System, method, and computer-readable medium for development and deployment of self-describing controlled device modules in a control system

Abstract

A system, method, and computer-readable medium for configuring a controlled device in a control system are provided. A self-describing device Module associated with a controlled device provides capabilities of a controlled device both at runtime and before installation. The controlled device Module includes a capabilities component that provides a description of the controlled device's capabilities both as a capabilities object that can be queried at runtime and in a self-describing capabilities file implemented in a format prior to operational configuration of the Module or controlled device. The Module is configured to generate its runtime capabilities object and self-describing capabilities file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 sending, by a module, to a first control system, a self-describing capabilities file that specifies capabilities of a controlled device; and   sending, by the module, to a second control system, a runtime capabilities object, after operational configuration of the module and the controlled device   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the self-describing capabilities file comprises an extensible markup language file. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating, by the module, the runtime capabilities object and the self-describing capabilities file after the module and the controlled device are operationally configured, wherein the runtime capabilities object specifies the capabilities. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the capabilities include a parameter, property, and control command of the controlled device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first control system node comprises a system integration station, the method further including integrating the controlled device capabilities into the control system by the system integration station based on the self-describing capabilities file. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second control system node comprises a master controller, the method further including allowing or prohibiting access to the controlled device according to capabilities specified in the runtime capabilities object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the runtime capabilities object by a remote monitoring system deployed in the control system; and   registering the controlled device with the remote monitoring system according to capabilities specified in the runtime capabilities object.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising monitoring and controlling the controlled device by the remote monitoring system responsive to registering the controlled device. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for device configuration and when executed, cause the processing system to:
 send, by a module, to a first control system, a self-describing capabilities file that specifies capabilities of a controlled device; and   send, by the module, to a second control system, a runtime capabilities object, after operational configuration of the module and the controlled device.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the self-describing capabilities file comprises an extensible markup language file. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the capabilities include a parameter, property, and control command of the controlled device. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control system node comprises a system integration station, the computer-readable medium further including instructions that, when executed, cause the processing system to integrate the controlled device capabilities into the control system by the system integration station based on the self-describing capabilities file. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the second control system node comprises a master controller, the computer-readable medium further including instructions that, when executed, cause the processing system to allow or prohibit access to the controlled device according to capabilities specified in the runtime capabilities object. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the processing system to:
 obtain the runtime capabilities object by a remote monitoring system deployed in the control system; and   register the controlled device with the remote monitoring system according to capabilities specified in the runtime capabilities object.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the processing system to monitor and control the controlled device by the remote monitoring system responsive to registering the controlled device. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a master controller;   a controlled device coupled with the master controller;   a system integration station configured to integrate controlled device capabilities into a control system;   a remote monitoring system configured to monitor and control at least one controlled device; and   a module including a self-describing capabilities file, wherein the module sends, to the control system, a self-describing capabilities file that specifies capabilities of the at least one controlled device and sends, to the control system, a runtime capabilities object, after operational configuration of the module and the at least one controlled device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the self-describing file comprises an extensible markup language file. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the capabilities include a parameter, property, and control command of the controlled device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the master controller allows or prohibits access to the controlled device according to the device capabilities. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the remote monitoring system obtains the runtime capabilities object and registers the controlled device with the remote monitoring system according to the device capabilities.