Interface module for use with a fieldbus device network and with internet and non-internet based process control networks

A method of exchanging process control information between a Fieldbus process control network having a plurality of Fieldbus field devices and a non-Fieldbus process control network having a plurality of non-Fieldbus field devices, the method including the steps of:

• operatively connecting an interface module to the Fieldbus process control network and to the non-Fieldbus process control network, the interface module being configured to transmit and receive Fieldbus protocol messages on the Fieldbus process control network and to transmit and receive non-Fieldbus protocol messages on the non-Fieldbus process control network;
• storing in the interface module a database wherein at least one process control parameter of one of the process control networks is associated with a process control parameter of the other of the process control networks,
• causing the interface module to request a current value of the at least one process control parameter from a corresponding one of the field devices in the one of the process control networks,
• storing the current value of the at least one process control parameter of the one of the process control networks in the database with the associated process control parameter of the other of the process control networks, and
• causing the interface module to transmit a response message to one of the field devices of the other of the process control networks with the current value of the at least one process control parameter of the one of the process control networks and the process control parameter of the other of the process control networks in response to receiving a request message from the one of the field devices of the other of the process control networks at the interface module for the current value of the associated process control parameter of the other of the process control networks.

An interface module for use in a process control system including a Fieldbus process control network having a plurality of Fieldbus field devices and a Profibus DP process control network having a plurality of Profibus DP field devices, the interface module operatively connecting the Fieldbus process control network to the Profibus DP process control network and being adapted to facilitate the exchange of process control information between the Fieldbus process control network and the Profibus DP process control network, the interface module comprising:

• a Fieldbus I/O module operatively connected to the Fieldbus process control network and being adapted to transmit and receive Fieldbus protocol messages on the Fieldbus process control network;
• a Profibus DP I/O module operatively connected to the Profibus DP process control network and being adapted to transmit and receive Profibus DP protocol messages on the Profibus DP process control network;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the Fieldbus I/O module and the Profibus DP I/O module, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor,
• the controller being programmed to store in the memory a service access point database wherein at least one Fieldbus process control parameter of the Fieldbus process control network is associated with a Profibus DP service access point of the Profibus DP process control network,
• the controller being programmed to cause the Fieldbus I/O module to request a current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter from a corresponding one of the Fieldbus field devices,
• the controller being programmed to store the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter in the service access point database with the associated Profibus DP service access point, and
• the controller being programmed to cause the Profibus DP I/O module to transmit a response message to one of the Profibus DP field devices with the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter and the associated Profibus DP service access point in response to receiving a request message from the one of the Profibus DP field devices at the Profibus DP I/O module for the current value of the associated Profibus DP service access point.

A process control system comprising:

• a Fieldbus process control network having a plurality of Fieldbus field devices;
• a Profibus DP process control network having a plurality of Profibus DP field devices;
• and
• an interface module operatively connecting the Fieldbus process control network to the Profibus DP process control network and being adapted to facilitate the exchange of process control information between the Fieldbus process control network and the Profibus DP process control network, the interface module comprising:
• a Fieldbus I/O module operatively connected to the Fieldbus process control network and being adapted to transmit and receive Fieldbus protocol messages on the Fieldbus process control network,
• a Profibus DP I/O module operatively connected to the Profibus DP process control network and being adapted to transmit and receive Profibus DP protocol messages on the Profibus DP process control network, and
• a controller operatively connected to the Fieldbus I/O module and the Profibus DP I/O module, the controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively connected to the processor,
• the controller being programmed to store in the memory a service access point database wherein at least one Fieldbus process control parameter of the Fieldbus process control network is associated with a Profibus DP service access point of the Profibus DP process control network,
• the controller being programmed to cause the Fieldbus I/O module to request a current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter from a corresponding one of the Fieldbus field devices,
• the controller being programmed to store the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter in the service access point database with the associated Profibus DP service access point, and
• the controller being programmed to cause the Profibus DP I/O module to transmit a response message to one of the Profibus DP field devices with the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter and the associated Profibus DP service access point in response to receiving a request message from the one of the Profibus DP field devices at the Profibus DP I/O module for the current value of the associated Profibus DP service access point.

A method of exchanging process control information between a Fieldbus process control network having a plurality of Fieldbus field devices and a Profibus DP process control network having a plurality of Profibus DP field devices, the method including the steps of:

• operatively coupling an interface module to the Fieldbus process control network and to the Profibus DP process control network, the interface module being adapted to transmit and receive Fieldbus protocol messages on the Fieldbus process control network and to transmit and receive Profibus DP protocol messages on the Profibus DP process control network;
• storing in the interface module a service access point database wherein at least one Fieldbus process control parameter of the Fieldbus process control network is associated with a Profibus DP service access point of the Profibus DP process control network,
• causing the interface module to request a current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter from a corresponding one of the Fieldbus field devices;
• storing the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter in the service access point database with the associated Profibus DP service access point, and
• causing the interface module to transmit a response message to one of the Profibus DP field devices with the current value of the at least one Fieldbus process control parameter and the associated Profibus DP service access point in response to receiving a request message from the one of the Profibus DP field devices at the interface module for the current value of the associated Profibus DP service access point.