Method and apparatus for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions

摘要

PCT No. PCT/US97/17343 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 30, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 30, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 6, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98/14851 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 4, 1998A system and method for debugging and tuning a process control network having distributed control functions implemented by a set of field devices communicatively linked over a bus includes an operational scheduler that schedules the execution of each of a number of process control functions and communication functions performed by the field devices to define a process control scheme and an indicator that indicates one or more process control scheme locations at which the process control scheme is to be automatically or conditionally interrupted to thereby enable debugging and/or tuning of the process control network. A controller interrupts execution of the process control scheme at the indicated flow locations, communicates process data to a user to display the current or a past state of the process to a user and waits for user input before continuing with operation of the process control scheme. In a tuning mode, the controller delivers data pertaining to a process parameter to a tuning device or to a user which determines a new tuning parameter, such as a gain, to be used within the process control scheme based on the process parameter data.