Method for changing software data of a field device and a system comprising such a field device

Abstract

A method for changing software data of a field device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the field device has, in or on a housing, a device code that can be optically detected using a mobile device. An embodiment of the method includes detecting a first device code with a reader unit of the mobile device, accessing primary device data of the field device by the mobile device, and converting the primary device data to secondary device data. The embodiment further includes detecting a second device code and subsequently transmitting the secondary device data to the field device. The second device code may be the same as or different from the first device code. The disclosed embodiments furthermore comprise an associated system.

Claims

1. A method for changing software data of a field device, wherein the field device has a housing and wherein applied to or in the housing is a first device code that can be detected using a mobile device at close range, the method comprising: detecting, in a first identification step, the first device code by a reader unit of the mobile device; accessing, by the mobile device, primary device data of the field device; converting the primary device data to secondary device data; detecting, by the mobile device in a second identification step, a second device code associated with the field device; subsequent to detecting the second device code, transmitting the secondary device data to the field device; and utilizing, by the field device in a completion step, the secondary device data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first device code is formed as at least one of: an optically detectable passive code, an optically detectable active code, an acoustically detectable code or an inductive Near Field Code (NFC).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second device code is the same as the first device code.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the second device code of a given field device and transmitting the secondary device data by the mobile device to the given field device are performed prior to detecting a second device code of another field device.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, immediately before or after transmitting the secondary device data to the field device, receiving, by the mobile device in a first verification step, a first physical signal sent by the field device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first physical signal comprises a light signal sent using a light-emitting diode (LED) or an audio signal.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising receiving, by the mobile device in a second verification step after the first verification step, a second physical signal sent by the field device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: sending, by the field device and before the first or the second verification step, a test data set to a superordinate device unit; comparing, by the superordinate device unit, the test data set with target test data; and based on an agreement between the test data set and the target test data, sending, by the superordinate device unit, a confirmation data set to the field device, and wherein the first or second verification step or the completion step is triggered by the field device only after a receipt of the confirmation data set by the field device.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, before detecting the first device code, sending, by the field device, a physical information signal detectable by the mobile device or an operator of the mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising, before the first or the second verification step: receiving, by a superordinate device unit, an operator ID from an operator of the mobile device; comparing, by the superordinate device unit, the operator ID with a target operator ID; and based on an agreement of operator ID with the target operator ID, sending, by the superordinate device unit, an approval to carry out the first or second verification step, the second identification step or the completion step.

11. A system, comprising: at least one field device, wherein: applied to or in a housing of the field device is a first device code detectable using a mobile device in a first identification step and a second device code detectable using the mobile device in a second identification step; the field device is associated with primary device data accessible by the mobile device after the first identification step; the field device is configured to receive secondary device data produced by the mobile device and to utilize the secondary device data after the second identification step; and at least one superordinate device unit coupled to and configured for communication with the at least one field device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first device code is the same as the second device code.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the superordinate device unit is configured to activate the field device and perform communication between the field device and the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one control unit and at least one data store.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the superordinate device unit includes the at least one control unit and at least one data store.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the field device is configured to send a first physical signal detectable by the mobile device in a first verification step.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the field device comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and the first physical signal comprises a light signal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the field device comprises a coil, actuator, or other component and the first physical signal comprises an audio signal.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the field device is configured to send a second physical signal detectable by the mobile device in a second verification step.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the superordinate device unit is configured to: receive a test data set from the field device; compare the test data set with a target test data set; and based on an agreement between the test data set and the target test data set, send a confirmation data set to the field device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system as described herein.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method as described herein.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a group of field devices as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] An exemplary system 40, which is formed to carry out the method according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments, is shown in FIG. 1. Herein, a field device 10 is shown with a one-sided or multi-sided housing 12 and a device code 14 that can be detected by an operator with a mobile end device 20. In this exemplary system 40, the mobile end device 20 has a reader unit 22 and a display 24. A superordinate device unit 30 has a control unit 32 and a data store 34, and it is connected to the field device 10; in an embodiment, the superordinate device unit 30 acts as a central control and regulating unit. The system is configured such that the device code 14 can be scanned or detected by the reader unit 22 of the mobile end device 20; this communication capability is indicated by a dotted line 21 between the device code 14 and the reader unit 22. In this exemplary system 40, there is a first data connection 13 between the field device 10 and the superordinate device unit 30, and a second data connection 23 between the mobile end device 20 and the superordinate device unit 30.

[0048] In an exemplary method 100, as shown in FIG. 2, the following steps are performed. In an embodiment, method 100 is performed using the exemplary system 40 as described above.

[0049] Step 101: Scan of the first device code 14 as QR code of the field device 10 to be coupled as first identification step (read function).

[0050] Step 102: The field device 10 scanned in this way is indicated on the display 24 of the mobile end device 20 (show function).

[0051] Step 103: Selection of the field device 10 in the display 24 or by means of a display input in the case of the detection of a plurality of field devices.

[0052] Step 104: Display of the relevant device information, such as process values, diagnostic data, datasheets, parameters, etc. (select function).

[0053] Step 105: Carrying out a first verification step on the basis of the personal authorizations (right function), by comparing an operator ID recorded in the mobile end device 20 with a centrally recorded target ID: [0054] a) Level 1: basic function as a pure view function [0055] b) Level 2: analogous to Level 1 with authorization of process-relevant parameter changes [0056] c) Level 3: analogous to Level 2 with authorization to trigger e.g. updates and/or superordinate structural changes.

[0057] Step 106: Conversion of the primary device data into secondary device data by the operator, depending on Levels 1 to 3.

[0058] Step 107: Second scan of the first (one) device code 14 or a second device code as second identification step.

[0059] Step 108: Acquisition of the secondary device data by the field device 10 (write function).

[0060] Step 109: Transmission of a hash value by the field device 10 to a superordinate device unit 30.

[0061] Step 110: Confirmation of the hash value by the superordinate device unit 30 to the field device 10.

[0062] Step 111: Carrying out the completion step in/by the field device 10.

[0063] The important thing in the method here is that a unique, second identification has to be effected between the same mobile end device and the field device in particular before the recording (writing) and/or activating of secondary device data on the field device. Thus, it is in particular advantageous if a device ID, such as a MAC address, is at least temporarily stored in the field device or a superordinate device unit in the first identification step.

[0064] In the above-mentioned method 100, the field devices 10, as shown in FIG. 3, are IO-Link modules in a switch and control cabinet 50, wherein the device codes 14 are applied to or printed on the narrow front surface as 7.5 × 7.5 mm large QR codes, which are digitally readable with a usual QR code scanner of a smartphone or tablet computer.