Openbus system for control automation networks

A node controller apparatus for use in a control automation system, said system for controlling a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices in accordance with a user application, said system including a network for communicating control automation information, said apparatus comprising:

• processor means for managing and controlling the operation of said node controller, said processor means for executing a real-time kernel, said kernel implementing said user application embodied in p-code;
• network interface means for connecting said node controller to said network;
• I/O interface means for connecting said node controller to said plurality of I/O devices;
• and
• bus means for interconnecting together said processor means, said kernel means, said network interface means and said I/O interface means.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices in accordance with a user application, said apparatus part of a control automation system, said apparatus comprising:

• a processor operative to execute said user application;
• I/O interface means for connecting said apparatus to said plurality of I/O devices;
• kernel means adapted to communicate over a network and operative on said processor for:
• reading, storing and determining changes to external input signals received from said plurality of I/O devices;
• detecting changes to said external input signals and internal entities and for determining and resolving all event triggers corresponding to said detected changes;
• marking all actions for execution that correspond to said event triggers that resolve true;
• executing and implementing said actions marked for execution;
• and
• determining any changes to values assigned to an entity making notification of said entity value changes.

In a computer system, a method of generating p-code for execution on a node controller as part of a control automation system for controlling a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices in accordance with a user application, said application including event triggers, event actions and program logic, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of pointer tables, each pointer table associated with either an external input signal or an entity, each pointer table comprising a plurality of pointer entries, each pointer entry pointing to an event trigger;
• generating an event trigger table, said event trigger table comprising a plurality of event trigger entries, each event trigger entry corresponding to an action that references the particular external input signal or entity that points thereto;
• generating a plurality of actions, each of said actions comprising at least one frame, said actions, said actions representing the generation of output signals and/or the modification of said internal entities;
• and
• wherein said plurality of pointer tables, said event trigger table and said plurality of actions generated in accordance with said event triggers, event actions and program logic making up said user application.

A node controller apparatus for use in a control automation system, said system for controlling a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices, said system including a network for communicating control automation information, said apparatus comprising:

• a processor for managing and controlling the operation of said node controller;
• network interface means for connecting said node controller to said network;
• I/O interface means for connecting said node controller to said plurality of I/O devices;
• bus means for interconnecting together said processor means, said network interface means and said I/O interface means;
• and
• kernel means adapted to communicate over said network and operative on said processor for:
• reading, storing and determining changes to external input signals received from said plurality of I/O devices;
• detecting changes to said external input signals and internal entities and for determining and resolving all event triggers corresponding to said detected changes;
• marking all actions for execution that correspond to said event triggers that resolve true;
• executing and implementing said actions marked for execution;
• and
• determining any changes to values assigned to an entity marking notification of said entity value changes.

A node controller apparatus for use in a control automation system, said system for controlling a plurality of input and output (I/O) devices in accordance with a user application, said system including a network for communicating control automation information, said apparatus comprising:

• processor means for managing and controlling the operation of said node controller, said processor means for executing a real-time kernel, said kernel implementing said user application embodied in p-code;
• network interface means for connecting said node controller to said network;
• and
• bus means for interconnecting together said processor means, said kernel means and said network interface means.