US6556950B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Diagnostic method and apparatus for use with enterprise control
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1999-09-30
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Granted: 2003-04-29
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Expires: 2019-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A data construct set and method for use with an industrial process which is controlled according to execution code wherein a processor running the code generates requests to mechanical resources to cause the resources to perform the process, the construct enabling generation of diagnostic code interspersed within the execution code which, when an event is to occur, indicates the event to occur, the invention also including status based diagnostics generally and methods of using the data construct set for generating both execution code and status based diagnostics.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin J. Schwenke
- 👤 J. Andrew Sinclair
- 👤 Josiah C. Hoskins
- 👤 Ruven E. Brooks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:00
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B23/00; G05B23/02; G05B23/0205; G05B23/0208; G05B23/0216; G05B17/00; G05B17/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A development tool for use with a processor and a display, the processor for running execution code for controlling control mechanism sets which in turn control resources to perform an industrial process, the tool for generating execution code which includes a status based diagnostic agent which indicates progression of the execution code via the display, the tool comprising: for each mechanism set:a control assembly (CA) encapsulating at least: an execution logic specification specifying resource requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of the requests including sequential request events; and a diagnostic specification specifying events corresponding to at least a sub-set of the execution logic requests; whereby CA instances can be instantiated such that the combined instantiated CAs specify information required to generate execution code including status based diagnostics indicating the next event expected to occur, for the industrial process.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A development tool for use with a processor and a display, the processor for running execution code for controlling control mechanism sets which in turn control resources to perform an industrial process, the tool for generating execution code which includes a status based diagnostic agent which indicates progression of the execution code via the display, the tool comprising: for each mechanism set:a control assembly (CA) encapsulating at least: an execution logic specification specifying resource requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of the requests including sequential request events; and a diagnostic specification specifying events corresponding to at least a sub-set of the execution logic requests; whereby CA instances can be instantiated such that the combined instantiated CAs specify information required to generate execution code including status based diagnostics indicating the next event expected to occur, for the industrial process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein, for at least a sub-set of requests, the events includes termination events indicating the end of a request and wherein commencement of one request depends on completion of the termination event corresponding to a previous request.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tool of claim 2 wherein, for at least a sub-set of requests, the event includes intermediate events.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein each mechanism set is controllable and monitorable via I/O signals and has states corresponding to specific I/O combinations and wherein the events correspond to specific states.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein each mechanism set is controllable and monitorable via I/O signals and has states corresponding to specific I/O combinations, the execution logic specification specifying mechanisms within the corresponding mechanism set, mechanism sub-mechanisms, mechanism I/O and request event I/O combinations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The tool of claim 5 wherein the request events include termination events.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The tool of claim 5 wherein the request events include intermediate events.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein at least a sub-set of the diagnostic specifications are parameterizable.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use with a processor and an editor, the processor running execution code to control control mechanism sets which in turn control resources which perform an industrial process, the processor controlling by providing requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of requests including request events, the method for providing a programming tool to be used in conjunction with the editor to specify execution code including status based diagnostics and including the steps of, for each mechanism set: encapsulating in a control assembly (CA): an execution logic specification pecifying resource requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of the requests including sequential request events; and a diagnostic specification pecifying events corresponding to at least a sub-set of the resource requests.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for use with a processor and an editor, the processor running execution code to control control mechanism sets which in turn control resources which perform an industrial process, the processor controlling by providing requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of requests including request events, the method for providing a programming tool to be used in conjunction with the editor to specify execution code including status based diagnostics and including the steps of, for each mechanism set: encapsulating in a control assembly (CA): an execution logic specification pecifying resource requests to the mechanism sets, at least a sub-set of the requests including sequential request events; and a diagnostic specification pecifying events corresponding to at least a sub-set of the resource requests.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 9 also for specifying the execution code including status based diagnostics and, to this end, further including the step of, after encapsulating: instantiating CAs such that the combined instantiated CAs specify execution code, including status based diagnostics indicating the next event expected to occur, for the industrial process.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 also for generating the execution code including status based diagnostics and, to this end, further including the step of, after instantiating: compiling the CA instances to provide the execution code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, for at least a sub-set of requests, the events includes termination events indicating the end of a request and wherein commencement of one request depends on completion of the termination event corresponding to a previous request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein, for at least a sub-set of requests, the event includes intermediate events.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each mechanism set is controllable and monitorable via I/O signals and has states corresponding to specific I/O combinations and wherein the events correspond to specific states.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the diagnostic specification is parameterizable and wherein the step of instantiating includes parameterizing the diagnostic specification.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-28 | 2006-10-28 | 2007-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-10-28 | 2011-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-28 | 2014-10-28 | 2015-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |