Local control network processor (LCNP) emulator for multi-generation control systems

摘要

A multi-generation distributed control system (100) includes a first generation (FG) DCS (110) connected to a local control network (LCN) (120) including FG client nodes (111-114). A second generation (SG) DCS (130) connected to a non-LCN data highway (140) includes a server node (131) connected between the LCN and the non-LCN data highway and SG client nodes (132-135). The server node includes a LCN processor (LCNP) board (146). LCNP emulator software including a server LCNP emulator software component (147) is at the server node and a client LCNP emulator software component (144) at the SG client nodes. The server LCNP emulator software component translates between LCN data and data highway protocol data and adds one of a plurality of LCN address slots (132'-135') to communications received from the LCN for delivery to the SG DCS that each correspond to a SG client node. Each client LCNP emulator software component provides one of the LCN address slots at its SG client node.