US 8,688,780 B2 · Peer-to-peer exchange of data resources in a control system

Abstract

System(s) and method(s) are provided for peer-to-peer exchange of data in a control system. Decentralized storage and multi-access paths provide complete sets of data without dependence on a specific or pre-defined data source or access paths. Data is characterized as data resources with disparate granularity. The control system includes a plurality of layers that act as logic units communicatively coupled through access network(s). Server(s) resides in a service layer, whereas client(s) associated with respective visualization terminal(s) are part of a visualization layer. Peer-to-peer distribution of data resource(s) can be based on available access network(s) resources and optimization of response time(s) in the control system. When client requests a data resource, all the locations of the data resource and the quickest source to retrieve it are automatically determined. The client stores copy of data resource. Peer-to-peer distribution of data resource(s) can be implemented within the service layer or the visualization layer.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a first operator interface terminal configured to communicatively couple with an industrial controller and render control data in a memory location of the industrial controller on a graphical element of a graphical screen, wherein the first operator interface terminal is further configured to send a data resource to a second operator interface terminal using a peer-to-peer protocol, and wherein the data resource comprises at least one of the graphical screen or the graphical element and metadata that causes the control data in the memory location of the industrial controller to be rendered on the second operator interface terminal via the graphical element.

A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including a processor, an indication that an operator interface terminal has been deployed in a network;
based on at least one criterion, selecting a set of peer operator interface terminals to supply the operator interface terminal with a data resource, wherein the data resource is at least one of a graphical interface screen or a graphical element of the graphical interface screen and includes metadata that identifies at least one memory address of an industrial controller containing control data to be rendered via at least one of the graphical interface screen or the graphical element;
and
delivering the data resource to the operator interface terminal from the set of peer operator interface terminals using a peer-to-peer data transfer, wherein the metadata causes the control data contained in the memory address to be rendered on the operator interface via at least one of the graphical interface screen or the graphical element.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Peer-to-peer exchange of data resources in a control system

Life of this patent

Peer-to-peer exchange of data resources in a control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29