devices in the system model. It may more particularly display some or all of the communication network elements between the two endpoint devices as well as some or all of the communication configurations of the communication network devices. It may thus display all the OSI layer settings as is shown in fig. 8.
  • the settings of one or more of the layers are omitted from the presentation, which may be done based on a user selection.
  • the configurations may thus be selectively displayed.
  • the user may select one or more of the OSI layer settings made in respect of the signal in the various communication network devices and the endpoint devices, which selected settings are to be displayed or alternatively omitted from being displayed and where the non-selected settings are consequently omitted from being displayed or alternatively displayed.
  • the visualizing unit 46 may in this way collapse the signal view in the vertical direction, which is the along the layers of the OSI model. It is also possible for the visualizing unit 46 to omit some or all of the communication network elements from the presentation, which may also be done based on a user selection.
  • the communication network elements may thus be selectively displayed.
  • the user may thus select one or more of the communication network elements between the endpoint devices that are to be displayed or alternatively omitted from being displayed and where the non-selected communication network elements are consequently omitted from being displayed or alternatively displayed.
  • the visualizing unit 46 provides a complete step-wise in-order tracing of a data connection for a signal through each device and ISO/OSI layer at the same time. For each device, function, layer, or group of the previous, it is thus possible to assess the configuration and status.
  • the visualizing unit 46 also allows a user to reduce the amount of presented information in a meaningful way, hiding intermediate hops (e.g. based on location of the devices) or hiding individual network layers (e.g. not showing cabling or hiding VLAN segments). Thereby it is possible to also assess devices, functions, network layers in almost arbitrary groups (e.g. consider the aggregated condition of all switches within one building that the signal passes through, when the building perspective has been "collapsed").
  • One advantageous approach is to also start with a completely collapsed picture of the signal trace, simply showing the two endpoints on the user layer. Then it is possible to unfold parts that give an indication that they most likely to be at the root cause of a (potential) issue.
  • the signal visualization may also display the order in which the signal passes through the communication network.
  • - locations can be hierarchical and it is possible to group and collapse also by parent locations (e.g. buildings instead of just rooms)
  • the signal trace functionality may be implemented through adding a provoketrace" context menu for each signal of an application in the user interface, where the selection of a trace for a signal in the menu leads to a pre- configured virtual signal trace. Pre-configuration can be done e.g. by taking the results of an automation root-cause analysis and hide devices or network layers which are considered unlikely to be the root cause.
  • the signal trace functionality has a number of advantages. It simplifies network engineering and particularly troubleshooting. Functioning signals are a key concern for any automation network. Through the signal trace functionality any user is offered a view on these important signals that ranges from hiding the complexity of networking to exposing it in the needed places, and only there. Details can be ignored or explored in an easy to understand manner. Putting focus on signals and showing only relevant information allows faster finding of problems. The underlying systematic approach also leads to a better quality. Tracing and probing networks is made remotely, physical handling of devices is only needed in case a device is actually broken.
  • the network configuration device may, as was previously mentioned, be provided in the form of one or more processors together with computer program memory including computer program code for performing its functions.
  • This computer program code may also be provided on one or more data carriers which perform the functionality of the network configuration device when the program code is being loaded into a computer forming the network configuration device.
  • One such data carrier 8o with computer program code 40, in the form of a CD ROM disc, is schematically shown in fig. 14.
  • Such a computer program may as an alternative be provided on another server and downloaded therefrom into the network configuration device.

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  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
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Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé permettant de configurer des dispositifs physiques d'un système de commande de processus, ledit procédé consistant à recevoir (50) une sélection d'utilisateur d'une paire de dispositifs périphériques qui doivent communiquer l'un avec l'autre, pour chaque paire consistant en outre à obtenir (52) des informations concernant une fonction de commande de processus pour la communication, à obtenir (54) des informations concernant des exigences de la fonction de commande de processus concernant la communication, à déterminer (56) une liaison de bout en bout sur la base des exigences de communication, chaque liaison comprenant les dispositifs périphériques et au moins un élément de réseau de communication et l'élément de réseau de communication d'au moins une liaison étant un dispositif de réseau de communication, à former (58) un modèle de système comprenant les dispositifs périphériques et un réseau de communication comprenant l'élément de réseau de communication, à déterminer (60) des configurations des dispositifs périphériques et des dispositifs de réseau de communication pour communiquer dans le réseau de communication, et à fournir (62) les configurations pour permettre une mise en œuvre dans des dispositifs physiques du système de commande de processus réel.
PCT/EP2015/078517 2015-12-03 2015-12-03 Configuration d'un système de commande de processus réel WO2017092811A1 (fr)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019204372A1 (fr) * 2018-04-17 2019-10-24 Edx Technologies, Inc. Instantané r pour la production de réalités augmentées
US20220353200A1 (en) * 2021-04-30 2022-11-03 Abb Schweiz Ag Monitoring a Communication System That is Used for Control and/or Surveillance of an Industrial Process

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090059814A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-03-05 Fisher-Rosemount Sytems, Inc. Configuring and Optimizing a Wireless Mesh Network
EP2821947A1 (fr) * 2013-07-02 2015-01-07 ABB Technology AG Procédé et système pour prendre en charge des tâches techniques dans des systèmes de commande répartis

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090059814A1 (en) * 2007-08-31 2009-03-05 Fisher-Rosemount Sytems, Inc. Configuring and Optimizing a Wireless Mesh Network
EP2821947A1 (fr) * 2013-07-02 2015-01-07 ABB Technology AG Procédé et système pour prendre en charge des tâches techniques dans des systèmes de commande répartis

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019204372A1 (fr) * 2018-04-17 2019-10-24 Edx Technologies, Inc. Instantané r pour la production de réalités augmentées
US20220353200A1 (en) * 2021-04-30 2022-11-03 Abb Schweiz Ag Monitoring a Communication System That is Used for Control and/or Surveillance of an Industrial Process
US11916806B2 (en) 2021-04-30 2024-02-27 Abb Schweiz Ag Monitoring a communication system that is used for control and/or surveillance of an industrial process

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