Retrieval of Measured Values, Diagnostic Information or Device Parameters

Abstract

A system, a device and a method are for retrieval of measured values, items of diagnostic information or device parameters in level measurement, pressure measurement, flow measurement or limit detection. Provided in the measuring device is a flag which is raised when the measuring device changes a measuring device parameter, for example. An external control device receives this flag and, using said flag, can determine whether a device parameter has been changed in the measuring device. If this is the case, it requests the group of device parameters, associated with this device parameter, from the measuring device. In this manner, the transfer of data can be reduced.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a sensing device; and   a control unit connected to the device via a communication interface;   wherein the device is configured to determine whether one of (a) a current measured value, recorded by the device in a measurement, differs from a measured value recorded in the measurement preceding this measurement; (b) a current item of diagnostic information, generated by the device, differs from an item of diagnostic information preceding this item of diagnostic information; and (c) a current device parameter has changed due to another device parameter changing; and   wherein the control unit is configured to retrieve one of (a) the current measured value, (b) the current item of diagnostic information and (c) the current device parameter from the device only when the device has established one of (A) a difference between (1) the measured values and (2) the items of diagnostic information and (B) the device parameter has changed.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device is a pressure measuring device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device is a limit detection device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device is a flow measuring device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control unit transmits the other device parameter to the device before the device makes the determination. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein upon determining that one of (a) the current measured value, (b) the current item of diagnostic information and (c) the current device parameter has changed, the device records this fact in a flag; and wherein the control unit retrieves the flag and, after checking the flag, decides whether or not one of (a) the current measured value, (b) the current item of diagnostic information and (c) the current device parameter is to be retrieved from the device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the determination whether the current device parameter has changed due to another device parameter changing is made by identifying the other device parameter in a list provided for this purpose. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device only makes the determination if one of (a) a new measured value has been recorded, (b) a new item of diagnostic information has been generated and (c) the control unit has triggered the changing of a device parameter by writing the device parameter into a memory of the device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control unit retrieves an entire set of device parameters from the device when the device has established that the current device parameter has changed. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control unit checks whether the device has made the determination. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the device automatically informs the control unit when it has made the determination. 
     
     
         26 . A method for loading device parameters, measured values and items of diagnostic information into a user interface of a control unit of a device, comprising:
 determining whether one of (a) a current measured first value, recorded by the device in a measurement, differs from a measured second value recorded in the measurement preceding this measurement; (b) a current first item of diagnostic information, generated by the device, differs from second item of diagnostic information preceding this item of diagnostic information; and (c) a current first device parameter has changed due to another second device parameter changing; and   retrieving one of (a) the current first measured value, (b) the current first item of diagnostic information and (c) the current first device parameter from the level measuring device by the control unit only when the device has established one of (A) a difference between one of (1) the first and second measured values and (2) the first and second items of diagnostic information and (B) the device parameter has changed.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the device includes one of a level measuring device, a pressure measuring device, a limit detection device and a flow measuring device.