Method of configuring a field device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) for configuring a field device, the method comprising the following steps: - identifying (110) an original Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) server provided for the same type of field device; - creating (120) a dataset of parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server; - storing (130) the created dataset of parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server; and - generating (140) a configuration for the field device, including the created dataset using the parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in the storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for configuring field devices, one or more computer programs, a non-transitory computer storage medium, a download product, one or more computers having one or more computer programs, one or more computers having a non-transitory computer storage medium, and one or more computers having a download product. Background Technology

[0002] Industrial plants are equipped with many field devices, based on Electronic Device Description (EDD) or Field Device Integration (FDI) packages, and communication protocols can be configured, such as High Speed ​​Addressable Remote Sensor (HART) protocol, fieldbus base, Profibus, or ProfiNet.

[0003] Field devices can provide Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture (OPC UA) servers with parameters that can be used to configure the field devices, such as on edge devices, and in fact, some field devices can have embedded OPC UA servers.

[0004] However, if the OPC UA server is offline or the field device with an embedded OPC UA server is offline, the field device cannot be configured.

[0005] It is necessary to solve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, improved technologies for configuring field devices will be advantageous.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims, wherein further embodiments are incorporated in the dependent claims.

[0008] In a first aspect, a method for configuring field devices is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

[0009] - Identifies the original open platform communication unified architecture "OPC UA" server provided for the same type of field devices;

[0010] - Create a dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server;

[0011] - The dataset created using the parameter values ​​from the original OPC UA server is stored on a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server; and

[0012] - Generate configurations for field devices, including a dataset created using parameter values ​​from the original OPC UA server stored on a separate storage medium from the original OPC UA server.

[0013] Therefore, even when the provided OPC UA server is offline, configurations can be generated for field devices because a twin of the OPC server is actually generated, storing the parameters required to generate the field device configuration. Thus, field devices can use OPC UA configurations in offline mode.

[0014] In one example, the field device includes a raw OPC UA server.

[0015] In other words, the field device has an embedded OPC UA server.

[0016] In other words, an OPC UA server can be part of a field device, and the field device and its associated OPC UA server can be offline, but the field device's configuration can still be generated and then sent to the field device when it connects or, in other words, reconnects. Therefore, a field device can be configured even if it is not physically installed, meaning it is not visible in the topology. In this case, configuration can be performed offline based on the field device's type and parameter set (template).

[0017] In other words, the parameters of the field devices can be extracted from a single instance, and these parameters can be used as default parameters for all devices of the same type.

[0018] In one example, the method includes sending the configuration to the field device or another field device of the same type when the field device is online.

[0019] In this way, the OPC UA server can be offline and detached from the field device, or the field device with an embedded OPC UA server can be offline, and then the OPC UA server also goes offline, but the configuration can still be generated for the field device and sent to the field device immediately after the field device comes back online or connected.

[0020] In one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0021] - A dataset containing the parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server.

[0022] In other words, the parameters are extracted from the OPC UA server provided for the field device, and are always embedded features of the field device, whether or not they are separate from the field device. These parameters are effectively stored as digital twins, enabling the generation of field device configurations in all situations.

[0023] In one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0024] - A dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server extracted from devices of the same type.

[0025] In one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0026] - A dataset containing the parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server, extracted from the reference data store.

[0027] In other words, the actual OPC UA server provided for the field device does not need to be queried to extract parameters, but a reference store containing information about these parameters can be accessed to provide a digital twin of the OPC UA server that is virtually never asleep. This enables the generation of field device configurations, whether the OPC UA server is offline or part of a field device.

[0028] In one example, the steps of creating a dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server and storing the created dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server include creating a digital twin of the original OPC UA server.

[0029] In one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0030] - Create a dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

[0031] Based on one example, this value can be managed in the template.

[0032] Therefore, depending on the circumstances, the data between the digital twin and the original OPC UA server will be synchronized.

[0033] In one example, the method includes the step of configuring one or more additional field devices using a dataset created from parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server, the one or more additional field devices being instances of the field.

[0034] In a second aspect, one or more computer programs are provided, the computer programs including machine-readable instructions that, when executed on one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform the method according to the first aspect.

[0035] In a third aspect, a non-transitory computer storage medium and / or download product having one or more computer programs according to the second aspect is provided.

[0036] In the fourth aspect, one or more computers having one or more computer programs according to the second aspect are provided.

[0037] In the fifth aspect, a computer having one or more non-transitory computer storage media and / or download products according to the third aspect is provided.

[0038] The above aspects and examples will become apparent from the embodiments described below, and will be illustrated with reference to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0040] Figure 1 The method for configuring field devices is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Figure 1 Method 100 involves configuring field devices. Basic steps are shown in bold, and optional steps are shown in dashed.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the method 100 for configuring field devices includes the following steps:

[0043] -Identifier 110 provides the original open platform communication unified architecture "OPC UA" server for the same type of field devices;

[0044] - Create a dataset of parameter values ​​for 120 raw OPC UA servers;

[0045] - Store the created dataset containing the parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server; and

[0046] - Generate 140 configurations for field devices, including a dataset created using parameter values ​​from the original OPC UA server stored on a separate storage medium from the original OPC UA server.

[0047] Therefore, for example, in order to create parameter values, data from field devices can be used for all devices of the same type.

[0048] In this way, data can be extracted from the same type of field equipment even when the original OPC UA server is not yet connected to the system.

[0049] According to one example, the field device includes a raw OPC UA server.

[0050] According to one example, the method includes the step of sending the configuration to the field device or another field device of the same type when the field device is online.

[0051] According to one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0052] - Extract a dataset of 150 parameter values ​​from the original OPC UA server.

[0053] According to one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0054] - A dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server extracted from devices of the same type.

[0055] According to one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0056] - A dataset containing the parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server, extracted from the reference data store.

[0057] According to one example, the steps of creating a dataset of 120 parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server and storing the created dataset of parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server include creating a digital twin of the original OPC UA server.

[0058] According to one example, the method includes the following steps:

[0059] - Create a dataset of parameter values ​​for the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

[0060] According to one example, parameter values ​​are managed in the template.

[0061] According to one example, the method includes the step of configuring one or more additional field devices using a dataset created from parameter values ​​of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server, the one or more additional field devices being instances of the field.

[0062] As can be clearly seen from the above, one or more computer programs may be provided, the computer programs including machine-readable instructions that, when executed on one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform method 100.

[0063] Furthermore, as can be clearly seen from the above, a non-transitory computer storage medium and / or download product may include one or more computer programs.

[0064] Then, one or more computers can operate using one or more computer programs.

[0065] One or more computers may then include non-transitory computer storage media and / or download products.

[0066] Therefore, today's intelligent field devices with communication protocols such as HART, Fieldbus Foundation, Profibus, or ProfiNet can be configured based on EDD or FDI device encapsulation, and can be configured with or without a connected device, based solely on the description of the EDD. The configuration can then be sent to the device.

[0067] Furthermore, field devices with embedded OPC UA servers for device configuration have recently been observed, containing tools (e.g., UA Expert) for connecting to the OPC UA server and browsing and modifying parameters of the field device. However, it is now possible to generate configurations when the field device and its embedded OPC UA server are offline, and then send the configurations back to the field device when it comes back online.

[0068] In addition, all field devices can be handled in the same way using the new configuration method.

[0069] Therefore, information about the structure and contents of the OPC UA server is used to configure field devices, even if the field devices are unavailable (offline). For each type of field device, the information required for offline configuration is extracted once from the available (online) OPC UA server of the field device and then used for all other instances of that field device type.

[0070] Therefore, in a specific embodiment, a digital twin of the OPC UA server is created based on information extracted from the original OPC UA server. During the creation of the digital twin, a set of parameter values ​​for the OPC UA server are created from the data of the original OPC UA server. At this point, all activities will be performed through the digital twin, in other words, regardless of the availability of the original OPC UA server. In some cases, the data between the digital twin and the original OPC UA server will be synchronized.

[0071] Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings and the foregoing description, such description and illustration are to be considered illustrative or exemplary, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will understand and implement other variations of the disclosed embodiments through a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims.

Claims

1. A method (100) of configuring a specific field device, the method comprising the steps of: - identifying (110) an original Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture, "OPC UA", server provided for a field device of the same type as the specific field device; - creating (120) a dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server; - storing (130) the created dataset of the parameter values of the original OPC UA server in a storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server; and - generating (140) a configuration for the specific field device including utilizing the created dataset of the parameter values of the original OPC UA server in the storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific field device comprises the original OPC UA server.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the method comprises sending the configuration to the specific field device when the specific field device is online.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the method comprises sending the configuration to another field device of the same type as the specific field device when the specific field device is online.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises the step of: - extracting (150) the dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server from the original OPC UA server.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises the step of: - extracting the dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server from a device of the same type as the specific field device.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises the step of: - extracting the dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server from a reference data store. creating (160) a digital twin of the original OPC UA server.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the steps of creating (120) the dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server and storing (130) the created dataset of parameter values of the original OPC UA server in the storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server comprise:

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the method comprises the step of: - creating (170) the dataset of the parameter values of the original OPC UA server in the storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the values are managed in a template.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the step of configuring one or more further field devices, which are instances of the field, with the created dataset of the parameter values of the original OPC UA server in the storage medium separate from the original OPC UA server.

12. A computer program product comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed on one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11. ​ 13. A non-transitory computer storage medium having one or more computer program products according to claim 12.

14. A computer having one or more computer program products according to claim 12.

15. A computer having the non-transitory computer storage medium according to claim 13.

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