Industrial automation system and method for efficiently transferring time-sensitive and quality-sensitive data

A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

• a hardware device generating a plurality of data elements;
• receiving the plurality of data elements;
• assigning a single timestamp to the plurality of data elements;
• assigning a single quality value to the plurality of data elements;
• wherein the plurality of data elements, the timestamp, and the quality value compose a block of data elements;
• a server process providing the block of data elements to one or more clients;
• registering one or more time/quality groups with the server process, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;
• the server process creating one or more tine/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;
• the server process storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;
• and
• one or more clients storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

• a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;
• receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;
• assigning a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements;
• assigning a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements;
• assigning a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;
• assigning a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;
• wherein the first plurality of data elements, the first timestamp, and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;
• wherein the second plurality of data elements, the second timestamp, and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;
• the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• the server process determining whether the second timestamp for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block;
• and
• the server process determining whether the second quality value for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block;
• the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;
• wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those second plurality of data elements which have changed, the second timestamp if changed, and the second quality value if changed.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;
• wherein the server process is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same I/O device, wherein the second block is provided to the client computer systems after the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• and
• wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises only those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;
• wherein the server process is executable to register one or more time/quality groups, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share a single timestamp and a single quality value;
• wherein the server process is executable to create one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;
• wherein the server process stores the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;
• and
• wherein the one or more client computer systems store the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, the single timestamp, and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems;
• wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;
• wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system;
• wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• and
• wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, the timestamp if changed, and the quality value if changed.

A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

• a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;
• receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;
• assigning at least one of the following:
• a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements;
• and
• a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;
• assigning at least one of the following:
• a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements;
• and
• a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;
• wherein the first plurality of data elements and at least one of the first timestamp and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;
• wherein the second plurality of data elements and at least one of the second timestamp and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;
• a server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• the server process determining whether the second timestamp, if present, for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block;
• the server process determining whether the second quality value, if present, for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block;
• and
• the server process providing the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to the one or more clients, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same hardware device, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block, wherein the server process providing the second block to one or more clients comprises the server process providing as the second block only those second plurality of data elements which have changed, and at least one of the second timestamp if changed and the second quality value if changed.

A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

• a hardware device generating a block of data elements, wherein the block comprises a plurality of data elements;
• receiving the block of data elements;
• assigning at least one of the following:
• a single timestamp to the block of data elements;
• and
• a single quality value to the block of data elements;
• a server process providing the block to one or more clients, wherein the block includes a plurality of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• registering one or more time/quality groups with the server process, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• the server process creating one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;
• the server process storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;
• one or more clients storing the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

A method for transferring real-time data in an industrial automation system comprising:

• a hardware device generating a first plurality of data elements and a second plurality of data elements;
• receiving each of the first plurality of data elements and the second plurality of data elements;
• assigning at least one of the following:
• a first timestamp to the first plurality of data elements;
• and
• a first quality value to the first plurality of data elements;
• assigning at least one of the following:
• a second timestamp to the second plurality of data elements;
• and
• a second quality value to the second plurality of data elements;
• wherein the first plurality of data elements and at least one of the first timestamp and the first quality value compose a first block of data elements;
• wherein the second plurality of data elements and at least one of the second timestamp and the second quality value compose a second block of data elements;
• a server process providing each of the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements to one or more clients;
• the server process determining which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• the server process determining at least one of the following:
• whether the second timestamp for the second block is different from the first timestamp for the first block;
• and
• whether the second quality value for the second block is different from the first quality value for the first block;
• and
• the server process providing to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises the first block of data elements and the second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;
• wherein the server process providing the packets to one or more clients further comprises the server process providing as the second block only the time/quality identification value, those second plurality of data elements which have changed, and at least one of the second timestamp if changed and the second quality value if changed.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;
• wherein the server process is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block are generated by the same I/O device, wherein the second block is provided to the client computer systems after the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine at least one of the following:
• whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• and
• whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• wherein the real-time server is executable to provide to the one or more client computer systems a plurality of blocks, wherein each block comprises only those data elements which have changed, and at least one of the timestamp if changed and the quality value if changed.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements, and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;
• wherein the server process is executable to register one or more time/quality groups, wherein each time/quality group defines a set of associated data elements which share at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• wherein the server process is executable to create one or more time/quality identification values, wherein each time/quality identification value identifies a particular time/quality group;
• wherein the server process stores the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups;
• wherein the one or more client computer systems store the time/quality identification values as references to the time/quality groups.

An industrial automation system, comprising:

• one or more I/O devices, wherein each I/O device generates a plurality of data elements;
• a server computer system coupled to at least one of the I/O devices, wherein the server computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display screen, memory, and one or more input devices;
• wherein the memory stores one or more drivers, wherein each driver is linked to at least one I/O device and receives a set of data elements from the linked I/O device;
• wherein each driver is executable to assign at least one of a single timestamp and a single quality value to the set of data elements received from the linked I/O device;
• wherein the memory stores a real-time server, wherein the real-time server receives a plurality of blocks from at least one driver, wherein each block comprises the set of data elements and at least one of the single timestamp and the single quality value;
• wherein the memory stores a server process, wherein the server process comprises one or more drivers and the real-time server;
• one or more client computer systems, wherein each client computer system receives a plurality of blocks from the real-time server;
• wherein the real-time server is executable to generate a packet, wherein the packet comprises one or more blocks received from one or more drivers;
• wherein the real-time server provides the packet to one or more client computer systems in the industrial automation system;
• wherein the server process is executable to provide to one or more clients a plurality of packets, wherein each packet comprises one or more blocks, wherein the plurality of packets comprises a first block of data elements and a second block of data elements, wherein the first block and the second block share a time/quality identification value, wherein the second block is provided to the clients after the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine which of the data elements of the second block are different from their counterparts in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to determine at least one of:
• whether the timestamp for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• and
• whether the quality value for the second block is different from its counterpart in the first block;
• wherein the server process is executable to provide as the second block to the clients only the time/quality identification value, those data elements which have changed, and at least one of the timestamp if changed and the quality value if changed.