Analyzing communication configuration in a process control system

Abstract

An analysis of a communication configuration in a process control (PC) or substation automation (SA) system is disclosed, wherein network messages, and/or respective message sources, configured for transmission across a communication network of the system can be evaluated. From a logical data flow description that is part of a standardized configuration representation of the PC or SA system and which includes, in the form of control blocks, formal information for every message, receiver intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) can be retrieved or determined. For each retrieved receiver IED, the totality of all network messages destined for or directed to this particular receiver IED can be evaluated or processed (e.g. in view of a subsequent network load analysis, virtual local area network assignment, or graphical display of the data flow). Exemplary network messages of interest include cyclic point-to-point reports, periodic or repeated real-time multicast messages (Sampled Values SV) and event-based multicast messages (generic object oriented substation events GOOSE).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.