Method and apparatus for providing a dynamically programmable field controller
AssigneeCompass Technologies, Inc.
InventorWilliam Roe
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed that provides a process whereby the parameters and/or functions of a hardware field device, e.g., field controller, can be altered dynamically by the use of a downloadable data table. This programming method is being called “Full Dynamic Linking” (abbreviated as FDL), and provides a mechanism by which software and firmware is written in such a way as to provide extreme flexibility in the application of control processing.
Claims18
A method for changing a function of a field controller, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) storing a dynamic link table having a plurality of parameters with the field controller;
- and
- b) updating said plurality of parameters of said dynamic link table to change the function of the field controller.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of:
- a) storing a dynamic link table having a plurality of parameters with the field controller;
- and
- b) updating said plurality of parameters of said dynamic link table to change the function of the field controller.
A programmable system, comprising:
- a field controller having a dynamic link table with a plurality of parameters associated with a function;
- and
- a system controller for forwarding a set of parameters to said dynamic link table to change said function.
A data structure stored on a computer readable medium for controlling a function performed by a field controller, said data structure comprising:
- a match component;
- a first condition component;
- a Boolean component;
- a second condition component;
- and
- an action component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.