EP0132069A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Distributed process control system with means and method of automatic data base management of broadcast information
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1984-06-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A distributed process control system is shown in which a number of distributed processing units are connected by means of a cable. Portions of the system data base aretransm- itted repetitively while other data is only transmitted upon request. Each of the processors looks at all of the data messages transmitted over the highway and selects only those for storage which relate to its local operations. However, each message also contains a status word, a bit of which can be set to indicate that, for example, an alarm condition is in effect, so that each of the processors can be alerted to this whether or not they would ordinarily be interested in that specific data point. In this way, flexibility of communication of the system is maintained while each local processor is not required to have enough memory to store all the process variables involved.
Inventors
- 👤 Kirk Douglas Houser
- 👤 Carl Joseph Staab
- 👤 Warren Albert Edblad
- 👤 Donald James Jones
- 👤 David Michael Oravetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0763; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4181; G06F13/00; G06F13/14; G06F13/36; G06F13/368; G06F13/372; G06F13/38; G06F13/42; G06F13/4247; G06F13/4256; G06F15/00; G06F15/16; G06F15/161; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y02P90/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A distributed process control system having a plurality of processors (64) at varying points (76) in the system, and a data highway (70) interconnecting said processors (64) characterized in that each said processor has circuitry for obtaining data from respective system points and for transmitting said data as messages on said highway, each of said processors having circuitry (72) to receive said messages and to analyze status words and to detect when a given condition exists.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A distributed process control system having a plurality of processors (64) at varying points (76) in the system, and a data highway (70) interconnecting said processors (64) characterized in that each said processor has circuitry for obtaining data from respective system points and for transmitting said data as messages on said highway, each of said processors having circuitry (72) to receive said messages and to analyze status words and to detect when a given condition exists.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized in that each processor has detecting circuitry responsive to detection that an alarm condition exists and circuitry for transmitting a request for additional information concerning the point with respect to which the alarm condition exists.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the processors comprise first circuitry for examining and determining identifier portions of messages received; second circuitry for examining said status portions of said messages to determine whether an alarm condition exists elsewhere in the system; and request circuitry for requesting additional information concerning any such alarm condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 3 characterized by storing circuitry for storing identifiers corresponding to data points of interest and a comparator for comparing said identifier portion of each message with stored identifiers and circuitry for examining a predetermined bit of each status portion of said message to determine an alarm condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that said processor includes a functional processor coupled through a register to a data highway processor, said data highway processor containing said first and second examining circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
A system according to claim 1 having a highway connecting said processors, each processor having circuitry for obtaining and storing data, the total data base of said system being too large for storage in any one processor, each processor also having a transmitter for transmitting data messages over said highway and receiving circuitry for receiving said data messages from other processors, said transmitter having circuitry for including a data identifier portion in each said data message passed over said highway, said receiving circuitry having a comparator for comparing said identifier portions with stored identifiers and selecting less than all said transmitted messages, said transmitter additionally comprising including circuitry for including a status portion with each said data message, said receiving circuitry additionally having a decoder for decoding said status portions and for selecting additional messages, whether or not the associated identifier portions match any stored identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized in that said processors each also having examining circuitry for examining all of status portions of signals to determine whether the associated messages are of interest to said processor, regardless of whether their identifiers are stored therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized by communicating circuitry for communicating messages including alarm indications over said data highway without interruption of periodic data message transmissions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized by a plural path data highway in which each said processor has circuitry for outputting messages onto said highway at intervals and selecting circuitry for selecting messages of other processors as required, each processor being associated with plural detecting circuitry for detecting messages on respective paths of said highway and for generating a signal that a message has been properly received when this has been done, and comprising a receiver for receiving a particular detected message from the detecting means outputting the first said signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized in that a system having a processor has a receiver for detecting messages on a bus, for performing error checking steps on said messages and for outputting good message received signals to said processor upon satisfactory performance of said error checking steps, said receiver comprising at least two receivers connected respectively to different ones of said bus paths, said processor having selecting circuitry for selecting the message received by the first of said receivers to output said good message received signal, whereby all of said receivers are constantly on line and are used interchangeably.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 10 characterized in that said processors are distributed processors in a distributed process control system and comprise operator terminals, process control points, and data acquisition points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 11 comprising two paths providing redundant connection of said processors, each of said paths being physically differently positioned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system according to claim 1 characterized in that the processors are connected by plural cables, each of said processors comprising plural receivers each for receiving and decoding messages passed over a respective one of said cables, for performing error checking thereon and for providing a good message received signal to the associated processor when a message has been correctly decoded, said processor having selecting circuitry for selecting each said message from the receiver which first provides said signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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