Description

The invention relates to a process automation system with means for an automatic performance optimization, in particular an automatic optimization of acyclic data access in multi-protocol communication systems, wherein at least two different communication protocols P1 and P2 are used within the system. Furthermore, the inventions relates to a method for operation of a process automation system.

According to the proposed system, from a first P1 -aware component a detection of the occurrence, i.e. the start and the end, of a volume data transfer from a second P1 -unaware component (a component using the Protocol P2) by use of standardized P1-protocol data access requests is performed, in particular to detect the start and the end of a wireless volume data transfer from a wireless-unaware component using standardized HART commands.

The majority of smart field devices installed worldwide today are HART-enabled whereas the HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) Protocol is a global standard for sending and receiving digital information across analog wires between smart devices and a control or monitoring system. More specifically, HART is a bidirectional communication protocol that provides data access between intelligent field instruments and host systems. In today's networks wireless communication is widely-used and therefore accordingly the WirelessHART technology is likewise widely-used and provides a robust wireless protocol for the full range of process measurement, control, asset management applications, device parameterization, and device monitoring and diagnosis.

Based on the proven and familiar HART Communication Protocol, WirelessHART enables users to quickly and easily gain the benefits of wireless technology while maintaining compatibility with existing devices, tools, and systems.

In WirelessHART, the typical traffic during plant operation consists of few but periodic cyclic burst commands to or from each device. With a plurality of suchlike devices sharing the same (wireless) medium, still a significant overall amount of bandwidth is statically reserved and/or thus blocked for other applications, while the individual device can only access a fraction of this overall bandwidth. The existing WirelessHART Network Managers optimize the mesh bandwidth toward this communication pattern.

In comparison, when a user or system function executes a commissioning, diagnosis, or monitoring use-case, this may require a large amount of usable bandwidth to a single device, at an unpredictable point in time, and still expect a fast response. This only occurs acyclically and the existing WirelessHART Network Managers do not optimize for this communication pattern; they only reserve very little bandwidth for it.

In either case, the actual use of bandwidth does not have any noticeable effect on the schedule; in particular, Network Managers do not dynamically adjust bandwidth to acyclic access. Bandwidth can only be requested explicitly by a number of standard HART commands.

In other words, the problem with current WirelessHART implementations is that the schedules in WirelessHART are not optimized for acyclic data access; neither do the Network Managers dynamically adjust to this communication pattern (at least with sufficient adaption time). Native WirelessHART devices or their device tools can request additional bandwidth from the Network Manager to still speed up occasional acyclic data access since they are aware of these details of the WirelessHART protocol. In adapter retrofit scenarios or when using generic HART Device DTMs/FDI packages, the device tools have no knowledge of the wireless network. The only wireless- aware components are the gateway/adapter or their respective software tools.

This means that there is no device-specific component that can automatically adjust the bandwidth between device and gateway to the amount of transmitted data by using the abovementioned explicit commands. Statically allocating more bandwidth for acyclic data transfer to each device would still be a suboptimal solution because even more bandwidth is then permanently reserved and/or blocked for other use; furthermore, each device would still get access to only a fraction/share of the theoretically available overall bandwidth.

Particularly for full upload/download sequences, the user faces a high latency even though large amounts of bandwidth may be available in the network.

Being aware of these deficiencies with the present networks' environment it is an object of the invention to harmonize the data traffic in order to provide for secure and complete data transfer irrespective of possibly necessary efforts.

This object is achieved by a process automation system using at least two different communication protocols P1... Pn, having at least one P1-aware component, wherein P1 in particular relates to a wireless protocol, for detection of the occurrence of a P1 related volume data transfer, in particular a wireless volume data transfer, from at least one other component which might be a P1-unaware component, in particular a wireless-unaware component, whereas upon such detection the at least one P1- aware component, in particular the wireless-aware component, requests for bandwidth on behalf of that P1-unaware component, in particular the wireless-unaware component, to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again.

A preferred embodiment of the process automation system according to the invention is characterized in that upon starting a download from a device, the Communication DTM (Device-Type-Manager) for the P1 -gateway or in particular the wireless gateway compares the first sequence of a specified number of commands with a com- mand list which it has persistently stored for the specific device type which in particular indicates the transfer of a high volume of data. This list can be either provided by the manufacturer or the Communication Device-Type-Manager has learned it during previous downloads and checks for matching within a specified time interval. The performance increase is enabled by using a detection list which is shorter than the actual full volume data transfer.

Furthermore, the Communication DTM (Device Type Manager) may be prepared to issue in case of matching of the commands with those in the command list a HART bandwidth service request.

According to an advantageous feature the Communication DTM requests in case of matching of the commands with those in the command list additional bandwidth using standardized HART service request commands or enables proprietary functions like the Fast-Pipe functionality provided by wireless network managers from DUST Networks to acquire additional bandwidth.

Complementing the request, the Communication DTM which compares the commands releases bandwidth using standardized HART commands or closes the Fast- Pipe in case of matching of the commands with a defined number of commands at the end of the internal list or if no commands are sent anymore within a specified time interval.

According to a another embodiment, a process automation system likewise having at least one P1-aware, in particular wireless-aware, component for detection of the occurrence i.e. start and end of a P1 related, in particular wireless, volume data transfer from at least one other component which might be a P1 -unaware, in particular wireless-unaware, component whereas upon such detection the at least one P1 -aware, in particular wireless-aware, component requests for bandwidth on behalf of that Pi- unaware, in particular wireless-unaware, component to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again is characterized in that the download detection is implemented inside of a P1-HART Adapter, in particular a WirelessHART Adapter, and bandwidth is requested/released using corresponding standardized HART commands. According to a specific embodiment of the process automation system according to the invention, the P1-aware component is either a wireless device e.g. gateway, wireless adapter, or field device or a software component in the device management system for one device e.g. FDT Device DTM, FDT (Field Device Tool) Communication DTM, FDI (Field Device Integration) Communication Server, or an FDI (Communication) Device Package.

Furthermore, the invention is related to a method for operation of a process automation system according to one of the aforementioned features and embodiments whereas an upload/download is generally detected by either explicit initiation of the up/download in the wireless-aware component.

In this case, the wireless-aware component first causes a bandwidth request, then executes the up/download and requests the release of bandwidth.

Alternatively, automatic detection is provided in the wireless-aware component, whereas the wireless-aware component causes a bandwidth request during an ongoing up/download and requests the release of bandwidth after it determines that the access is over.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system according to the invention the automatic detection of an up/download is performed by either

• using circumstantial indicators e.g. an FDT or FDI Connect Request or Upload/Download function or

• heuristically measuring the average data rate and access duration to a communication end-point and using given threshold values or

• comparing all access sequences with a set of existing trigger command sequences,

• keeping a history of recent commands and seeing if a given percentage of hits in a reference command set, i.e. without specific sequence, exists, in particular a "hit list",

• using a hit list where the commands are determined by device families or profiles, e.g. there is a characteristic command set for temperature transmitters, • using a hit list where the commands are entirely device-specific.

According to a another preferred embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system the automatic detection of an up/download is performed by comparing all access sequences with a set of existing trigger command sequences either by comprising all commands of a known access sequence or by only comprising a part of the commands which may be derived from an arbitrary sub-sequence or from the sequence start for the earliest possible detection.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system is characterized in that the automatic detection of an up/download is performed by any combination of the alternatives given before, respectively where at least one detection method delivers a positive result.

According to a further embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system as defined before, the trigger command sequences are learned alternatively by observation, keeping an access history e.g. a command history which is stored in case of an up-/download detection or by pre-defining it during device manufacturing.

As a final alternative, the trigger command sequences are learned by obtaining them in the specific system from available field-device descriptions whereas as a specialty these descriptions are taken from the device catalogue where the device description is an EDD (Electronic Device Description) the command sequences of which are analyzed and/or it is instantiated as part of the specific P1-network, in particular the specific wireless network, by inserting or downloading it during runtime from another source which may have obtained the sequence.

Accordingly in a further refinement, device descriptions for the sequences are looked at and/or EDDs in the device catalog for the sequences are analyzed and/or the sequences are downloaded from another source. Advantageously, the method for operation of a process automation system according to the invention can be applied for further usage and application methods of the trigger sequence whereas two forms of implementation are provided.

According to the first form the trigger sequence is weihed or weighted, and the weight is modified upon each confirmed/unconfirmed detection so that the sub-sequence which is matched before the match is decided positive can be of dynamic length; the detection speed (depending directly on the sequence length being compared) and sequence reliability are thus optimized.

Alternatively, according to the second form the trigger sequence is weighed or weighted, and the weight is modified upon each confirmed/unconfirmed detection but with an actual reduction/increase of the sequence storage in order to save memory.

Furthermore, the method for operation of a process automation system cares for the bandwidth which is requested and released alternatively either by using proprietary mechanisms of a gateway e.g. a DUST fast-pipe, or by implementing a proprietary command in the P1 -adapters, in particular the wireless adapters, that causes them to request bandwidth from the gateway, e.g. the network manager, in a standardized way, for example a standardized HART "service request" command, or finally by sending a corresponding service request command directly to the gateway network manager.

All these particular forms and versions of the method which has been illustrated in detail before enrich the broad field of the invention in order to minimize the waiting time automatically that engineers or maintenance personnel experience when accessing large amounts of device data acyclically and/or to increase the system detection speed automatically if such data are accessed by an automatic system function i.e. the system cannot know about this and does not perform this method in advance, while at the same time being frugal with bandwidth resources.

Since the personnel is tied to the engineering client while up/downloads occur, minimizing waiting time reduces the commissioning time and subjectively improves the usability of the device management

Hence the invention affects an optimization of acyclic data access. These and further embodiments and improvements of the invention are subject matter of the sub-claims.

By means of an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanied drawings the invention itself, preferred embodiments and improvements of the invention and specific advantages of the invention shall be explained and illustrated in more detail.

It is shown in figures 1 to 4:

Fig. 1 exemplary embodiment of the process automation system

Fig. 2 exemplary embodiment of the process automation system by use of FDT / DTM components on system side

Fig. 3a exemplary embodiment of the process automation system by use of FDI components and Ethernet Communication Server on system side

Fig. 3b exemplary embodiment of the process automation system by use of FDI components, Ethernet communication Device Instance and Ethernet Communication Server on system side

Fig. 4 exemplary embodiment of the process automation system comprising upload/download detection and/or QoS level request from field side

Fig. 1 discloses an exemplary embodiment of the process automation system according to the invention, having at least one wireless-aware component for detection of the occurrence i.e. start and end of a wireless volume data transfer from at least one other component which might be a wireless-unaware component whereas upon such detection the at least one wireless-aware component requests for bandwidth on behalf of that wireless-unaware component to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again. Furthermore, a corresponding method for operation of the process automation system is disclosed, whereas an upload/download is generally detected by either explicit initiation of the up/download in the wireless-aware component, or by automatic detection in the wireless-aware component.

The exemplary process automation system according to Fig. 1 uses at least two communication protocols P1 and P2 and which has at least two devices natively supporting P2 (2). Furthermore, at least one device integration component for these devices (1 ) is provided and the system, in particular not only the respective integration component (1), but accordingly the real communication path, wherein the integration components (1),(6),(4) "only" represent this path, is set up so the communication path between P2- device integration component (1) and P2- device (2) uses at least protocols P1 and P2. As a further embodiment also other protocols may be involved and used, in particular at arbitrary points between device integration component (1) and device (2)".

The Device Integration Components may communicate ad-hoc or by first establishing an explicit connection to the device and may adapt communication protocols P1 and P2 into variants PV and P2' to run them inside of the system, in particular by means of a data processing management device and executable program code means, for example by wrapping them inside another protocol or communication layers like physical or link layer.

The Functions (10), in particular a resource management function, and (3), in particular a volume transfer detection function, may be implemented each within one of the devices and components (2),(4)-(9),(11) and may be implemented individually and communicate with at least one of the components and devices (2),(4)-(9),(11) to fulfill their task

Components (4), in particular a P1 master integration component, and (6), in particular a P1/P2 conversion component, may be combined so the resulting single component (1 1)supports multiple protocols. Further embodiments of the system as well as of the method according to the invention are disclosed in fig. 2 to fig. 4.

Accordingly said figures disclose:

A process automation system according to the invention which is characterized in that upon starting a download from a device, the Communication DTM (Device-Type- Manager) for the P1 -gateway or in particular the wireless gateway compares the first sequence of a specified number of commands with a command list which it has persistently stored for the specific device type. This list can be either provided by the manufacturer or the Communication Device-Type-Manager has learned it during previous downloads and checks for matching within a specified time interval. The performance increase is enabled by using a detection list which is shorter than the actual full volume data transfer.

Furthermore, the Communication DTM may be prepared to issue in case of matching of the commands with those in the command list a HART bandwidth service request.

Moreover, according to an advantageous feature the Communication DTM requests in case of matching of the commands with those in the command list additional bandwidth using standardized HART service request commands or enables proprietary functions like the Fast-Pipe from DUST Networks to acquire additional bandwidth.

Complementing the request, the Communication DTM which compares the commands requests the release of bandwidth or closes the Fast-Pipe in case of matching of the commands with those at the end of the internal list or if no commands are sent anymore.

According to a different process automation system likewise having at least one P1- aware, in particular wireless-aware, component for detection of the occurrence i.e. start and end of a P1 related, in particular wireless, volume data transfer from at least one other component which might be a P1 -unaware, in particular wireless-unaware, component whereas upon such detection the at least one P1 -aware, in particular wireless-aware, component requests for bandwidth on behalf of that P1 -unaware, in particular wireless-unaware, component to decrease the communication time and subsequently releases this bandwidth again is characterized in that the download detection is implemented inside of a P1-HART Adapter, in particular a WirelessHART Adapter, and bandwidth is requested/released using corresponding standardized HART commands.

According to a specific embodiment of the process automation system according to the invention the P1 -aware component is either a wireless device e.g. gateway, wireless adapter, or field device or a software component in the device management system for one device e.g. FDT Device DTM, FDT Communication DTM, FDI Communication Server, or an FDI (Communication) Device Package.

Furthermore, the figures also disclose a method for operation of a process automation system according to the invention, whereas an upload/download is generally detected by either explicit initiation of the up/download in the wireless-aware component.

The wireless-aware component first may cause a bandwidth request, then execute the up/download and requests the release of bandwidth.

In a further refinement also an automatic detection is providable in the wireless- aware component, whereas the wireless-aware component causes a bandwidth request during an ongoing up/download and requests the release of bandwidth after it determines that the access is over.

According to a further embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system according to the invention the automatic detection of an up/download is performed by either

• using circumstantial indicators e.g. an FDT or FDI Connect or Disconnect Request or

• heuristically measuring the average data rate and access duration to a communication end-point and using given threshold values or

• comparing all access sequences with a set of existing trigger command sequences,

• keeping a history of recent commands and seeing if a given percentage of hits in a reference command set, i.e. without specific sequence, exists, in particular a "hit list", • using a hit list where the commands are determined by device families or profiles, e.g. there is a characteristic command set for temperature transmitters,

• using a hit list where the commands are entirely device-specific.

Another embodiment of the method for operation of a process automation system is disclosed, whereas the automatic detection of an up/download is performed by comparing all access sequences with a set of existing trigger command sequences either by comprising all commands of a known access sequence or by only comprising a part of the commands which may be derived from an arbitrary sub-sequence or from the sequence start for the earliest possible detection.

Moreover, the automatic detection of an up/download may be performed by any combination of the alternatives given before respectively where at least one detection method delivers a positive result.

The present invention also comprises any combination of preferred embodiments as well as individual features and developments provided they do not exclude each other.