Process control configuration system with parameterized objects

Apparatus for configuring a control system, the apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of objects,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object and as being associated with the parameters of the ancestor object,
• a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated, without recompilation of those objects.

Apparatus for configuring a control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object, wherein an object represents an entity within any of (i) a controlled system, (ii) the control system, (iii) a control level hierarchy, and (iv) the apparatus for configuring the control system,
• at least one object being associated with a parameter as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification contained or associated with the object,
• at least one object being a descendant of another object and being associated with one or more parameters with which the ancestor object is associated such that change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object is effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects,
• a parameter with which an object is associated as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification takes precedence over a parameter with which an object is associated as a consequence of being defined as a descendant of another object.

Apparatus for configuring a control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object and as being associated with one or more parameters of the ancestor object, a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated,
• at least one object being associated with one or more parameter groups, each of which defines a grouping for one or more parameters associated with that object.

A method for configuring a control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• defining at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object,
• associating a descendant object with one or more parameters of the ancestor object from which that descendant object descends, and making effective as to that descendant object a change, during configuration, to a parameter of that ancestor object without recompilation of those objects,
• associating at least one object with one or more parameter groups, each of which defines a grouping for one or more parameters associated with that object.

Apparatus for configuring a process control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of which represents an entity selected from the group of entities including a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of the entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object-and being associated with one or more parameters of the ancestor object,
• a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects.

Apparatus for configuring a process control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of which represents an entity selected from the group of entities including a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object and as being associated with the parameters of the ancestor object,
• a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects.

Apparatus for configuring a process control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of which represents an entity selected from the group of entities including a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object, wherein an object represents an entity within any of (i) the controlled process, (ii) the control system, (iii) a control level hierarchy, and (iv) the apparatus for configuring the control system,
• at least one object being associated with a parameter as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification contained or associated with the object,
• at least one object being a descendant of another object and being associated with one or more parameters with which the ancestor object is associated such that change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object is effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects,
• a parameter with which an object is associated as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification takes precedence over a parameter with which an object is associated as a consequence of being defined as a descendant of another object.

Apparatus for configuring a process control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of which represents an entity selected from the group of entities including a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object and as being associated with one or more parameters of the ancestor object, a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects,
• at least one object being associated with one or more parameter groups, each of which defines a grouping for one or more parameters associated with that object.

A method for configuring a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, each of which represents an entity selected from the group of entities including a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of the entity represented by the object,
• defining at least one object as a descendant of another object,
• associating a descendant object with one or more parameters of the ancestor object from which that descendant object decends, and making effective as to that descendant object a change, during configuration, to a parameter of that ancestor object without recompilation of those objects.

A method for configuring a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, each entity including any of a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• defining at least one object as a descendant of another object,
• associating a descendant object with the parameters of the ancestor object from which that descendant object decends, and making effective as to that descendant object a change, during configuration, to a parameter of that ancestor object without recompilation of those objects.

A method for configuring a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, the entities including any of a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• associating each object with one or more parameters as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification contained or associated with the object,
• each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object, wherein an entity models an entity within any of (i) the control system, (ii) a control level hierarchy, and (iii) the apparatus for configuring the control system
• defining at least one object as a descendant of another object such that change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object is effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects,
• associating a descendant object with one or more parameters with which the ancestor object is associated, and making effective as to that descendant object a change, during configuration, to a parameter of that ancestor object, except as to a parameter with which the descendant object is associated as a consequence of any of a parameter definition, parameter override and parameter modification.

A method for configuring a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, the entities including any of a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• defining at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object,
• associating a descendant object with one or more parameters of the ancestor object from which that descendant object decends, and making effective as to that descendant object a change, during configuration, to a parameter of that ancestor object without recompilation of those objects,
• associating at least one object with one or more parameter groups, each of which defines a grouping for one or more parameters associated with that object.

A method for configuring a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• representing entities with objects, the entities including any of a block, block definition, modifier block, modifier block definition, block collection, composite block definition, I/O block, loop template, simple loop, and template-derived loop,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of an entity represented by the object,
• defining at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object,
• associating a descendant object with one or more parameters of the ancestor object from which that descendant object decends,
• changing, during configuration, a parameter of that ancestor object, the change being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects,
• associating at least one object with one or more parameter groups, each of which defines a grouping for one or more parameters associated with that object.

Apparatus for configuring a process control system, the apparatus executing on a digital data processor, comprising:

• a plurality of objects, each of which represents an entity,
• each object being associated with one or more parameters, each parameter pertaining to a characteristic of the entity represented by the object,
• at least one object being defined as a descendant of another object and being associated with one or more parameters of the ancestor object,
• a change during configuration to a parameter of an ancestor object being effective as to a descendant object with which that parameter is associated without recompilation of those objects, and
• a download process that configures the control system in accord with one or more of the objects.