Transmitting, to a distributed control node (DCN), default alarm configuration file(s) determined based on a function block type

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535807-B2
Application number	US-202218090326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2022
Priority date	Dec 28, 2022
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

Implementations transmit, to a distributed control node (DCN), default alarm configuration file(s) that are determined based on a particular type of function block. Those implementations transmit the default alarm configuration file(s) to the DCN based on determining that the DCN is executing a function block that is of the particular type and/or is utilizing a function block, that is of the particular type, in alarm monitoring. A default alarm configuration file that is transmitted to a DCN can be stored locally at the DCN to enable viewing and/or editing thereof via human-machine interface (HMI) interfacing with the DCN. Implementations additionally or alternatively relate to reflecting, in an alarms database accessible via a process automation network, local updates that are made via an HMI to a default alarm configuration file locally stored at a DCN.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method implemented by one or more processors, the method comprising:
determining that a distributed control node (DCN), of a process automation system, is executing a function block of a particular type; determining a default alarm configuration file based on the particular type,
wherein the default alarm configuration file defines one or more conditions to be monitored in implementing alarm monitoring and includes, for each the one or more conditions, a corresponding default value or no value;
responsive to determining that the DCN is executing the function block of the particular type:
transmitting, via a network of the process automation system and to the DCN, the default alarm configuration file determined based on the particular type,
wherein the default alarm configuration file is locally editable via the DCN and, when edited, is used by the DCN in implementing alarm monitoring based on the function block.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequent to transmitting, to the DCN, the default alarm configuration file for the particular type:
receiving, via the network and from the DCN, an alarm configuration update that includes:
a function block identifier of the function block executed by the DCN, and
an updated alarm configuration file that is an edited version of the previously transmitted default alarm configuration file; and

storing, in an alarms database, the updated alarm configuration file and an association of the updated alarm configuration file with the function block identifier.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
subsequent to storing, in the alarms database, the updated alarm configuration file and the association of the updated alarm configuration file with the function block identifier:
receiving, via the network, an alarm configuration request transmitted by an additional DCN of the process automation system, wherein the alarm configuration request includes:
the function block identifier;

responsive to receiving the alarm configuration request:
retrieving, from the alarms database, the updated alarm configuration file based on the alarm configuration file being stored in association with the function block identifier and the function block identifier being included in the received alarm configuration request; and
transmitting, via the network of the process automation system and to the additional DCN, the updated alarm configuration file,
wherein transmitting the updated alarm configuration file causes the additional DCN to implement alarm monitoring that conforms to the updated alarm configuration file.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the additional DCN is a newly commissioned DCN that is a replacement for the DCN in the process automation system.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the additional DCN is a previously commissioned DCN that is executing the function block at a time of the alarm configuration request and wherein the DCN no longer executes the function block at the time of the alarm configuration request.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the DCN is executing the function block of the particular type comprises:
receiving, via the network, an alarm configuration request that is transmitted by the DCN and that includes a function block identifier of the function block; and determining, based on the function block identifier included in the alarm configuration request, that the DCN is executing the function block of the particular type.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein determining, based on the function block identifier included in the alarm configuration request, that the DCN is executing the function block of the particular type comprises:
determining the particular type based on the function block identifier including one or more characters that are mapped to the particular type.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving the alarm configuration request:
determining whether there is any particular alarm configuration file stored in association with the function block identifier in an alarms database;
wherein transmitting the default alarm configuration file to the DCN is further responsive to determining that there is not any particular alarm configuration file stored in association with the function block identifier.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying the function block executed by the DCN; wherein determining the default alarm configuration file comprises modifying a generic alarm configuration file, for the particular type, to include one or more process variables of the function block executed by the DCN.

10 . A method implemented by one or more processors of a distributed control node (DCN) of a process automation system, the method comprising:
receiving user interface inputs via a human machine interface (HMI) that directly interfaces with the DCN; determining, based on the user interface inputs, one or more updates to a default alarm configuration file that is locally stored at the DCN and that is associated with a function block executed by the DCN; generating an updated alarm configuration file that is based on the default alarm configuration file and the one or more determined updates; implementing alarm monitoring based on the updated alarm configuration file and the function block; transmitting, via a network of the process automation system, an alarm configuration update that includes the updated alarm configuration file and a function block identifier of the function block,
wherein transmitting the alarm configuration update causes the updated alarm configuration file to be stored, in an alarms database, in association with the function block identifier; and
prior to receiving the user interface inputs via the HMI:
transmitting, via the network, an alarm configuration request that includes the function block identifier; and
receiving, in response to transmitting the alarm configuration request and via the network, the default alarm configuration file.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein determining, based on the user interface inputs, the one or more updates to the default alarm configuration file comprises:
determining, based on the user interface inputs, a particular value of the one or more updates, wherein the particular value is for a condition of the default alarm configuration file.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the default alarm configuration file lacks any value for the condition and wherein the updated alarm configuration file includes the particular value for the condition.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the default alarm configuration file includes a default value for the condition and wherein the updated alarm configuration file includes the particular value for the condition.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting occurrence of one or more alarm configuration conditions; wherein transmitting the alarm configuration request is responsive to detecting the occurrence of the one or more alarm configuration conditions.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein detecting occurrence of the one or more alarm configuration conditions comprises:
detecting a powering up of the DCN, detecting that the DCN is newly commissioned in the process automation system, and/or detecting that alarm monitoring, by the DCN for the function block, is not currently active.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the function block identifier is specific to the function block and is not assigned t

Assignees

• Yokogawa Electric Corp

Inventors

• Emerson David
• Clay Patrick
• Nguyen Vien
• Sawahara Hidenori

Classifications

• G05B2223/02

  Indirect monitoring, e.g. monitoring production to detect faults of a system · CPC title

• G05B23/027 Primary

  Alarm generation, e.g. communication protocol; Forms of alarm · CPC title

• H04L67/06

  specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP] · CPC title

• H04L41/0846

  based on copy from other elements · CPC title

• H04L41/0853

  by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information · CPC title