Safety data writes

1. A method for safe and secure communication of a process control network comprising the steps of:

loading changed parameters associated with a field device controller into a function block implemented by a process control server;

verifying that the changed parameters loaded into the function block are within safe limits for operation of a field device associated with the field device controller;

loading the changed parameters into the field device controller in response to said verifying step;

restarting a warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters instead of cold startup parameters without changing the cold startup parameters; and

updating a counter representing a number of restarts of the warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the changed parameters are entered by an operator entering control parameters for a human machine interface object.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

receiving a read back of the changed parameters loaded into the function block;

acknowledging the changed parameters loaded into the function block by an operator;

transmitting the changed parameters to the field device controller.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

verifying that the changed parameters loaded into the function block are within predetermined safety limits.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of:

preventing transmission of the changed parameters to the field device controller;

diagnosing a reason changed parameters were not transmitted to the field device controller; and

communicating to the operator a diagnosis from the act of diagnosing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the field controller device is a Programmable Logic Controller.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

shutting down the process control system;

reloading the changed parameters into the field device controller; and

restarting a warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters.

8. A method for safe and secure communication of a process control network comprising the steps of:

requesting a change of control parameters associated with a field device controller through a Human Machine Interface object by an operator;

receiving a read back of changed control parameters entered;

acknowledging the read back of changed control parameters indicating that the changed parameters are within safe limits for operation of a field device associated with the field device controller;

transmitting the changed control parameters to the field device controller of the process control network in response to said acknowledging step to restart a warm process of the field device controller using the changed control parameters instead of cold startup parameters without changing the cold startup parameters; and

updating a counter representing a number of restarts of the warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the changed parameters are entered by an operator entering control parameters for the Human Machine Interface object.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

verifying that the changed parameters loaded into the function block are within predetermined safety limits.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

preventing transmission of the changed parameters to the field device controller;

diagnosing a reason changed parameters were not transmitted to a field device controller; and

communicating to the operator a diagnosis from the step of diagnosing.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the field controller device is a Programmable Logic Controller.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

shutting down the process control system;

reloading the changed parameters in the field device controller; and

restarting a warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

verifying a unique identifier associated with an operator of the Human Machine Interface prior to the action of transmitting the changed control parameter.

15. A safety data writing system for a process control network comprising:

one or more field device controllers; and

a process control server loading startup parameters associated with a field device controller into a function block implemented by a process control server; verifying that the changed parameters loaded into the function block are within safe limits for operation of a field device associated with the field device controller; loading the changed parameters into the field device controller in response to said verification; restarting a warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters instead of cold startup parameters without changing the cold startup parameters; and updating a counter representing a number of restarts of the warm process control system using the loaded changed parameters.

16. A safety data system of claim 15 further comprising:

a client computer acknowledging the changed parameters loaded into the function block by an operator wherein the process control server receives a read back of the changed parameters loaded into the function block and transmits the changed parameters to the field device controller.

17. A safety data writing system of claim 15 wherein the process control server verifies that the changed parameters loaded into the function block are within predetermined safety limits.

18. A safety data writing system of claim 15 wherein the process control server prevents transmission of the changed parameters to the field device controller; diagnoses a reason changed parameters were not transmitted to the field device controller; and communicates to the operator a diagnosis.

19. A safety data writing system of claim 15 wherein the field device controller is a Programmable Logic Controller.

20. A safety data writing system of claim 15 wherein the process control server verifies a unique identifier associated with an operator of a human machine interface prior to transmitting the changed control parameter to the field controller device.