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Method for a distributed control system

Method for a distributed control system description/claims

The present invention relates to an arrangement for analysing and/or monitoring functions and/or structures in a distributed control system that works with a first protocol.

The analysis and monitoring of functions in distributed systems are already known, for example control systems for machinery, vehicles, for example cars, processes, etc, of the type described in the patent applications and patents submitted and obtained by the same applicant and/or inventor as in the present patent application. Reference is made, among other things, to SE 466 726 and SE 0101987-6.

Reference is also made to the fact that many machines, cars, etc, are constructed with subsystems that work with protocols that are basically distinct, but that work together through gateways or protocol converters. Thus, for example, in cars more sophisticated components can be arranged to work with protocols based on CAN (Controller Area Network), while simpler parts of subsystems work with, for example, LIN.

There is a need to be able to analyse, simulate and monitor the subsystems in question using the same analysis tool and for this purpose it has been proposed that a special hardware module should be used, connected to the basic unit or tool via an interface. In addition to the necessity of an additional interface, in this case a special version of the application is required.

There is also a need for an arrangement in which the tool, simulation and protocol functions can be allocated to different specialists in the respective fields, with the result that the development of tools and protocols can be kept separate and that the tool developer does not need to have a thorough knowledge of the version of the protocol or that the protocol developer does not need to have a thorough knowledge of the tool functions.

There is also a need, in connection with different subsystems of this kind, to have arrangements for reliable and accurate indication of the time, on which functions in the subsystem are to be based.

There is also a need to be able to allocate computation-intensive and memory-intensive calculation and analysis tasks to different incorporated components in an optimal way (cf use of PC, PDA, etc). It is also advantageous in certain connections to be able to utilize unit(s) in or with different functions in different functional phases.

An object of the present invention is, among other things, to solve this problem and propose an arrangement that considerably simplifies the analysis and monitoring work and achieves an appropriate allocation of the tool, simulation and protocol functions.

The principle characteristics of the new arrangement are, among other things, the fact that a first unit is connected or can be connected to the control system, which first unit, due to its compatibility with the first protocol, can receive and/or send task instructions concerning the functions and/or structures, and the fact that the said first unit comprises or is connected to a second unit and transforms at least those parts in the first protocol that relate to the task instructions concerning the functions and/or structures into a second protocol, by means of which the said tasks can be initiated and/or carried out in a tool arrangement that is comprised in or can be connected to the second unit, which tool arrangement is arranged to work with the second protocol. In this way, primary readings and/or modifications in the first protocol on the basis of the analysis and/or monitoring can be carried out by means of secondary readings and/or modifications in the second protocol

Further developments of the invention are apparent from the following subsidiary claims.

The problems described by way of introduction are solved by means of what is proposed in the above.

The tool arrangement or basic unit can work with information stacks in several layers and can be designed to make possible analysis and/or monitoring of one or more distributed control systems. In general, a complete tool/analysis arrangement stack can logically be divided into the following functions:

1. Graphical presentation function [TN1]

2. Input data/output data function

3. Analysis/Simulation/Processing function

4. Database function

5. Protocol function

6. Network connection function.

For very simple protocols, all the functions can be carried out within a PC, but usually the functions 5 and 6 are allocated to one or two units that are specially developed for the network protocol that is used in the network that is to be analysed. The communication between the PC and the special protocol unit takes place using any protocol and connection standardized for general exchange of data between the PC and its peripherals, for example PCMCIA, V24, USB, etc. This communication only transfers data and the characteristics of the protocol are not used as basis for the analysis/processing work or for characteristics of the database. In order to solve the previously mentioned problems, the architecture is enhanced as follows for a first network protocol (which can be generic or special): [TN2]

to which the following are connected, adapted for a second protocol:

1. Gateway function

2. Analysis/Processing function

3. Database translation function

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