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Base Station can be used as the cornerstone of a powerful
on-line instrument management system for your enterprise. Interface components
for such a system include a wide variety of HART multiplexers, PLC’s, control
system, or intrinsic safety barrier equipment that supports HART
communications. In addition, you will need the optional Cornerstone
Communication Library (ComLib) that interfaces the make and model of interface
hardware you have chosen. You can use one or more types of HART interface
hardware in one Cornerstone system.
The standard Base Station includes a Communication Manager
window that provides an interface to HART multiplexer equipment through
corresponding ComLib software modules. This window is used to maintain the
configuration and connection to instruments attached to your HART communications
hardware. The Communication Manager window fulfills several major functions.
 | In conjunction with the appropriate Cornerstone ComLib
software, it supports the setup and maintenance of HART compatible multiplexer
communications equipment from specific vendors. |
| It maintains the On-line Event Log, which records status
events for multiple instrument networks of different types for a unified
presentation. Log entries include Time and Date, network or node name, event
type, and event description. |
| New event messages are highlighted in the On-line Event
log, and optionally audibly annunciated. |
The On-line Event Log is a principal feature of both the
Communication Manager window and the optional Status Monitor window. It
presents events related to the operation of an on-line instrument management
system. The events inform you of network, node, and instrument status changes
sensed by the ComLibs, as well as errors that may be detected in the operation
of the ComLibs.
This log operates much like a typical alarm display on a
control system, including new message annunciation and operator acknowledge
functions. All or portions of the log can be printed according to criteria you
specify.
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Click here to see a sample of the On-line Event Log
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Network Functions
| Learn - Automatically locates all instrument
networks, multiplexer nodes, and connected instruments. You can choose to do
this for the entire system or for selected nodes. Located instruments are
added to the Active Instrument List to show all instruments connected to your
Base Station system. Learn is used initially to build the software list of
instruments connected to a new Base Station on-line instrument system.
Subsequently, it is used to detect and add new instruments or entire new
instrument nodes when you expand your system. |
| Restart - Sends reset commands to each multiplexer
node and accesses each instrument to verify connectivity. You can choose to
do this for the entire network or only for selected nodes. |
| Scanning - Allows you to enable or disable scanning
of all nodes or selected nodes. Scanning is the periodic accessing of
connected multiplexer nodes to gather current status of the nodes and
connected instruments, as reported by the nodes. |
Node Functions
This window provides functions for a selected multiplexer
node. The specific features provided here differ depending on which type of
multiplexer equipment is employed. These features are provided in this window
by the Cornerstone ComLib interface software used to support the multiplexer
model you are using.
| Identification - Review or change node configuration
information. |
| Operation - View and interact with node operational
parameters. |
| Scanning - Change the scan status of a single node. |
| Self Test - Conduct a test of the node. |
Instrument Functions
Functions are provided to assist you in managing the on-line
connection to your instrument population. These include:
| Active List - Shows all active instruments connected
via multiplexer hardware, including address information and scan status.
Provides Add and Remove Instrument functions so that you can inform the
software of changes in your connected instruments. Other supporting functions
include View an instrument’s configuration, Filter the displayed list, and
Print the list. |
| Fix UID’s - Some multiplexers can detect non-unique
ID’s in connected instruments. This function helps you fix these so that all
instruments have the required unique identifiers. |
| Fix Tags - Some multiplexers can detect non-unique
Tags in connected instruments. This function helps you fix these so that all
instruments have the required unique Tag. |
Other Functions
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Print
- all or part of the On-line Event Log. |
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Setup Annunciation
- Enable or Disable annunciation of new on-line events and change the reminder
interval. |
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Setup Communications
Libraries - Setup ComLib operational parameters. |
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Setup On-line Event
Log - Choose the maximum number of entries. |
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Acknowledge
- new event messages and turn off annunciation for them. |
Optional
Instrument Status Monitor
You can purchase an optional Instrument Status Monitor (ISM)
software module to enhance the functions of an on-line instrument monitoring
system using HART Multiplexers. ISM replaces the Communication Manager window
with the Status Monitor window that includes all the Communications Manager
functions described here and adds enhanced ISM features to:
| Automatically build your instrument database by connecting
to all new instruments |
| Automatically reconcile as-found device configurations with
current database records |
| Scan and acquire process variables and detect status
changes in all attached instruments |
| Display status change messages in On-line Event Log |
| Update displays with instrument scan status |
| Track field changes in device configuration and
automatically create history records to document the changes |
| Let you customize the On-line Event Log display with event
filters |
Additional details about the
Instrument Status Monitor option are described on a separate
product page.
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