Patent ID: 6298454
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G05B

Abstract:
A diagnostic tool for use in a process control system having a multiplicity of function blocks adapted to control a process device during operation of a process, the diagnostic tool comprising:a data collection unit configured to communicate with each of the multiplicity of function blocks to receive, on a regular basis during operation of the process control system, data pertaining to a function block operating parameter for each of the multiplicity of function blocks;a data analyzer that determines a value for the function block operating parameter for each of a number of times during operation of the process control system based on the received function block operating parameter data;a detector that detects a problem within the process control system based on the determined values of the function block operating parameter; and an output generator that creates a report indicating the detected problem,wherein the function block operating parameter is a variability parameter and wherein the data analyzer determines a variability value associated with one of the function blocks at each of the number of times based on collected function block operating parameter data.