Automatic Configuration of Field Devices for an Industrial Plant

Abstract

A system and method for configuring a field device for use in an industrial plant includes creating, from device description information of the field device, and/or from a template configuration, T, stored in association with the field device and/or in association with a type of the field device, an instance of a configuration for the field device; setting values of configuration parameters in the instance to default values given by the device description information, and/or to values given by the template T; determining semantic meanings of configuration parameters in the instance; obtaining, from a data store, values of configuration parameters stored in association with the field device and semantic meanings; writing each value obtained from the data store to a configuration parameter in the instance whose semantic meaning matches the semantic meaning of the value; and provisioning the field device with the instance of the configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for configuring a field device for use in an industrial plant, comprising: creating, from device description information of the field device, and/or from a template configuration, T, stored in association with the field device and/or in association with a type of the field device, an instance of a configuration for the field device; setting values of configuration parameters in the instance to default values given by the device description information, and/or to values given by the template T; determining semantic meanings of configuration parameters in the instance; obtaining, from a data store, values of configuration parameters stored in association with the field device and semantic meanings; writing each value obtained from the data store to a configuration parameter in the instance whose semantic meaning matches the semantic meaning of the value; and provisioning the field device with the instance of the configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device description information comprises an Electronic Device Description, EDD, and/or a Device Package, DP, of the field device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the template T takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the data store takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information, and/or over a value obtained from the template T.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the semantic meaning comprises obtaining the semantic meaning from a library where it is stored in association with the field device and with a name of the configuration parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple field devices that are connected to a network of the industrial plant are provisioned in bulk.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the provisioning of the multiple field devices with instances of configurations is performed in response to a predetermined condition regarding a load on the network being met.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting a user for input of a value of a configuration parameter that is required for startup of the field device but not provided by any of the device description information, the template T, and the data store.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the field device is a device that is in direct physical interaction with an industrial plant, and/or with an industrial process executed on this industrial plant.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the field device is a sensor device that is disposed to supply at least one measurement value of a physical quantity to a distributed control system, DCS, of the industrial plant, and/or an actor device that is to enact a control command received from the DCS on the plant.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method steps of creating and provisioning are performed by an Asset Management System, AMS, of the industrial plant.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing at least one industrial process on the industrial plant with the participation of the field device.

13. A computer that includes a storage device containing computer executable instructions in tangible form that, when executed, perform functions comprising: creating, from device description information of a field device, and/or from a template configuration, T, stored in association with the field device and/or in association with a type of the field device, an instance of a configuration for the field device; setting values of configuration parameters in the instance to default values given by the device description information, and/or to values given by the template T; determining semantic meanings of configuration parameters in the instance; obtaining, from a data store, values of configuration parameters stored in association with the field device and semantic meanings; writing each value obtained from the data store to a configuration parameter in the instance whose semantic meaning matches the semantic meaning of the value; and provisioning the field device with the instance of the configuration.

14. The computer claim 13, wherein the device description information comprises an Electronic Device Description, EDD, and/or a Device Package, DP, of the field device.

15. The computer of claim 13, wherein, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the template T takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information.

16. The computer of claim 13, wherein, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the data store takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information, and/or over a value obtained from the template T.

17. The computer of claim 13, wherein the determining of the semantic meaning comprises obtaining the semantic meaning from a library where it is stored in association with the field device and with a name of the configuration parameter.

18. The computer of claim 13, wherein multiple field devices that are connected to a network of the industrial plant are provisioned in bulk.

19. The computer of claim 18, wherein the provisioning of the multiple field devices with instances of configurations is performed in response to a predetermined condition regarding a load on the network being met.

20. The computer of claim 13, further comprising prompting a user for input of a value of a configuration parameter that is required for startup of the field device but not provided by any of the device description information, the template T, and the data store.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0014] FIG. 1 is a flowchart for a method for configuring a field device for use in an industrial plant in accordance with the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary setting where the method shown in FIG. 1 may be employed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic flow chart of an embodiment of the method 100 for configuring a field device 2 for use in an industrial plant 1. In step 110, an instance 2a of a configuration for the field device 2 is created from device description information of the field device 2, and/or a template configuration, T, stored in association with the field device 2 and/or in association with a type of the field device 2.

[0017] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the device description information comprises as an Electronic Device Description, EDD, and/or a Device Package, DP, of the field device 2. But the device description information may also come in any other suitable form or format.

[0018] In step 120, values of configuration parameters 2b in the instance 2a are set to default values given by the EDD and/or the DP, and/or to values given by the template T. Herein, according to block 121, for one and the same configuration parameter 2b, a value obtained from the template T may take precedence over a default value given by the EDD and/or the DP.

[0019] In step 130, semantic meanings 2b* of configuration parameters 2b in the instance 2a are determined. According to block 131, this may comprise obtaining the semantic meaning 2b* from a library where it is stored in association with the field device 2 and with a name of the configuration parameter 2b.

[0020] In step 140, values of configuration parameters 3b stored in association with the field device 2 and semantic meanings 3b* are obtained from a data store 3.

[0021] In step 150, each value obtained from the data store 3 is written to a configuration parameter 2b in the instance 2a whose semantic meaning 2b* matches the semantic meaning 3b* of the value. Herein, according to block 151, for one and the same configuration parameter 2b, a value obtained from the data store 3 may take precedence over a default value given by the EDD and/or the DP, and/or over a value obtained from the template T.

[0022] In the example shown in FIG. 1, in step 160, a user is prompted for input of a value of a configuration parameter 2b that is required for startup of the field device 2 but not provided by any of the EDD, the DP, the template T, and the data store 3, so as to avoid inadvertent omissions.

[0023] In step 170, the field device 2 is provisioned with the instance 2a of the configuration.

[0024] According to block 171, multiple field devices that are connected to a network 1a of the industrial plant 1 may be provisioned in bulk.

[0025] According to block 171a, the provisioning of the multiple field devices 2 with instances 2a of configurations is performed in response to a predetermined condition regarding a load on the network 1a being met.

[0026] In step 180, at least one industrial process is executed on the industrial plant 1 with the participation of the field device 2.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary situation where the method 100 may be used. An industrial plant 1 comprises multiple field devices 2, 2′. The field devices 2, 2′, a distributed control system, DCS, and an asset management system, AMS, are connected to a network 1a of the industrial plant 1. The AMS houses a data store 3 in which values of configuration parameters 3b are stored in association with field devices 2, 2′ and semantic meanings 3b*. The AMS also stores Electronic Device Descriptions, EDD, and/or Device Packages, DP, as device description information for the field devices 2, 2′.

[0028] In the situation shown in FIG. 2, an instance 2a of a configuration for the field device 2 is created. The values of the configuration parameters 2b in this instance 2a are composed partly of values from the EDD and/or DP, partly of values from the template T, and partly of values from the data store 3. Values from the data store 3 are written to configuration parameters 2b in the instance 2a if the semantic meaning 3b* to which they are bound in the data store 3 matches the semantic meaning 2b* of the configuration parameter 2b in the instance 2a.

[0029] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the template T takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information. As discussed above, the value from the template T is motivated by plant-specific knowledge and may therefore be more appropriate than a default value that is fixed without having regard to the concrete industrial plant in which the field device will be used.

[0030] Likewise, in a further particularly advantageous embodiment, for one and the same configuration parameter, a value obtained from the data store takes precedence over a default value given by the device description information, and/or over a value obtained from the template T. A value that has been fixed with the purpose of this one particular field device in mind is more likely to be appropriate than a value that has been fixed based on only generic knowledge about the industrial plant, or even without such knowledge.

[0031] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, the determining of the semantic meaning comprises obtaining the semantic meaning from a library where it is stored in association with the field device and with a name of the configuration parameter. In the example mentioned above, if different field devices name a pressure set-point “pset”, “set-p” and “p-set-bar”, the library may store the semantic meaning “pressure set-point” in association with each field device and the respective name for the pressure set-point. One way of creating and using such a library is detailed in published co-pending application EP 3 929 673 A1.

[0032] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, multiple field devices that are connected to a network of the industrial plant are provisioned in bulk. That is, one and the same data store may store values of configuration parameters for very many field devices, and the task of fixing the configuration parameters in the data store may be temporally uncoupled from the actual roll-out of the instances of configurations. For example, the roll-out may be performed at nighttime when it is less inconvenient that field devices may be temporarily nonfunctional while their configuration parameters are being updated. For example, updating certain configuration parameters may necessitate a reboot of the field device.

[0033] Another reason to perform the roll-out at a later time may be network load. That is, the provisioning of the multiple field devices with instances of configurations may be performed in response to a predetermined condition regarding a load on the network being met. In particular, if there is only limited bandwidth available, the provisioning may be performed at a time where less bandwidth is needed for the normal operation of the industrial plant. Also, the provisioning of different field devices may be scheduled to be performed at different times. If the field devices are connected to a network with a bus topology, this is a shared medium, and provisioning all field devices at the same time may cause congestion on this shared medium. Also, the scheduling may be modified to ensure that not too many field devices in certain sections of the plant are updated and momentarily unresponsive at exactly the same time, so that the section as a whole stays functional at all times.

[0034] Exemplary situations where there are bandwidth constraints include situations where the field device is connected to the network by means of a two-wire connection, and/or by means of a radio connection that is limited to a duty cycle of at most 1%. In particular, if there is a duty cycle limitation, a central management entity sending out instances of configurations to many field devices may exhaust its duty cycle very quickly and is then temporarily unable to send any further commands to field devices.

[0035] In a further particularly advantageous embodiment, a user is prompted for input of a value of a configuration parameter that is required for startup of the field device but not provided by any of the device description information, the template T, and the data store. In this manner, inadvertent omissions in the data store may be spotted before the instances of configurations are rolled out to field devices. For example, it may be avoided that a nightly rollout of a configuration with an omission of an important parameter renders the field device nonfunctional all night.

[0036] The field device may, in particular, be a device that is in direct physical interaction with an industrial plant, and/or with an industrial process executed on this industrial plant. In particular, the field device may be a sensor device that is to supply at least one measurement value of a physical quantity to a distributed control system, DCS, of the industrial plant, and/or an actor device that is to enact a control command received from the DCS on the plant.

[0037] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the method steps described so far may be performed by an Asset Management System, AMS, of the industrial plant. Such an AMS may keep values of configuration parameters for all field devices on file in offline storage. In particular, the AMS may administer or even host the data store.

[0038] In a further advantageous embodiment, the method further comprises executing at least one industrial process on the industrial plant with the participation of the new field device. In this context, the method provides the advantage that the industrial process is more reliable because it is more likely that all field devices in the industrial plant actually run with the intended values of the configuration parameters that are stored in the data store. Also, the risk that the industrial process is interrupted due to important omissions in configurations is reduced.

[0039] The method is computer-implemented and can therefore be embodied in software. The invention therefore also provides computer program, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed on one or more computers and/or compute instances, cause the one more computers and/or compute instances to perform the method described above. In particular, process controllers, microcontrollers and other electronic devices that are able to execute machine-readable instructions may be regarded as computers as well. Compute instances comprise virtual machines, containers and any other execution environments in which machine-readable instructions may be executed. The invention also relates to a machine-readable data carrier, and/or a download product, with the computer program. A download product is a product that may be sold in an online shop for immediate fulfillment by download. The invention also provides one or more computers and/or compute instances with the one or more computer programs, and/or with the one or more machine-readable data carriers and/or download products.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0040] 1 industrial plant [0041] 2, 2′ field devices [0042] 2a instance of configuration for field device 2 [0043] 2b configuration parameters in instance 2a [0044] 2b* semantic meanings of configuration parameters 2 [0045] 3 data store [0046] 3b configuration parameters in data store 3 [0047] 3b* semantic meanings of configuration parameters 3b [0048] 100 method for configuring field device 2 [0049] 110 creating instance 2a [0050] 120 setting configuration parameters 2b to default values [0051] 130 determining semantic meanings 2b* of configuration parameters 2b [0052] 140 obtaining configuration parameters 3b from data store 3 [0053] 150 writing values from data store 3 if semantic meanings 2b*, 3b* match [0054] 160 prompting user for missing value of configuration parameter 2b [0055] 170 provisioning field device with instance 2a of configuration [0056] 171 provisioning multiple field devices 2 in bulk [0057] 171a provisioning in response to condition regarding load on network 1a [0058] 180 executing industrial process on industrial plant 1 [0059] AMS asset management system [0060] EDD electronic device description [0061] DCS distributed control system [0062] DP device package [0063] T template configuration

[0064] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0065] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0066] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.