SIEMENS
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Siemens IK PI · 2015
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Overview
(continued)
Industrial Remote Communication
TeleControl Professional for the stations
Introduction
7
TIM communications modules
The hardware component for the telecontrol wireless station of a
telecontrol substation is the TIM (
T
elecontrol
I
nterface
M
odule)
communication module. It is used by the S7 CPU or control
center PC for data exchange via the relevant telecontrol network,
optionally with the SINAUT ST7, SINAUT ST1 or DNP3 protocol.
Different protocols cannot be combined in one communication
network. However, communication networks with different
protocols can always be combined in one project if they are
connected to the central control center via separate interfaces.
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Function
Each WAN interface of a TIM can be operated with the function
"Station", "Node terminal" or "Control center" (exception: the
function "Node terminal" is not available on the TIM 3V-IE,
TIM 3V-IE DNP3, TIM 4R-IE DNP3, and the function "Control
center" is not available on the TIM 3V-IE DNP3 and TIM 4R-IE
DNP3). This enables the construction of the type of hierarchical
communication structures required in classic WANs.
On IP-based networks, in which each partner has equal priority,
this classification can be dismissed. The transmission via GPRS,
however, represents an exception, as without special GPRS
provider contracts, direct communication from GPRS station to
GPRS station is not possible. This can be solved by "rerouting"
through a control center TIM, as in a classic WAN with cross-
traffic on a dedicated leased line or wireless. In this case, the
interfaces of the participating TIMs are to be set to the function
"Control center" or "Station" in an IP-based network as well so that
the correct path from "Station" to "Station" will be found automat-
ically through the "Control center".
The TIM independently processes the data traffic via the network
connected in each case and it does this according to the store-
and-forward principle. For this purpose, the module has its own
processor and a RAM for buffering data messages (depending
on the type of TIM, between 10 000 and 56 000 message
frames). The saving of the messages prevents a loss of data if
the communication link is faulty or the partner fails. It also helps
to reduce connection charges in dialup networks. If the optional
backup battery is used for the TIM 4R-IE or TIM 4R-IE DNP3,
stored data frames are not lost even if the 24 V supply voltage
fails.
Reading and writing data that the TIM is to send or receive for
a CPU can also be done with:
•
TD7onCPU
, the SINAUT TD7 software for the CPU, applicable
to S7-300- and S7-400-CPUs as well as C7 compact control
systems:
The SINAUT program in the CPU, configured with modules
from the SINAUT TD7 library, acquires the process data to be
transferred, checks it for changes and transfers the changes
to the TIM for transmission over the WAN. Messages received
without faults by the TIM via the WAN are forwarded to the
local CPU. A block that has been integrated there for evalu-
ating the specific message frame ensures that the received
information is output to the outputs or data areas configured in
the block.
This block library cannot be used in conjunction with
TIM 3V-IE DNP3 or TIM 4R-IE DNP3.
•
TD7onTIM
, the SINAUT TD7 software integrated in the TIM
(not present in the case of the TIM 4R / TIM 4RD), can be used
with S7-300 CPUs and C7 compact control systems:
The TD7onTIM program configured by the user reads the
process data to be transferred directly from the memory areas
of the CPU inserted into the S7-300 rack (inputs, bit memories,
DBs), checks them for changes and then transfers the
changes to the send buffer of the TIM for transmission over the
WAN. Data from message frames received without fault by the
TIM via the WAN are directly written by the TIM into the
configured memory areas of the CPU.
If required, the data acquired by "TD7onCPU" or "TD7onTIM" can
be tagged with a time stamp and the "normal" or "high" priority
identification for transmission over a chargeable network, e.g.
dial-up or GPRS. "TD7onTIM" also allows extremely important
data to be identified with the "Interrupt" priority. These have
priority over all other message frames saved in the send buffer,
i.e. they are transmitted before the others.
If the local SINAUT station is a control center PC, operator inputs
are recorded by the PC program in accordance with the data
message frame configuration, and transferred with the config-
ured destination address to the TIM. Messages received without
faults by the TIM via the WAN are forwarded to the control center
PC. Evaluation of the relevant frame is handled by the control
system software.
The TIM first saves the data to be sent in its RAM buffer.
The subsequent response of the TIM on sending this data is
explained in the two following sections.
© Siemens AG 2014