JP2009025868A - Communication interface module and program - Google Patents

Abstract

The burden of a host device is reduced.
A communication interface module includes a logical name of a monitoring point of an input / output device, a primary physical address of a monitoring point viewed from a primary controller, and a secondary physical address of a monitoring point viewed from a secondary controller. The related definition database to be associated, the status management means for managing the status of the controllers 3 and 4, and when the data is requested from the host devices 1 and 2, the related definition database and the status information are referred to. The data of the monitoring point specified by the primary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in is returned to the higher-level devices 1 and 2, and in the case of redundancy when the primary controller is stopped, the secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request Returns the monitoring point data specified by That includes a parameter access means.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a supervisory control system used in the field of process control and the like, and more particularly to a communication interface module for connecting between a redundant controller for controlling input / output devices and a host device, and a program therefor.

  Conventionally, a supervisory control system used in the field of process control or the like may adopt a redundant (redundant) configuration of controllers that perform data collection and control in order to improve system reliability (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  Patent Document 2 discloses a monitoring control system that facilitates switching between the first controller (primary controller) and the second controller (secondary controller) when such a redundant configuration is adopted. Yes. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional monitoring control system disclosed in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, for example, 101 is a host device that manages process operation, 102 is a primary controller, 103 is a secondary controller, and 104 is a network that connects the host device 101 and the controllers 102 and 103.

  The host apparatus 101 has a related definition database 105. The relation definition database 105 defines relations between the monitoring points of the primary controller 102, the monitoring points of the secondary controller 103, and the logical points. When the host apparatus 101 collects data of a certain logical point, the non-redundant (when the primary controller 102 is operating) refers to the relation definition database 105 to monitor the primary controller 102 associated with the logical point. The data is collected from the monitoring point of the secondary controller 103 associated with the logical point with reference to the related definition database 105 when redundant (when the primary controller 102 is stopped).

JP-A-9-325811 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-338741

According to the monitoring control system shown in FIG. 9, handling of monitoring points and the like can be facilitated.
However, since the monitoring control system shown in FIG. 9 performs processing corresponding to the redundant configuration of the lower level controller in the higher level device, when there are a large number of higher level devices, the redundant configuration of the controller in each higher level device. There is a problem that it is necessary to perform processing corresponding to the above, and the burden on the host device increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a communication interface module and a program capable of reducing the burden on a host device when a redundant controller is employed in a monitoring control system. With the goal.

The present invention is a communication interface module for connecting a redundant configuration controller that controls input / output devices and its host device, and is viewed from the logical name of the monitoring point of the input / output device viewed from the host device and from the primary controller. A relational definition database that associates and stores a primary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point and a secondary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the secondary controller, and status information of the primary controller and the secondary controller. Status management means for always managing, and when the host device requests the monitoring point data, the secondary controller refers to the related definition database and the status information, and the primary controller operates. When the non-redundancy is stopped, the monitoring point data specified by the primary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is returned to the host device, and the primary controller stops and the secondary controller operates. In the case of redundancy, parameter access means is provided for returning data of the monitoring point specified by the secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request to the host device.
In addition, one configuration example of the communication interface module according to the present invention further includes a primary physical address or a secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name when the physical address managed in the related definition database is different from the real address of the input / output device. Emulation means for converting an address into a real address of the input / output device is provided.
Further, in one configuration example of the communication interface module of the present invention, the related definition database virtually expands the physical address space of the primary controller and the secondary controller, and more than the number accessible by the physical address space. When adding an input / output device, the logical name of the monitoring point of the added input / output device, the extended primary physical address and the extended secondary physical address are stored in association with each other, and the emulation means As a result of referring to the related definition database, when the primary physical address or secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is the extended primary physical address or secondary physical address, the extended primary physical address or The Secondary physical address and converts it into a real address of the additionally provided input and output devices.

  In addition, the present invention is a communication interface module program for causing a computer to function as a communication interface module, which is a status management procedure for always managing status information of a primary controller and a secondary controller, and monitoring points of input / output devices from a host device. When data is requested, the logical name of the monitoring point viewed from the host device, the primary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the primary controller, and the secondary physical that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the secondary controller With reference to the relation definition database that stores the address in association with each other and the status information, when the primary controller is operating and the secondary controller is stopped, The primary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is acquired from the relation definition database, and when the primary controller is stopped and the secondary controller is operating, it corresponds to the logical name included in the request. A monitoring point specifying procedure for acquiring a secondary physical address from the related definition database, and a reply procedure for returning data of the monitoring point specified by the primary physical address or the secondary physical address acquired by the monitoring point specifying procedure to the host device; Is to be executed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, a related definition database is provided in the communication interface module, and based on the status information of the related definition database, the primary controller, and the secondary controller, the parameter access means is the data of the monitoring point according to the request from the host device. Is returned to the host device, so that it is not necessary to perform processing corresponding to the redundant configuration of the controller in the host device, and the burden on the host device can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, by providing emulation means in the communication interface module, even if the duplex configuration of the controller and the duplex configuration of the input / output devices are different, data processing can be performed with the dual configuration of the controller as viewed from the host device. Address can be converted to

  In the present invention, by providing the emulation means, it is possible to add more input / output devices that are accessible by the original physical address space managed by the primary controller and the secondary controller.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are host devices, 3 is a primary controller, 4 is a secondary controller, 5 is input / output equipment connected to the primary controller 3, 6 is input / output equipment connected to the secondary controller 4, and 7 is host. A communication interface module that performs protocol conversion necessary for information exchange between the devices 1 and 2 and the controllers 3 and 4, 8 is an information network that connects the host devices 1 and 2 and the communication interface module 7, and 9 is a communication interface module 7 is a control network connecting the controller 7 and the controllers 3 and 4.

  The host devices 1 and 2 provide a human interface to the operator of the monitoring control system, and a plurality of the host devices 1 and 2 are installed according to the installation environment and application. These host devices 1 and 2 perform, for example, process data monitoring and status monitoring and operation of each component device of the monitoring control system.

  The process control controller has a duplex configuration of a non-redundant primary controller 3 and a redundant secondary controller 4, and the control target also has a duplex configuration of the input / output device 5 and the input / output device 6. Examples of the input / output devices 5 and 6 include a sensor, a pressure gauge, a flow meter, a switch, a display, a valve, and a pump.

An example of the information network 8 is a local control network (LCN (registered trademark)), for example.
An example of the control network 9 is a universal control network (UCN (registered trademark)), for example.

  The communication interface module 7 performs protocol conversion necessary for information exchange between the host devices 1 and 2 and the controllers 3 and 4, and provides orderly data access between the host devices 1 and 2 and the controllers 3 and 4. To do. The communication interface module 7 transmits process data, alarm messages, and the like from the controllers 3 and 4 to the upper devices 1 and 2 and transmits setting data from the upper devices 1 and 2 to the controllers 3 and 4.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the communication interface module 7. The communication interface module 7 includes an information network interface unit 70 connected to the information network 8, a control network interface unit 71 connected to the control network 9, and monitoring of the input / output devices 5 and 6 as viewed from the host devices 1 and 2. Association definition for storing the logical name (Tagname) of a point, the physical address of the monitoring point of the input / output device 5 viewed from the primary controller 3, and the physical address of the monitoring point of the input / output device 6 viewed from the secondary controller 4 in association with each other Managed by the database 72, the parameter access function unit 73 that returns the requested monitoring point data to the host devices 1 and 2 when the monitoring device data is requested from the host devices 1 and 2, and the related definition database 72. The actual address of the input / output devices 5 and 6 is different In this case, the emulation function unit 74 that performs address conversion, the status management unit 75 that constantly monitors the statuses of the primary controller 3 and the secondary controller 4, and status information that indicates the states of the primary controller 3 and the secondary controller 4 are stored. And a mapped file 76.

The communication interface module 7 is constituted by a computer, and an OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) hierarchical structure showing a hierarchical structure of software of communication functions that the computer should have is as shown in FIG.
The parameter access program 77 that implements the parameter access function unit 73, the emulation program 78 that implements the emulation function unit 74, and the related definition database 72 belong to the application layer and are mapped to the status management program 79 that implements the status management unit 75 The file 76 belongs to the presentation layer.

Next, the operation of the monitoring control system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the supervisory control system.
When the host devices 1 and 2 collect data of the monitoring points of the input / output devices 5 and 6 under the controllers 3 and 4, the host devices 1 and 2 transmit a parameter access request (step S1 in FIG. 4). At this time, the upper devices 1 and 2 designate a desired monitoring point by a logical name (Tagname) included in the parameter access request.

The information network interface unit 70 of the communication interface module 7 receives the parameter access request via the information network 8 (step S2).
The parameter access function unit 73 receives this parameter access request, refers to the related definition database 72 and the mapped file 76, and specifies a monitoring point corresponding to the logical name included in the parameter access request (step S3).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the relation definition database 72. As shown in FIG. 5, the relation definition database 72 includes the logical names of the monitoring points of the input / output devices 5 and 6 as viewed from the host devices 1 and 2 and the physical names of the monitoring points of the input / output device 5 as viewed from the primary controller 3. An address (hereinafter abbreviated as a primary physical address), a physical address (hereinafter abbreviated as a secondary physical address) of a monitoring point of the input / output device 6 as viewed from the secondary controller 4, and an attribute (such as a name of the monitoring point) Are stored in association with each other. The physical address is a node number, an I / O slot number, a subslot number, and a terminal number in order from the top. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, the primary physical address corresponding to the logical name “AD0101” has a node number “29”, an I / O slot number “1”, a subslot number “0”, and a terminal number “1”. Is.

  The status management unit 75 constantly monitors the states of the primary controller 3 and the secondary controller 4 based on switching signals, alarm signals, and the like from the controllers 3 and 4, and displays status information indicating the states of the primary controller 3 and the secondary controller 4. Store in the mapped file 76. The status information includes “primary” indicating that the primary controller 3 is operating and “secondary” indicating that the primary controller 3 is stopped and the secondary controller 4 is operating.

  The parameter access function unit 73 refers to the mapped file 76. When the status information is “primary”, the parameter access function unit 73 identifies the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name as the monitoring point identified by the primary physical address, and the status information Is “secondary”, the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name is identified as the monitoring point identified by the secondary physical address (step S3).

  In specifying such a monitoring point, the emulation function unit 74 determines that the duplex configuration of the controllers 3 and 4 is different from the duplex configuration of the input / output devices 5 and 6 (the physical address managed by the controllers 3 and 4 and the input / output device 5). , 6), the addresses are converted so that data processing can be performed with the dual configuration of the controllers 3 and 4 as viewed from the host devices 1 and 2.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the operation of the emulation function unit 74. Here, although the actual node number of the input / output device 5 is also 29 with respect to the node number 29 managed by the primary controller 3, the input / output device 6 has a node number 30 managed by the secondary controller 4. A case where the actual node number is 157 will be described.

  As described above, when the status information of the mapped file 76 is “secondary”, the parameter access function unit 73 specifies that the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name is the monitoring point specified by the secondary physical address. At this time, the emulation function unit 74 adds 128 to the node number of the secondary physical address recorded in the related definition database 72 to convert the secondary physical address. For example, when the logical name is “AD0101”, the secondary physical address corresponding to this is “30.1.0.1”, but the emulation function unit 74 sets the secondary physical address to “157.1.0. 1 ". In this way, the physical address of the related definition database 72 can be converted into a real address.

Next, the parameter access function unit 73 collects monitoring point data of the primary physical address or secondary physical address identified in step S3 through the control network interface unit 71, and passes the collected data to the information network interface unit 70 ( Step S4).
The information network interface unit 70 returns the data at the monitoring point as a response to the parameter access request to the requesting higher-level devices 1 and 2 (step S5).
The host devices 1 and 2 receive monitoring point data via the information network 8 and execute predetermined processing such as accumulation, display, and calculation (step S6).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the provision of the communication interface module 7 eliminates the need for the host devices 1 and 2 to perform processing corresponding to the redundant configuration of the controllers 3 and 4. The burden of 2 can be reduced.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Although the I / O slot number is not described in detail in the first embodiment, the I / O slot number of the physical address managed by the related definition database 72 of the communication interface module 7 and the input / output devices 5 and 6 The case where the I / O slot numbers of the real addresses are the same is described.

  On the other hand, for example, when the controllers 3 and 4 can only handle the I / O slot numbers 1 to 40, but I / O devices 5 and 6 need to use the I / O slots 41 to 80. Virtually defines one controller 3 and 4 respectively, and assigns I / O slot numbers 41 to 81 of the input / output devices 5 and 6 to I / O slots 1 to 40 of the virtual controllers 3 and 4. Must be assigned to a slot number. In other words, in the present embodiment, the physical address space of the controllers 3 and 4 is virtually expanded to add more input / output devices that are accessible by the original physical address space. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the virtually defined controllers 3 and 4 are slave nodes and the actual controllers 3 and 4 are master nodes.

Also in the present embodiment, the configurations of the monitoring control system and the communication interface module 7 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore will be described using the reference numerals in FIGS.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the relation definition database 72 of this embodiment. The host devices 1 and 2 recognize that there are two input / output devices 5 and 6 each of a master and a slave. In FIG. 7, entries with logical names “AD0101” and “AD0102” are entries corresponding to the master node, and entries with logical names “AD0501” and “AD0502” are entries corresponding to the slave nodes.

I / O slot numbers 1 to 40 of the master node correspond to node numbers 1 to 40 of the input / output devices 5 and 6, and I / O slot numbers 1 to 40 of the slave node are nodes of the input / output devices 5 and 6. It corresponds to the numbers 41-80.
Although the operation of the communication interface module 7 is the same as that of the first embodiment, since the master node and the slave node exist, the emulation function unit 74 performs the following processing in step S3 of FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the operation of the emulation function unit 74 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, 3 ′ is a virtually defined primary controller, 4 ′ is a virtually defined secondary controller, 5 ′ is an input / output device that is a slave added to the primary input / output device 5, Reference numeral 6 ′ denotes an input / output device that is a slave added to the secondary input / output device 6.

As in the first embodiment, the node number of the input / output devices 5 and 5 ′ is 29, and the node number of the input / output devices 6 and 6 ′ is 157.
As described in the first embodiment, the parameter access function unit 73 of the communication interface module 7 sets the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name as the primary physical address when the status information of the mapped file 76 is “primary”. If the status information is “secondary”, the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name is specified as the monitoring point specified by the secondary physical address (step S3 in FIG. 4). .

  The parameter access function unit 73 and the emulation function unit 74 when the logical name included in the parameter access request from the host device 1 or 2 corresponds to the master node (when the logical name is “AD0101” or “AD0102”). Since the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  On the other hand, when the logical name corresponds to the slave node, for example, “AD0501”, the parameter access function unit 73 sets the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name “AD0501” if the status information is “primary”. If the monitoring point specified by the primary physical address “31.5.0.1” is specified and the status information is “secondary”, the monitoring point corresponding to the logical name “AD0501” is set to the secondary physical address “32”. .5.0.1 "is specified (step S3).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the emulation function unit 74 subtracts 2 from the node number 31 of the primary physical address “31.5.0.1” to set the node number to 29, and the I / O slot number. 40 is added to 5 to make the I / O slot number 45. That is, the emulation function unit 74 converts the primary physical address to “29.45.0.1”.

  Further, the emulation function unit 74 adds 125 to the node number 32 of the secondary physical address “32.5.0.1”, sets the node number to 157, and adds 40 to the I / O slot number 5, The I / O slot number is 45. That is, the emulation function unit 74 converts the secondary physical address “32.5.0.1” to “157.45.0.1”.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the parameter access function unit 73 collects monitoring point data of the primary physical address or secondary physical address specified in step S3 (step S4), and stores the monitoring point data. The information is returned to the requesting higher-level devices 1 and 2 through the information network interface unit 70 (step S5).

  Thus, in the present embodiment, by converting addresses by the emulation function unit 74, it is possible to add more input / output devices that can be accessed by the original physical address space managed by the controllers 3 and 4.

  The communication interface module 7 in the first and second embodiments can be realized by, for example, a computer including a CPU, a storage device, and an interface, and a program for controlling these hardware resources. A communication interface module program for operating such a computer is provided in a state of being recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card. The CPU writes the read program into the storage device, and executes the processes described in the first and second embodiments according to this program.

  The present invention can be applied to a supervisory control system employing a redundant configuration controller.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring control system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the communication interface module in the monitoring control system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the OSI hierarchical structure of the software of the communication interface module of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the monitoring control system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the related definition database of the communication interface module of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an operation of an emulation function unit of the communication interface module of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of the related definition database in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically an example of operation | movement of the emulation function part in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the conventional monitoring control system.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... High-order apparatus 3, 3 '... Primary controller 4, 4' ... Secondary controller, 5, 6, 5 ', 6' ... Input / output device, 7 ... Communication interface module, 8 ... Information network, 9 ... Control network 70... Information network interface unit 71... Control network interface unit 72. Related definition database 73. Parameter access function unit 74. Emulation function unit 75 75 Status management unit 76 Mapped file

Claims (6)

A communication interface module for connecting between a redundant configuration controller for controlling input / output devices and its host device,
The logical name of the monitoring point of the input / output device viewed from the host device is associated with the primary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the primary controller and the secondary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the secondary controller. A related definition database
Status management means for always managing status information of the primary controller and the secondary controller;
When a request for monitoring point data is received from the host device, the related definition database and the status information are referred to, and when the primary controller is operating and the secondary controller is stopped, the request is received. The monitoring point data specified by the primary physical address corresponding to the included logical name is returned to the higher-level device, and the request is made when the primary controller is stopped and the secondary controller is operating. A communication interface module comprising: parameter access means for returning data of a monitoring point specified by a secondary physical address corresponding to a logical name to the host device. The communication interface module according to claim 1.
Further, emulation means for converting a primary physical address or a secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name into a real address of the input / output device when a physical address managed in the relation definition database is different from a real address of the input / output device. A communication interface module comprising: The communication interface module according to claim 2,
The related definition database is used when the physical address space of the primary controller and the secondary controller is virtually expanded and the number of input / output devices that can be accessed by the physical address space is increased. Store the logical name of the monitoring point of the output device, the extended primary physical address and the extended secondary physical address in association with each other,
When the primary physical address or secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is the extended primary physical address or secondary physical address as a result of referring to the association definition database, the emulation means A communication interface module which converts the primary or secondary physical address thus obtained into a real address of the added input / output device. A communication interface module program that causes a computer to function as a communication interface module that connects a redundant configuration controller that controls input / output devices and its host device,
Status management procedure to always manage the status information of the primary controller and secondary controller,
When the data of the monitoring point of the input / output device is requested from the host device, the logical name of the monitoring point viewed from the host device, the primary physical address that is the address of the monitoring point viewed from the primary controller, and the secondary controller When the non-redundant time when the primary controller is operating and the secondary controller is stopped with reference to the related definition database that stores the secondary physical address that is the address of the monitored monitoring point in association with the status information The primary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is obtained from the related definition database, and when the primary controller is stopped and the secondary controller is operating, the logical name included in the request is obtained. Corresponding secondary thing A monitoring point specifying step to obtain the address from the associated definition database,
A communication interface module program for causing a computer to execute a reply procedure for returning data of a monitoring point specified by a primary physical address or a secondary physical address acquired by the monitoring point specifying procedure to the host device. In the communication interface module program according to claim 4,
Further, when the physical address managed in the relation definition database is different from the real address of the input / output device, the primary physical address or secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name is set to the real name of the input / output device before the reply procedure. A communication interface module program for causing a computer to execute an emulation procedure for converting to an address. The communication interface module program according to claim 5,
The related definition database is used when the physical address space of the primary controller and the secondary controller is virtually expanded and the number of input / output devices that can be accessed by the physical address space is increased. Store the logical name of the monitoring point of the output device, the extended primary physical address and the extended secondary physical address in association with each other,
When the emulation procedure refers to the related definition database and the primary physical address or secondary physical address corresponding to the logical name included in the request is the extended primary physical address or secondary physical address, A communication interface module program that converts the primary address or secondary physical address thus obtained into a real address of the added input / output device.

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