Abstract:
A control system having a host computer and one or more control computers connected to an interface for control of a process or machinery. The control computers are capable of automatically initiated network address assignment and configuration when powered up after installation. The network address is based on a location identifier situated in the interface that corresponds to a specific connection thereof to the control computer. The control computer reads the location identifier from the interface and requests a network address. The host computer assigns the network address based on the location identifier. Configuration of the control computer then proceeds. The procedure applies to newly installed control computers, whether first time installment or a replacement for a failed control computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to processing systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to multiple computers of a control system that acquire signals from and/or supply signals to a machine or a process being monitored or controlled and to methods for configuring the computers. 
     2. Discussion of the Background Art 
     Repair of a multiple processor system typically includes steps for the physical replacement of a failed processor and subsequent re-establishment of required configuration information. The configuration information typically provides customization of the software running on each processor. Human interaction typically is needed to determine the correct configuration information to load into the system. The human interaction may be through a hardware jumper selection, the operation of a configuration program, or other methods. In any of these methods, the re-establishment of the configuration information may impede the repair process. For example, the system may be shut down or be unusable while a replacement processor is being substituted for the failed processor. Thus, a problem to be solved is how to re-establish the correct configuration information in the replacement processor. 
     Accordingly, there is a continuing desire for a multiple processor system in which a processor can be configured without the need for human intervention. 
     Also, there is a desire for continued operation of a multiple processor system during the time that a failed processor is being removed and a replacement processor is being installed. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosure describes a technical solution to the problem of how to re-establish the correct configuration in a replacement computer. The technical solution is an arrangement by which the configuration data, once initially established, is saved based on a relationship of a connecting location of a failed computer to an interface. A replacement computer reads a unique identifier associated with the location, which is used to access the configuration data. This solution results in an automated configuration process for the replacement computer and eliminates the possibility of a system failure due to improper configuration of a replacement computer. 
     A first method embodiment configures a first computer by obtaining a location identifier from an interface that is connected to the first computer. The location identifier is provided to a second computer. The first computer is configured with configuration data provided by the second computer, the configuration data including a network address for the first computer that is related to the location identifier. 
     A second method embodiment configures a control computer, by assigning a network address to the control computer based on a location identifier of a connection of the control computer to an interface with a controlled and/or monitored process or machinery. A relationship of the location identifier with the network and a configuration data is saved. The configuration data is provided to the control computer. 
     A control computer embodiment is for a control system that includes a host computer and an interface arranged to control a process or one or more machines. The control computer embodiment includes at least a first program instruction that causes a processor of the control computer to obtain a location identifier from the interface. At least a second program instruction causes the processor to provide the location identifier to the host computer. At least a third program instruction causes the processor to configures the control computer with configuration data provided by the host computer, wherein the configuration data includes a network address for the control computer that is related to the location identifier. 
     A host computer embodiment is for a control system that includes a control computer and an interface arranged to control a process or one or more machines. The host computer embodiment includes at least a first program instruction that causes the processor to assign a network address to the control computer based on a location identifier of a connection of the control computer to the interface. At least a second program instruction causes the processor to save a relationship of the location identifier with the network and a configuration data. At least a third program instruction causes the processor to provides the configuration data to the control computer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-computer control system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an alternative network between a control computer and the host computer of the control system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the control computer of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of the configurator of the control computer of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the host computer of the control system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of the configurator of the host computer of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a control system is illustrated by way of reference numeral  20 . Control system  20  includes a host computer  22  and one or more channels  24  and  26  that are arranged to monitor and/or control a process or one or more machines  28 . Although only two channels are shown, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more channels can be used. As each of the channels  24  and  26  are substantially identical, only channel  24  will be described in detail. 
     Channel  24  includes an interface  30 , control computers  32 ,  34  and  36  and communication links  38 ,  40  and  42 . Interface  30  includes one or more connections to process or machine  28  and redundant connections to control computers  32 ,  34  and  36 . For example, the signals being monitored by interface  30  are transferred via three paths in  FIG. 1 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that more or less paths may be used. Interface  30 , for example, may be a terminal board that accepts wiring from process or machine  28  and electrically connects to one or more control computers  32 ,  34  or  36 . 
     Interface  30  includes a unique electronic identifier (ID)  44  for the connection to control computer  32 , a unique electronic identifier (ID)  46  for the connection to control computer  36  and a unique electronic identifier (ID)  48  for the connection to control computer  38 . Electronic IDs  44 ,  46  and  48  may be provided simply by coded wiring, a memory (e.g., a ROM, an EPROM) and the like. 
     Signals acquired by interface  30  are conveyed to control computers  32 ,  34  and  36 , which condition the signals and process them for transfer to host computer  22 . For example, each of the control computers  32 ,  34  and  36  may include an analog to digital converter that converts analog signals to digital form for processing and transfer to host computer  22 . 
     Communication links  38 ,  40  and  42  provide independent signal paths between host computer  22  and each of the control computers  32 ,  34  and  36 . For example, communication links  38 ,  40  and  42  may be implemented in an Ethernet topology and protocol, although other topologies and protocols may be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , redundant communication links may also be used. Thus, control computer  32  may be provided with communication link  38  and an independent communication link  50  for redundancy purposes. Control computers  34  and  36  may be provided with similar redundant communication links. 
     Control computers  32 ,  34  and  38  may be any suitable computing devices. For example, the computing device may be implemented as a single special purpose integrated circuit, such as an ASIC, having a main or central processor section for overall, system-level control, and separate sections dedicated performing various different specific combinations, functions and other processes under control of the central processor section. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the computing device can also be implemented using a variety of separate dedicated or programmable integrated or other electronic circuits or devices, such as hardwired electronic or logic circuits including discrete element circuits or programmable logic devices, such as PLDs, PALs, PLAs or the like. Also, the computing device can also be implemented using a suitably programmed general-purpose computer, such as a microprocessor or microcontrol, or other processor device, such as a CPU or MPU, either alone or in conjunction with one or more peripheral data and signal processing devices. In general, any device or similar devices on which a finite state machine capable of implementing the flow charts, as illustrated in the application, can be used as the control. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary control computer  32  includes a processor  52 , an input/output (I/O) units  54 , a communication module  56  and a memory  58  that are all interconnected by a bus  55 . I/O units  54  include the aforementioned analog to digital converter and other signal shaping circuits to condition signals supplied by interface  30  for use by control computer  32  and to condition signals to be supplied from control computer  32  to interface  30 . 
     Communication module  56  includes the circuit topology and protocol necessary to communicate via communication link  38  and/or communication link  50 , if used. Memory  58  includes any suitable type of memory, such as random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, and other types of memory. 
     Control computer  32  also includes an operating system  60 , a configurator  62  and a configuration tool  64  that are stored in memory  58 . Operating system  60  causes processor  52  to execute configurator  62  to communicate with host computer  22  to obtain a network address and to be configured with the use of configuration tool  64 . Configuration tool  64  may be any suitable configuration tool, known presently or in the future. Configurator  62 , as well as other programs, may be stored on a memory media  66  that can be used to load configurator  62  into memory  58 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , configurator  62  begins at step  70  upon control computer  32  being powered up. At step  72 , it is determined whether control computer is newly installed, as would be the case at the time of initial installation or replacement installation. If not newly installed, configurator  62  is exited. If newly installed, step  74  reads unique electronic ID  44  from interface  30 . At step  76 , a request is issued to host computer  22  for assignment of a network address. The request includes unique electronic ID  44 . At step  78 , the assigned network address is received from host computer  22 . At step  80 , configuration tool  64  is caused to configure control computer  32  with configuration data that is received from host computer  22  and that is unique to the control computer connected to the connections of interface  30  that are associated with electronic ID  44 . When the configuration is completed, configurator  62  is exited. The configuration data, for example, may include network address, signal scaling and operating rate. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the sequence order of the steps of configurator  62  can be changed without altering the scope of the disclosure. For example, step  72  can be performed at any point in the sequence order prior to step  80 . It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that configurator  62  includes one or more program instructions for each step  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an exemplary host computer includes a processor  102 , an input/output (I/O) units  104 , a communication module  106  and a memory  108  that are all interconnected by a bus  105 . I/O units  104  include, for example, a keyboard, mouse, display and printer. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that host computer  22  may be one of several host computers configured to control and monitor process or machine  28  via channels  24  and  26 . 
     Communication module  106  includes the circuit topology and protocol necessary to communicate via communication link  38  and/or communication link  50 , if used. Memory  108  includes any suitable type of memory, such as random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, and other types of memory. 
     Host computer  22  also includes an operating system  110 , a configurator  112  and a configuration tool  114  that are stored in memory  108 . Operating system  110  causes processor  102  to execute configurator  112  to communicate with host processor  22  to obtain a network address and to be configured with the use of configuration tool  114 . Configuration tool  114  may be any suitable configuration tool, known presently or in the future. Configurator  112 , as well as other programs, may be stored on a memory media  116  that can be used to load configurator  112  into memory  108 . Configurator  62  could also be stored in memory media  116 , loaded into memory  108  and then downloaded into memory  58  of control computers  32 ,  34  and  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , configurator  112  at step  120  receives a request from control computer  32  for a network address. The network address is assigned at step  122  and the relationship between the electronic ID of the requestor, the network address and the configuration data is stored. At step  124 , the network address is sent to the requestor. 
     At step  126  the configuration tool  114  is used to download to control computer  32  configuration data that is unique to the electronic ID of the requestor. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that configurator  112  includes one or more program instructions for each step  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126 . 
     It should also be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.