System and method for managing switched hierarchical control states

An input-output apparatus, comprising:

• a first interface configured to establish a connection to at least one field device in the plant;
• a second interface configured to establish a connection to the first interface;
• a third interface configured to establish a connection to the first interface;
• a switcher which switches between the connection of the second interface to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface;
• and
• a control device which, in response to a connection request being input through the third interface when in a first state in which the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is permitted, controls the switcher to cause transitioning to a second state in which the third interface and the first interface are connected, and in response to a connection request being input through the second interface when in the first state, the control device controls the switcher to cause transitioning to a third state in which, by the switcher, the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is disabled, wherein the input-output apparatus has at least:
• an engineering mode for engineering of the process control system where the control device permits transitions between the first and second states;
• and
• an operation mode for carrying out maintenance of the process control system while the process control system is performing process control, where the control device permits transitions between the first and third states,
• wherein the control device controls the switcher to cause the transitioning in order to control one or more state amounts in an industrial process,
• wherein, in the first state, the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is permitted,
• wherein, in the second state, the third interface and the first interface are connected upon input of a connection request to the first interface through the third interface, and
• wherein, in the third state, the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is disabled, and
• wherein the switcher is configured to switch to a fourth state in which neither the second interface nor the third interface is connected to the first interface, and, after causing transitioning to the second state, and in response to communications with an external setting apparatus connected to the third interface being blocked or in response to a transition instruction from the external setting apparatus, the control device controls the switcher to cause transitioning to the fourth state.

A process control system, comprising:

• a field device in a plant;
• a controller in the plant, the controller being connectable to a control network;
• an input-output apparatus in the plant, the input-output apparatus configured to connect the field device to the controller;
• an external setting apparatus connectable to the input-output apparatus, the external setting apparatus configured to set the field device and the input-output apparatus;
• an operation monitoring terminal connectable to the control network and configured to acquire input and output data of the field device from the controller;
• and
• an engineering terminal connectable to the control network and configured to generate information to be set to the field device, the input-output apparatus, and the controller, based on process design information,
• wherein the input-output apparatus comprises:
• a first interface configured to establish a connection to the field device;
• a second interface configured to establish a connection to the first interface;
• a third interface configured to establish a connection to the first interface;
• a switcher which switches between the connection of the second interface to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface;
• and
• a control device which, in response to a connection request being input through the third interface when in a first state in which the second interface is connected to the first interface by the switcher and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is permitted, controls the switcher to cause transitioning to a second state in which the third interface and the first interface are connected,
• wherein, in response to a connection request being input through the second interface when in the first state, the control device controls the switcher to cause transitioning to a third state in which the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is disabled,
• wherein the control device controls the switcher to cause the transitioning in order to control one or more state amounts in an industrial process, and
• wherein the switcher is configured to switch to a fourth state in which neither the second interface nor the third interface is connected to the first interface, and, after causing transitioning to the second state, and in response to communications with the external setting apparatus connected to the third interface being blocked or in response to a transition instruction from the external setting apparatus, the control device controls the switcher to cause transitioning to the fourth state.

An input-output apparatus in a process control system, the input-output apparatus comprising:

• a first interface to which a lower-level apparatus is connected;
• a second interface to which a higher-level apparatus is connected;
• a third interface to which an external setting apparatus is connected;
• a switcher which switches between a connection of the second interface to the first interface and a connection of the third interface to the first interface;
• and
• a control device configured to control the switcher to switch the input-output apparatus between an engineering mode for engineering the process control system and an operation mode for carrying out maintenance of the process control system while the process control system is performing process control,
• wherein, in the engineering mode, the control device permits transitions of the input-output apparatus between first and second states,
• wherein, in the operation mode, the control device permits transitions of the input-output apparatus between first and third states,
• wherein the control device controls the switcher to cause the transitioning in order to control one or more state amounts in an industrial process,
• wherein, in the first state, the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is permitted,
• wherein, in the second state, the third interface and the first interface is connected upon input of a connection request to the first interface through the third interface, and
• wherein, in the third state, the second interface is connected to the first interface and the connection of the third interface to the first interface is disabled, and
• wherein the switcher is configured to switch to a fourth state in which neither the second interface nor the third interface is connected to the first interface, and, after causing transitioning to the second state, and in response to communications with an external setting apparatus connected to the third interface being blocked or in response to a transition instruction from the external setting apparatus, the control device controls the switcher to cause transitioning to the fourth state.