Remote terminal unit assembly

Abstract

A construction of RTU assembly is provided which has a number of independently operational cells for systems functions. Each cell is formed from a configurable component and effectively could be of the same construction as a conventional RTU that would be used for a particular function. There is inter-cell communication means for the continuous downloading of information between cells. Ideally the information is controlled in such a way that each cell is aware of all the information that is being transferred, but only receives that information that it requires. In this way all the functions can be performed and the cells operate as equal peers and no one cell has priority over the other cells, such that the failure of one cell will cause the failure of all the others. There can be a duplication of functions in the cells and various “redundancy” of power, and I/O ports is built into the system.

1 . An RTU assembly for controlling a system including plant units each having an Input/Output (I/O) port and carrying out a system function comprising: 
 communication means;    a plurality of cells interconnected by the communication means, each cell comprising: 
 a microprocessor;  
 a power supply;  
 a memory for storage of data; and  
 an I/O port for reception and transmission of data from a plant unit o the system and/or other cells;  
   each of said cells being programmed to be independently operable to carry out at least part of any function of the system;    at least some of said cells being programmed to have a data control function to configure and re-configure each cell to perform at least part of different system functions; and    each of said cells being programmed to enable its data control function to source data from and to make data available to other cells as required.    
     
     
         2 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a distributed database for storage of system functions and a program for the processing of such functions.  
     
     
         3 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  comprising a distributed database for storage of system functions and a program for the processing of such functions and for the storage of the program to carry out the data control functions.  
     
     
         4 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  comprising a distributed database for storage of system functions and a program for me processing of such functions and for the storage of the system function, if any, being carried out by each cell.  
     
     
         5 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  comprising a distributed database for storage of system functions and a program for the processing of such functions and for the storage of the program to carry out the data control functions and for the storage of the system function if any being carried out by each cell.  
     
     
         6 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which the control functions are stored in the memory.  
     
     
         7 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, data requirements and system function being carried out by itself.  
     
     
         8 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, data requirements and system function being carried out by each other cell.  
     
     
         9 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, data requirements and system function being carried out by each other cell and itself.  
     
     
         10 . An RTU assembly as claimed in claim I or  2  in which the data control function is programmed into one dedicated cell.  
     
     
         11 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which the data control function is programmed into at least two dedicated cells.  
     
     
         12 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell is programmed for the continuous downloading of information to other cells.  
     
     
         13 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which the control function is so programmed that on a cell malfunction occurring it causes all data being inputted to the malfunctioning call to be sent to another cell or cells and for tat her cell or cells to carry out the system function previously carried out by the malfunctioning cell In a seamless manner.  
     
     
         14 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , in which the data control function is programmed to provide a unique identifier for each cell when transmitting data.  
     
     
         15 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell is programmed to identify data appropriate for that cell so as to only accept that data for subsequent processing.  
     
     
         16 . An MU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which more than one cell is connected to the same I/O port of a plant unit.  
     
     
         17 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which the communications means incorporates a dual communications network and In which one of the networks is redundant except on malfunction of the other.  
     
     
         18 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 1  or  2  in which each cell has a dual redundant power supply.  
     
     
         19 . An RTU assembly for controlling a system including plant units each having an I/O port and carrying out a system function comprising: 
 communication means;    a plurality of cells interconnected by the communication means, each cell comprising: 
 a microprocessor;  
 a power supply;  
 a memory for storage of data; and  
 an I/O port for reception and transmission of data to or from a plant unit of the system and/or other cells;  
   each of said cells being programmed to be independently operable to carry out at least part of any function of the system;    at least some of each of said cells being programmed to have a data control function to configure and re-configure each cell to perform at least part of different system functions;    each of said cells being programmed to enable its data control function to source data from and to make data available to other cells as required; and    a distributed database for storage of: 
 system functions;  
 a program for processing of said system functions;  
 a program for carrying out the data control functions; and  
 for the storage of the system function, if any, being carried out by each cell.  
   
     
     
         20 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the control functions are stored in the memory.  
     
     
         21 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, data requirements and system function being carried out by itself.  
     
     
         22 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, deft requirements and system function being carried out by each other cell.  
     
     
         23 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell is programmed for continually updating the status, data requirements and system function being carried out by each other cell and itself.  
     
     
         24 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the data control function is programmed into one dedicated cell.  
     
     
         25 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the date control function is programmed into at least two dedicated cells.  
     
     
         26 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell is programmed for the continuous downloading of information to other cells.  
     
     
         27 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the control function is so programmed into on a cell malfunction occurring it causes all dam being inputted to the malfunctioning cell to be sent to another cell or cells and for that other cell or cells to carry out the system function previously carried out by the malfunctioning cell in a seamless manner.  
     
     
         28 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the data control function is programmed to provide a unique identifier for each cell when transmitting data.  
     
     
         29 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell is programmed to identify data appropriate for that cell so as to only accept that data for subsequent processing.  
     
     
         30 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which more than one cell is connected to the same I/O port of a plant unit.  
     
     
         31 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which the communications means incorporates a dual communications network in which one of the networks is redundant except on malfunction of the other.  
     
     
         32 . An RTU assembly as claimed in  claim 19  in which each cell has a dual redundant power supply.  
     
     
         33 . A method of controlling a system including plant units each having an I/O port and carrying out a system function the control method using an RTU assembly having a plurality of cells communicating with each other, each cell comprising a microprocessor, a power supply, a memory for storage of daft and an I/O port for reception and transmission of data from a plant unit of the system and or other cells comprising the initial steps of: 
 allocating at least part of a system function one or more of the cells; and    allocating a data control function of configuring or re-configuring the system function carried out by each cell; and    in which during operation of the method the continuous steps are carried out of: 
 operating each cell independently to source data from and to make data available to other cells as required; and  
 re-configuring the system function carried out by any cell during operation of the method dependent on control requirements.  
   
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 33  in which there is compiled a distributed database for storage of: 
 system functions;  
 a program for processing of said system functions;  
 a program for carrying out the data control functions; and  
 for the storage of the system function, if any, being carried out by each cell.  
 
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 33  in which at least two cells are programmed to receive and process the same data for subsequent forward transmission, all of the cells except one of the cells being programmed to reject the data for processing until the cell processing the data ceases to do so when another of the cells will process the data.  
     
     
         36 . A method of controlling a system including plant units each having an I/O port and carrying out a system function the control method using an RTU assembly having a plurality of cells communicating with each other, each cell comprising a microprocessor, a power supply, a memory for storage of data and an I/O port for reception and transmission of data from a plant unit of the system and or other cells comprising the initial steps of: 
 allocating at least part of a system function one or more of the cells; and    allocating a data control function of configuring or re-configuring the system function carried out by each cell; and    in which during operation of the method the continuous steps are carried out of: 
 operating each cell independently to source data from and to make data available to other cells as required;  
 re-configuring the system function carried out by any cell during operation of the method dependent on control requirements, and  
 on replacing a cell of the RTU assembly the system function carried by the replaced cell is allocated to the replacing cell or another cell by reference to the database and the database is updated.  
   
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  in which on a call malfunctioning the steps are performed of: 
 allocating the system function carried by the malfunctioning cell to one or more of the other cells; and  
 updating the database.  
 
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  in which each system function is allocated to at least two cells.  
     
     
         39 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  in which the data control function is allocated to at least two cells whereby the malfunction of a cell does not prevent operation of the data control function.  
     
     
         40 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  in which each I/ 0  port of a plant unit delivers data to and receive data from at least two cells.  
     
     
         41 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  in which at least two cells are programmed to receive and process the same data for subsequent onward transmission, all of the cells except one of the cells being programmed to reject the data for processing until the cell processing the data ceases to do so when another of the cells will process the data.