US 12,332,624 B2
Process control system, process control apparatus, and program update method
Yusuke Takeno, Musashino (JP); and Takeshi Ohno, Musashino (JP)
Assigned to YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Musashino (JP)
Filed on Mar. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/705,657.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-056490 (JP), filed on Mar. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0317645 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC G05B 19/0426 (2013.01) [G05B 2219/2214 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A program update method for use in a process control system comprising a first process control apparatus which does not include an online update manager of a system program and a second process control apparatus which includes the online update manager, the program update method comprising:
acquiring, by the online update manager of the second process control apparatus, takeover data, which is data required to be taken over so that a system function is continued, from the first process control apparatus when switching from the first process control apparatus to the second process control apparatus is performed and restoring the takeover data in the second process control apparatus; and
determining, by the online update manager of the second process control apparatus, a timing when the switching will be performed,
wherein
when a function extension of an online update function of the process control system is performed, an extension function is embedded into the online update manager of the second process control apparatus, and the extension function is not embedded into the first process control apparatus.