Patent ID: 7984118
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for configuring a first redundant control computer of a plurality of redundant control computers of a control system for controlling a process or one or more machines, said control system further including a host computer, a plurality of redundant control computers, an interface arranged to control said process or one or more machines, a plurality of redundant connections between said interface and said plurality of redundant control computers, wherein signals for monitoring and or controlling said process or one or more machines are transferred via said interface and said redundant connections between said process or one or more machines and said plurality of redundant control computers, each of said redundant control computers including a processor, a memory and a configurator which is stored in said memory, wherein one of said plurality of redundant control computers is a replacement redundant control computer that is electrically connected to a particular one of said redundant connections which was previously electrically connected to a failed redundant control computer, said method comprising: obtaining a location identifier from said interface, wherein said location identifier identifies said particular redundant connection that is connected to said replacement redundant control computer; providing said location identifier to said host computer; and configuring said replacement redundant control computer with configuration data provided by said host computer, wherein said configuration data includes a network address for said replacement redundant control computer that is related to said location identifier and wherein a second redundant control computer carries on said monitoring and controlling while said failed redundant control computer is being replaced by said replacement redundant control computer and said replacement redundant control computer is being configured.