Alstom MiCOM P545 - 1.2 Software overview; 1.2.1 Real-time operating system; 1.2.2 System services software; 1.2.3 Platform software

Firmware Design P54x/EN FD/La4
MiCOM P543, P544, P545 & P546
(FD) 9-5
FD
1.2 Software overview
The software for the relay can be conceptually split into four elements; the real-time
operating system, the system services software, the platform software and the protection
and control software. These four elements are not distinguishable to the user, and are all
processed by the same processor board. The distinction between the four parts of the
software is made purely for the purpose of explanation here.
1.2.1 Real-time operating system
The
real time operating system is used to provide a framework for the different parts of the
relay’s software to operate within. To this end the software is split into tasks.
The real-time operating system is responsible for scheduling the processing of these tasks
such that they are carried out in the time available and in the desired order of priority. The
operating system is also responsible for the exchange of information between tasks, in the
form of messages.
1.2.2 System services software
The system
services software provides the low-level control of the relay hardware. For
example, the system services software controls the boot of the relay’s software from the
non-volatile flash EPROM memory at power-on, and provides driver software for the user
interface via the LCD and keypad, and via the serial communication ports. The system
services software provides an interface layer between the control of the relay’s hardware and
the rest of the relay software.
1.2.3 Platform software
The
platform software deals with the management of the relay settings, the user interfaces
and logging of event, alarm, fault and maintenance records. All of the relay settings are
stored in a database within the relay which provides direct compatibility with Courier
communications. For all other interfaces (i.e. the front panel keypad and LCD interface,
IEC 60870-5-103, DNP3.0 and IEC 61850) the platform software converts the information
from the database into the format required. The platform software notifies the protection &
control software of all settings changes and logs data as specified by the protection & control
software.
1.2.4 Protection & control software
The p
rotection and control software performs the calculations for all of the protection
algorithms of the relay. This includes digital signal processing, filtering, and ancillary tasks
such as the measurements. The protection & control software interfaces with the platform
software for settings changes and logging of records, and with the system services software
for acquisition of sample data and access to output relays and digital opto-isolated inputs.
1.2.5 Disturbance recorder
The an
alog values and logic signals are routed from the protection and control software to
the disturbance recorder software. The platform software interfaces to the disturbance
recorder to allow extraction of the stored records.