Industrial process control data access server supporting multiple client data exchange protocols

A method for activating a data access server through a start-up process that builds the data access server from previously installed program files including at least an executable file incorporating a data access server engine and a separate and distinct file containing one or more of a set of client application data exchange protocol modules installed on the data access server, and wherein the set of client application data exchange protocol modules invoke a set of data access operations executable by the data access server engine of the data access server according to a module-engine interface definition, the method comprising the steps of:

• starting up an executable corresponding to the data access server and including the data access server engine;
• loading the set of client application data exchange protocol modules thereby creating program links between at least one of the protocol modules and the data access server executable;
• and
• instantiating a data access server object corresponding to a connection between the data access server and a requesting client application.

A process data access server enabling client applications incorporating potentially multiple differing data exchange protocols to access process data stored at potentially many different locations in a process control system, the process data access server comprising:

• a device protocol interface facilitating accessing process data storage locations within the process control system;
• a set of client data exchange protocol modules enabling client applications to request access to process data storage locations via the process data access server according to particular client data exchange protocols supported by the set of client data exchange protocol modules;
• and
• a data access server engine for executing process data access requests, received by the process data access server via the set of client data exchange protocol modules, by accessing, via the device protocol interface, data storage locations corresponding to the process data access requests, and wherein the data access server engine includes a client application data exchange protocol abstraction layer comprising a set of operations callable by ones of the set of client data exchange protocol modules in response to receipt by the set of client data exchange protocol modules of process data access requests;
• and
• wherein an operational data access server including the device protocol interface, the set of client data exchange protocol modules, and the data access server is created by a startup process that builds the operational data access server from previously installed program files, and wherein the program files of the client data exchange protocol modules and the data access server are independently designateable with regard of one another.