# US 2008/0189441 A1 · Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0189441 A1 - Document ID: US20080189441A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/670,835 - Filed: 2007-02-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-02 - Assignees: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Larry Oscar Jundt; Kent Allan Burr; Gary Keith Law; William George Irwin; Marty James Lewis; Michael George Ott; Robert Burke Havekost - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080189441A1 ## CPC - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G05B 2219/25056: Automatic configuration of monitoring, control system as function of operator input, events - G05B 2219/25083: For each subsystem a configuration - G05B 2219/25428: Field device - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining a tag of a process control device from the input/output device, and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: obtaining a tag of a process control device from an input/output device; and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: configuring the process control module with a second tag for a process control device; and binding the process control device to the process control module when the obtained tag matches the second tag. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the input/output device is an input/output slice, and the process control device is a field device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising using a module class object to implement the process control module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device comprises: wiring the process control device to the input/output device; and programming the process control device with the tag, wherein the input/output device obtains the tag from the process control device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein configuring the input/output device with the tag of the process control device comprises: wiring the process control device to the input/output device; and programming the input/output device with the tag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as defined in claim 7, where the input/output device is programmed with the tag by an installer of the process control device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein obtaining the tag of the process control device from the input/output device comprises directing an input/output gateway to sense whether the input/output device is present, the input/output gateway to read the tag from the input/output device when the input/output device is present. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1, wherein associating the process control device with the process control module based on the obtained tag comprises: comparing a channel identifier associated with the tag obtained from the input/output device; comparing the channel identifier with a second channel identifier configured in the process control module for the process control device; and providing an error indicator when the channel identifier and the second channel identifier do not match. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: receiving a configuration that associates a tag of a process control device with an input/output channel; obtaining a second tag from an input/output device electrically coupled to the process control device; and providing an error indicator when the tag and the second tag do not match. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising: wiring the process control device to the input/output device; and programming the input/output device with the second tag. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the configuration that associates the tag of the process control device with the input/output channel is received at an input/output gateway of a process control system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the input/output device is located in a marshalling cabinet for a process control system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the input/output device is implemented by an input/output slice. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the configuration associates the tag with an input/output port, and the error indicator is provided when the input/output port does not correspond to a second input/output port to which the input/output device is connected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, where the second tag is provided to the input/output device by the process control device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) A method as defined in claim 11, where the second tag is provided to the input/output device by an installer of the process control device. ### Claim 19 An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to: receive a configuration that associates a tag of a process control device with an input/output channel; obtain a second tag from an input/output device electrically coupled to the process control device; and provide an error indicator when the tag and the second tag do not match. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to implement an input/output gateway of a process control system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the input/output device is located in a marshalling cabinet for a process control system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the input/output device is implemented by an input/output slice. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) An article of manufacture as defined in claim 19, wherein the configuration associates the tag with an input/output port, and wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed, cause the machine to provide the error indicator when the input/output port does not correspond to a second input/output port to which the input/output device is connected. ### Claim 24 An apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and programmed to: receive a configuration that associates a tag of a process control device with an input/output channel; obtain a second tag from an input/output device electrically coupled to the process control device; and provide an error indicator when the tag and the second tag do not match. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the apparatus implements an input/output gateway of a process control system. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the input/output device is located in a marshalling cabinet for a process control system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the input/output device is implemented by an input/output slice. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the configuration associates the tag with an input/output port, and wherein the processor is programmed to provide the error indicator when the input/output port does not correspond to a second input/output port to which the input/output device is connected.