Patent ID: 7809995
Filing Date: 2010-10-05
Classification: G05B,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring an automation system with a main processor to control a technical installation, comprising: monitoring and controlling parts of the technical installation based upon a user software, wherein the user software has a plurality of program modules executed on the main processor, wherein a co-processor is assigned to the main processor; upon invoking of a program module of the plurality of program modules on the main processor, transmitting an invoke message for the invoked program module from the main processor to the co-processor; starting a corresponding monitoring time for the invoked program module on the co-processor when the invoke message is received by the co-processor, the corresponding monitoring time used to monitor a processing time of the invoked program module; wherein, if a further message indicating an elapse of the invoked program module is received by the co-processor from the main processor within a predetermined time limit, the corresponding monitoring time is reset thereby indicating a faultless operation of the invoked program module; otherwise, identifying a fault upon receipt of the further message indicating the elapse of the invoked program module after the corresponding monitoring time elapses or when the further message indicating the elapse of the invoked program module is not received at all, thereby indicating the processing time has exceeded the predetermined time limit to allow for further fault analysis.