Data service: Real-time database consists of several distributed I/O server software. The I/O server software provides standard interface of OPC DA.

Configuration management: System information database, NCS4000 explorer, distributed control strategy configuration software.

Monitoring application: It contains HMI software, history data management software, device management software and safety management system, system information synchronization, alarm and redundancy.

Figure 5 NCS4000 Software Architecture

NCS4000 software system runs on the workstation and communicates with NCS4000 controller to access and manage it. NCS4000 software structure is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 NCS4000 Software Structure

1.  Explorer: NCS4000 explorer manages the configuration information of NCS4000 system, and creates the configuration control strategy and downloads it to the NCS4000 controller. The UI of NCS4000 explorer is similar with Windows XP operation system and easy to use.

2.  Configuration software: NCS4000 configuration software currently provides two programming language (function block and ladder diagram) which meets standard IEC61131-3. The function block configuration method is compatible with FF function block.

3.  Real time database and configuration program: NCS4000 real time database consists of several distributed I/O server software which provides standard OPC DA interface. Real-time configuration program manages the communication with real I/O data. When the number of real I/O connection is relatively more , it provides the I/O read or written balance distribution and I/O server redundancy configuration.

4.  History data management and configuration program: History data configuration program can fulfill the definition and configuration on history data items, and management on history database. It can also customize several parameter, storage mode and pigeonhole time and backup mode in history database. History data management system includes management configuration tool, log program and history database and client tool.

　•  Management configuration tool acquires system data dictionary from real-time database and completes the definition and configuration on history data items, and management on history database.

　•  Log program is a background process. It connects to the real-time database and logs the history recording according to the configuration, and then restores the data to history database. In NCS4000 system on a large scale several history log programs run to reduce the system load. History log program and its connected I/O server are in the same computer in order to reduce the network load.

　•  History database is a database system to log history data specially. NCS4000 system uses the general (commercial) database. General database includes current various relation database management systems which are large and medium sized database, such as MSSQL Server, Oracle and desktop database and Access, etc.

5.  Safety system management tool: It includes group and user which can set relative right. The kinds of system right about group and user are as the following:

　•  Administer: user management and system update etc.

　•  Configuration: configuration, download, diagnosis and calibration etc.

　•  Operator: HMI and history data browse etc.

　•  Guest.

6.  HMI development environment: HMI software includes two parts: development environment and running system.

　•  Development environment provides user development monitoring interface with visual mode and build HMI project which consists of a group of interface file and configuration file.

　•  Running system can open HMI project built by development environment and connect real data according to configuration, and update interface and run long time. The operator station without development environment can develop HMI project on engineering station which installs development environment, and deploy HMI project to operator station.

7.  Device management configuration software: It provides field device monitoring, device ID allocation and device calibration and setting device parameter, and supports diagnosis of FF fieldbus device.

NCS4000 system software is module structure and user can select different setup mode. NCS4000 workstation can install different software module according to the setup software module. The kinds of NCS4000 workstation are as the following:

1. Engineering station: Engineering station is to do hardware configuration, control loop configuration, real/history database configuration and system control and maintenance. The software on engineering station includes:

　•  NCS4000 explorer

　•  Configuration software

　•  Real database configuration program

　•  History data configuration program

　•  NCS4000 safety system management tool

　•  HMI development environment

2. Master engineering station: Master engineering station is the engineering station in which system information database server runs. Master engineering station is exclusive in the system. During system configuration Master engineering station and system information database must run normally. Master engineering station needs to install system information database server besides all software in engineering station.

3. Operator station: Operator station does not have configuration function (perhaps do not install the configuration program or do not have relative right) and only passively receives configuration information of NCS4000 system workstation, such as HMI interface etc. Operator can use operator station to do something that has relation to running, which includes knowing the state of running, modification current value of running parameter, confirming field alarm information etc. Normally, operator station set up only HMI running edition software and device management software.

The relationship among master engineering station, engineering station, operator station is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7 NCS4000 network during the configuration

NCS4000 software system has some background service programs which have no UI but are the core of NCS4000, as shown in the following table.