Patent ID: 6526323
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A distributed control device for transmitting and receiving information to and from a supervisory device via a communication path, the supervisory device providing information for an operator, the distributed control device being connected to a controlled device in a plant to control the controlled device and input and output plant information, the distributed control device comprising:an I/O interface for transmitting control signals to a controller for said controlled device and obtaining inputs from a sensor; data storage means for storing PIO data from said controller, sensor information, and additional information such as data obtention time; time obtention means for adding a time to data when the data is stored in the data storage means; data distribution means for distributing said PIO data, said sensor information, and other supervisory information; supervisory control means for carrying out supervisory control using the PIO data from said controller as well as the sensor information; a network interface for communicating with other distributed control devices and said supervisory device; and communication means for connecting the distributed control device to said other distributed control devices and said supervisory device.