US 9,866,501 B2Granted

Virtual switch enabling communication between external objects and simulation objects

AssigneeSchneider Electric Systems USA, Inc.

InventorsRandall Richardson, Llewellyn John Knox-Davies, Kevin David Kimber, Leonard Beller

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Abstract

Enabling communication between real and simulated elements of a process control system. Software instructions stored in a memory device are executed by a processor to represent a virtual switch. The virtual switch connects to a real element of a process control system and to a simulated element of a process control system. The virtual switch receives communication from the real element intended for the simulated element and forwards the communication to the proper simulated element. The virtual switch receives communication from the simulated element intended for the real element and forwards the communication to the proper real element.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for enabling communication between physical and simulated elements of an industrial process control and automation system comprising:

a processor;
a network interface having a first network address;
a memory device coupled to the processor;
and
instructions stored on the memory device and executable by the processor, wherein said instructions, when executed by the processor, form a virtual switch having a plurality of behaviors comprising:
conveying one or more call back functions to be used by a network driver interface specification (NDIS) of the network interface to register the system with the NDIS;
connecting to a first element via the network interface, said first element being a physical element of an industrial process control and automation system, and said first element having a second network address, wherein the second network address is different from the first network address;
connecting to a second element, said second element being a simulated element simulating the functionality of a physical element of the industrial process control and automation system, and said second element having a third network address, wherein the third network address is different from the first network address and the second network address;
receiving, via the network interface, a first communication from the first element intended for the third network address and sending, via the one or more call back functions, the first communication to the second element;
and
receiving a second communication from the second element intended for the second network address and sending the second communication to the first element via the network interface.

8 more elements

A processor executable method for enabling communication between physical and simulated elements of an industrial process control and automation system comprising:

registering a driver with a network driver interface specification (NDIS) by conveying one or more call back functions to be used by the NDIS for passing received messages;
connecting to at least one physical element of an industrial process control and automation system through a network interface card having a first media access control (MAC) address, said physical element having a second MAC address, wherein the first and second MAC addresses are different;
connecting to at least one simulated element of the industrial process control and automation system, said simulated element having a third MAC address, wherein the third MAC address is different from the first and second MAC addresses;
receiving a first communication through the network interface card from the physical element intended for the third MAC address and sending the first communication to the simulated element through the one or more call back functions;
and
receiving a second communication from the simulated element intended for the second MAC address and sending the second communication to the physical element through the network interface card.

3 more elements

One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media having executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, perform a method for enabling communication between physical and simulated elements of an industrial process control and automation system comprising:

registering with a network driver interface specification (NDIS) of a network interface, wherein registering comprises conveying one or more call back functions to be used by the NDIS for passing received messages;
connecting to a first element via the network interface having a first network address, said first element being a physical element of an industrial process control and automation system, and said first element having a second network address, wherein the first and second network addresses are different;
connecting to a second element, said second element being a simulated element simulating the functionality of a physical element of the industrial process control and automation system, and said second element having a third network address, wherein the third network address is different from the first network address and the second network address;
receiving, via the network interface, a first communication from the first element intended for the third network address and sending, via the one or more call back functions, the first communication to the second element;
and
receiving a second communication from the second element intended for the second network address and sending the second communication to the first element via the network interface.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.