US5854890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fieldbus function block shell with user selectable data ownership
Assignee: National Instruments Corp
•
Filing: 1996-10-18
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Granted: 1998-12-29
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Expires: 2016-10-18
Abstract
Abstract A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network which comprises user selectable models of data ownership. The fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device and a function block shell executing on the fieldbus device. The method comprises receiving a request to access data on a fieldbus device. In response to the request, the function block shell determines the ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned. The shell accesses the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned. The user application accesses the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned. The method further includes shell notify and user pointer ownership models which provide additional flexibility.
Inventors
- 👤 Ram Ramachandran
- 👤 Sherwin Su
- 👤 Mike Klopfer
- 👤 Donald B. Goff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:05
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4185; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the user application comprises a function block application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device stores a plurality of block parameters, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application registering an ownership attribute with each of the block parameters with the shell; receiving a request to access data on a fieldbus device after said registering; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; and the user application accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the user application comprises a function block application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device stores a plurality of block parameters, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application registering an ownership attribute with each of the block parameters with the shell; receiving a request to access data on a fieldbus device after said registering; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; and the user application accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said possible ownership attributes include user pointer ownership, the method further comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell prior to receiving the request; creating a semaphore which controls accessing of the data, wherein the semaphore ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data by the user application and the shell, wherein the creating the semaphore is performed prior to the shell receiving the network request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership, the method further comprising: acquiring the semaphore for the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership; accessing the data after said acquiring the semaphore for the data; and releasing the semaphore after said accessing the data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the user application provides the request to access the data on the fieldbus device, the method further comprising: the user application invoking an access semaphore function on the shell to acquire the semaphore for the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer; and the user application invoking a release semaphore function on the shell to release the semaphore for the data after said accessing the data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device, the method further comprising: the shell executing an access function to request permission from the user application to perform the access; the shell performing the access if the user application grants permission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the shell performing the access further comprises: the shell acquiring the semaphore for the data; accessing the data after said acquiring the semaphore for the data; and releasing the semaphore after said accessing the data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said possible ownership attributes include user alone ownership, and wherein the request to access data is provided by the user application, the method further comprising: the user application accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user alone ownership; wherein the shell does not have direct access to the data when the ownership attribute of the data is user alone ownership.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, and wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device; wherein the receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device comprises the shell receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device; the method further comprising: the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; and the user application accessing the data in response to the shell executing the access function to access the data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, and wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device; wherein the receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device comprises the shell receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device; the method further comprising: the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell in response to the shell executing the access function; and the shell accessing the data in response to the user application providing the pointer to the data to the shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, and wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device; wherein the receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device comprises the shell receiving the request to access data on the fieldbus device; the method further comprising: the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access function; and the user application returning an error code if the access of data is not permitted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said possible ownership attributes include shell notify ownership, and wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device; the shell executing an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell notify ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the shell is a fieldbus function block shell.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, the method comprises: the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell in response to the shell invoking the access function; and the shell accessing the data in response to the user application providing the pointer to the data to the shell.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, the method comprises: the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell in response to the shell invoking the access function; and the shell accessing the data in response to the user application providing the pointer to the data to the shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, the method further comprising: determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell invoking the access function; the user application returning an error code if the access of data is not permitted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, the method further comprising: the user application accessing the data in response to the shell invoking the access function in the user application; wherein the shell receiving the network request to access data on the fieldbus device comprises the shell receiving a network request to write data to the fieldbus device; wherein the user application accessing the data in response to the shell invoking the access function in the user application comprises the user application processing the data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned, the method further comprising: the user application accessing the data in response to the shell invoking the access function in the user application; wherein the shell receiving the network request to access data on the fieldbus device comprises the shell receiving a network request to read data from the fieldbus device; wherein the user application accessing the data in response to the shell invoking the access function in the user application comprises the user application storing the data in a buffer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said possible ownership attributes include user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data, the method further comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell prior to the shell receiving the network request; creating a semaphore which ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data prior to the shell receiving the network request; and wherein said semaphore is used during accesses to the data to ensure mutual exclusion for accessing the data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said possible ownership attributes include user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data; wherein the shell invoking an access function comprises the shell invoking an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data, wherein the shell invoking the access notify function is performed in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell; creating a semaphore which controls accessing of the data, wherein the semaphore ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data by the user application and the shell; receiving a request to access data on a fieldbus device after said providing and after said creating the semaphore; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned or user pointer ownership; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; and the user application accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell; creating a semaphore which controls accessing of the data, wherein the semaphore ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data by the user application and the shell; receiving a request to access data on a fieldbus device after said providing and after said creating the semaphore; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned or user pointer ownership; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; and the user application accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership, the method further comprising: acquiring the semaphore for the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership; accessing the data after said acquiring the semaphore for the data; and releasing the semaphore after said accessing the data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the user application provides the request to access the data on the fieldbus device, the method further comprising: the user application invoking an access semaphore function on the shell to acquire the semaphore for the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer; and the user application invoking a release semaphore function on the shell to release the semaphore for the data after said accessing the data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 19, wherein the request to access data is a network request from a remote device, the method further comprising: the shell executing an access function to request permission from the user application to perform the access; the shell performing the access if the user application grants permission.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the shell performing the access further comprises: the shell acquiring the semaphore for the data; accessing the data after said acquiring the semaphore for the data; and releasing the semaphore after said accessing the data.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell in response to the shell executing the access function; and the shell accessing the data in response to the user application providing the pointer to the data to the shell.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned, wherein the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell in response to the shell executing the access function; and the shell accessing the data in response to the user application providing the pointer to the data to the shell.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; and the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access function; and the user application returning an error code if the access of data is not permitted.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned or shell owned; and the shell executing an access function to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access function; and the user application returning an error code if the access of data is not permitted.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or shell notify ownership; the shell executing an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell notify ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: receiving a network request from a remote device to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or shell notify ownership; the shell executing an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell notify ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell; creating a semaphore which ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data; the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device after said providing and after said creating; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data user pointer ownership, said semaphore is used during accesses to the data to ensure mutual exclusion for accessing the data.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
192 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the user application providing a pointer to the data to the shell; creating a semaphore which ensures mutual exclusion for accessing the data; the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device after said providing and after said creating; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data user pointer ownership, said semaphore is used during accesses to the data to ensure mutual exclusion for accessing the data.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership, the method comprises: the shell invoking an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data, wherein the shell invoking the access notify function is performed in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
231 words
A method for accessing data on a fieldbus device in a fieldbus network, wherein the fieldbus device includes a user application executing on the fieldbus device, wherein the fieldbus device further includes a shell executing on the fieldbus device, the method comprising: the shell receiving a network request to access data on a fieldbus device; determining an ownership attribute of the data, wherein possible ownership attributes include user owned, shell owned, or user pointer ownership, wherein said user pointer ownership allows said user application and said shell to access the data; the shell accessing the data in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is shell owned; the shell invoking an access function to the user application in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user owned; wherein, if the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership, the method comprises: the shell invoking an access notify function to request permission of the user application to access the data, wherein the shell invoking the access notify function is performed in response to determining that the ownership attribute of the data is user pointer ownership; the user application determining if the access of data is permitted in response to the shell executing the access notify function; and the shell accessing the data if the user application determines that the access of data is permitted.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-28 | 2002-06-29 | 2002-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-28 | 2006-06-29 | 2006-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-28 | 2010-06-29 | 2010-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |