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 table containing information for Fieldbus process control parameters of the Fieldbus process control network that are mapped to process control parameters of the non-Fieldbus process control network, wherein the table includes a record for each Fieldbus process control parameter mapped to a process control parameter of the non-Fieldbus process control network, and wherein each record in the table includes information identifying the process control parameter of the Fieldbus process control network, a value of the Fieldbus process control parameter, and an identifier for the corresponding process control parameter of the non-Fieldbus process control network,
• causing the interface module to request current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the table from the corresponding Fieldbus field devices in the Fieldbus process control network,
• storing the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters in the table with the identifiers for the corresponding process control parameters of the non-Fieldbus process control network, and
• causing the interface module to transmit response messages to the field devices of the non-Fieldbus process control network with the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters stored in the table and the identifiers for the corresponding process control parameters of the non-Fieldbus process control network in response to receiving request messages from the field devices of the non-Fieldbus process control network at the interface module for the current values of the associated process control parameters of the non-Fieldbus process control network.

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 configured 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 configured 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 configured 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 table containing information for Fieldbus process control parameters of the Fieldbus process control network that are mapped to corresponding Profibus DP service access points of the Profibus DP process control network, wherein the service access point table includes a record for each Fieldbus process control parameter mapped to a Profibus DP service access point,
• the controller being programmed to cause the Fieldbus I/O module to request current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table from the corresponding Fieldbus field devices,
• the controller being programmed to store the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table with the associated Profibus DP service access points, and
• the controller being programmed to cause the Profibus DP I/O module to transmit response messages to the Profibus DP field devices with the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters stored in the service access point table and the associated Profibus DP service access points in response to receiving request messages from the Profibus DP field devices at the Profibus DP I/O module for the current values of the associated Profibus DP service access points.

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 configured 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 configured 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 configured 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 table containing information for Fieldbus process control parameters of the Fieldbus process control network that are mapped to corresponding Profibus DP service access points of the Profibus DP process control network, wherein the service access point table includes a record for each Fieldbus process control parameter mapped to a Profibus DP service access point, and wherein each record in the register map table includes information identifying the Fieldbus process control parameter, a value of the Fieldbus process control parameter, and the Profibus DP service access point to which the Fieldbus process control parameter is mapped,
• the controller being programmed to cause the Fieldbus I/O module to request current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table from the corresponding Fieldbus field devices,
• the controller being programmed to store the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table with the associated Profibus DP service access points, and
• the controller being programmed to cause the Profibus DP I/O module to transmit response messages to the Profibus DP field devices with the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters stored in the service access point table and the associated Profibus DP service access points in response to receiving request messages from the Profibus DP field devices at the Profibus DP I/O module for the current values of the associated Profibus DP service access points.

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 configured 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 table containing information for the Fieldbus process control parameters of the Fieldbus process control network that are mapped to corresponding Profibus DP service access points of the Profibus DP process control network, wherein the service access point table includes a record for each Fieldbus process control parameter mapped to a Profibus DP service access point, and wherein each record in the service access point table includes information identifying the Fieldbus process control parameter, a value of the Fieldbus process control parameter, and the Profibus DP service access point to which the Fieldbus process control parameter is mapped,
• causing the interface module to request current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table from the corresponding Fieldbus field devices,
• storing the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters having records in the service access point table with the associated Profibus DP service access points, and
• causing the interface module to transmit response messages to the Profibus DP field devices with the current values of the Fieldbus process control parameters stored in the service access point table and the associated Profibus DP service access points in response to receiving request messages from the Profibus DP field devices at the interface module for the current values of the associated Profibus DP service access points.