Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080273486 | Wireless Protocol Adapter - A wireless protocol adapter for use in a process system includes a wireless interface that communicates with a multi-node wireless communication network using a wireless communication protocol, a wired interface that connects to a first field device over a wired link, and a processing unit that transfers process data between the wireless communication network and the first field device to enable operation of the first field device and of the wireless protocol adapter in the wireless communication network as distinct network nodes. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273518 | Suspending Transmissions in a Wireless Network - A method of increasing operational safety of a wireless communication network operating in a process control environment and having a plurality of network devices includes detecting a first triggering condition associated with an increased operational risk due to a wireless transmissions by at least one of the plurality of network devices, sending a suspend command to at least some of the plurality of network devices, suspending transmissions at the at least some of the plurality of network devices; and resuming transmissions at the at least some of the plurality of network devices upon occurrence of a second triggering condition. | 11-06-2008 |
20080274766 | Combined Wired and Wireless Communications with Field Devices in a Process Control Environment - A method of providing a wireless extension to a plant automation network connected to a plurality of wired devices, each wired device performing a process control function, includes connecting a plurality of wireless devices to the plant automation network, each of the plurality of wireless devices adapted to communicate with at least another one of the plurality of wireless devices via at least one respective wireless connection; and providing access to each of the plurality of wireless devices from a host disposed in the plant automation network, such that the host accesses the plurality of wired devices and the plurality of wireless devices using a common communication scheme. | 11-06-2008 |
20080279155 | Adaptive Scheduling in a Wireless Network - A method of adaptively scheduling communications in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of network nodes includes generating a network routing scheme based on a topology of the wireless mesh network, generating a communication schedule for the wireless mesh network, and automatically updating the communication schedule in response to detecting a change in a transmission requirement of at least one of the plurality of network nodes. The act of generating a communication schedule includes defining a communication timeslot of a predefined duration and defining a plurality of superframes as repeating cycles of a certain number of consecutively scheduled communication timeslots. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279204 | Increasing Reliability and Reducing Latency in a Wireless Network - A mesh communication network for use in, for example, process control plants includes a plurality of network devices transmitting and receiving data according to a network schedule defined as a set of concurrent overlapping superframes, and along a set of graphs defining communication paths between pairs of network devices. A network manager residing in or outside the communication network develops a routing scheme for the network by analyzing the topology of the network and defining a set of graphs for use in routing or transmitting data between various nodes of the network, each graph including one or more communication paths between pairs of network devices. Concurrently or consequently, the network manager defines the network schedule in view of at least transmission requirements, power availability, and signal quality at each network device. If desired, the network manager may begin to define the network schedule upon completing the definition of the graphs of the communication network, so that the network manager may define the network schedule in view both the defined graphs and the transmission, power, etc. parameters associated with each network device. | 11-13-2008 |
20080300698 | User Configurable Alarms and Alarm Trending For Process Control System - Various graphical displays for plant process operators are provided which combine aspects of alarm priority and alarm age to assist operators in making better choices in responding to alarms. The disclosed graphical displays provide improved contextual information about specific alarms and the relationships with other alarms in the same control module, equipment module, etc. Hierarchically organized presentations of active alarms and alarm age profiles are also provided to assist operators in evaluating causes of “alarm floods” in chain reactions within complex process environments. Various types of alarm or display alerts are also provided for improved monitoring of processed conditions and changes in process controls. | 12-04-2008 |
20080301703 | APPARATUS AND METHODS TO ACCESS INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - Example apparatus and methods to access information associated with a process control system are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a first user-defined parameter name to reference a first datum value in a first data source. The first one of a plurality of data source interfaces is enabled to access the first datum value in the first data source. The example method also involves enabling referencing the first datum value in the first data source based on the first user-defined parameter name. In addition, data source interface software is then generated to access the first datum value in the first data source in response to receiving a first data access request including the first user-defined parameter name. | 12-04-2008 |
20080312757 | ENHANCED TOOL FOR MANAGING A PROCESS CONTROL NETWORK - A process control configuration and management system provides a plurality of function blocks representing a plurality of devices in relation to a spatial layout of a facility in which the process control system is implemented. The configuration and management system also provides process control information and process simulation information related to each of the plurality of devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility. The configuration and management system may be implemented on a handheld device and it may include a geographic positioning system providing geographic positioning data related to the handheld device and various devices in relation to the spatial layout of the facility. | 12-18-2008 |
20090010203 | Efficient Addressing in Wireless Hart Protocol - A method of providing a wireless extension to a wired protocol for transferring data to and from a field device operating in a process control environment via a wired connection, wherein the wired protocol and the wireless extension to the wired protocol have at least one protocol layer in common includes associating a unique address consistent with an addressing scheme of the wired protocol with each of a plurality of wireless devices operating in the process control environment and forming a wireless network, such that a data packet is routed between two of the plurality of wireless devices based on the unique address; associating a network identifier with the plurality of wireless devices; forming, for each of the plurality of wireless devices, a global address including the respective unique address and the network identifier in accordance with a second addressing scheme; and providing access to an external host operating outside the wireless network to each of the plurality of wireless devices based on the global address associated with the wireless device specified at the external host. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010204 | Support for Network Management and Device Communications in a Wireless Network - A method of efficiently operating a wireless communication network in a process control environment, such that the wireless communication network includes a plurality of field devices, includes defining a communication protocol for supporting wireless communications between pairs of the plurality of field devices, including providing a set of protocol commands, transferring process control data from at least some of the plurality of field devices using a first subset of the set of protocol commands of the communication protocol, and transferring network management data to at least some of the plurality of field devices using a second subset of the set of protocol commands of the communication protocol. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010205 | Priority-Based Scheduling and Routing in a Wireless Network - A method of routing data in a mesh communication network including a plurality of network devices and operating in a process control environment, including assigning one of a plurality of priority levels associated with the communication network to a data packet, sending the data packet from a source network device included in the plurality of network devices to a destination network device included in the plurality of network devices, and routing the data packet to a destination network device via at least one intermediate network device included in the plurality of network devices. The act of routing includes comparing, at each intermediate network device, the priority level of the data packet to a priority mask of the intermediate network device, and modifying at least one of scheduling or routing of the data packet if the priority level of the data packet is not associated with the priority mask of the intermediate network device. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010233 | Wireless Gateway in a Process Control Environment Supporting a Wireless Communication Protocol - A wireless gateway for use in a process control environment includes a wireless interface for communicating with a first wireless network using a first wireless communication protocol, such that the wireless network includes a plurality of field devices operating in the process control environment. The wireless gateway further includes a host interface for communicating with an external host disposed outside the wireless network using a second communication protocol and a protocol translator to enable an exchange of data between the first interface and the second interface. | 01-08-2009 |
20090046675 | Scheduling Communication Frames in a Wireless Network - A method of scheduling communications in a multi-node wireless mesh network which has a first network device and a second network device includes defining a communication timeslot of a predetermined duration, defining a first superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a first number of the communication timeslots, defining a second superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a second number of the communication timeslots, aligning the first superframe with the second superframe, so that one of the timeslots of the first superframe begins simultaneously with one of the timeslots of the second superframe, and associating the first and the second superframes with a network schedule, so that the first network device and the second network device transmit data according to the network schedule. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046732 | Routing Packets on a Network Using Directed Graphs - A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network includes defining a first graph through the first node and the second node and zero or more intermediate nodes, associating several nodes which belong to the communication network with the first graph, associating a first unique graph identifier with the first graph and providing at least partial definitions of the first graph and the first unique identifier to at least some of the nodes associated with the first graph. The method then sends data packet with the graph identifier from the first node, and directs the data packet to the second node via the zero or more intermediate nodes using the graph identifier. This method may include forwarding the packet to a neighbor node of an intermediate node if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are nodes associated with the first graph and if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one direct communication connection. | 02-19-2009 |
20090052429 | Synchronizing Timeslots in a Wireless Communication Protocol - A method for synchronizing communications in wireless mesh network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of network devices includes defining a communication timeslot of a predetermined duration, wherein each of the plurality of network devices transmits or receives data only within the communication timeslot generating a network schedule including at least one superframe having repeating superframe cycles each having a number of communication timeslots sequentially numbered relative to a beginning of each cycle, the number of communication timeslots defining a length of the at least one superframe, maintaining an absolute slot number indicative of a number of communication timeslots scheduled since a start time of the wireless network, synchronizing each of the plurality of network devices with respect to a timing of an individual communication timeslot, and synchronizing each of the plurality of network devices with the network schedule based on the absolute slot number. | 02-26-2009 |
20090054033 | Enhancing Security in a Wireless Network - A method of enhancing security in a wireless mesh communication network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of wireless network devices includes processing a join request from a wireless device wishing to join the wireless mesh communication network, providing a limited network functionality to the wireless device if the join request is granted, requesting a complete approval of the wireless device; and granting a full network functionality to the wireless device if the complete approval of the wireless device is received. | 02-26-2009 |
20090059814 | Configuring and Optimizing a Wireless Mesh Network - An interactive software-based network design tool that may be used to simulate and view the operation of a wireless mesh device network used in a process plant, such as a wireless HART device network, allows a user to create a model of a wireless network, input several design requirements, and automatically generate and view communication routes and schedules for the wireless network. The network design tool provides an interactive graphic interface for the addition, removal, and positioning of nodes and devices within the wireless network and a menu including several interactive screens for specifying threshold values, network topology selections, routing preferences, and other configuration parameters related to generating and optimizing communication routes and schedules within the wireless mesh network. The network design tool automatically applies a set of optimization rules along with the parameters input by user to the network model in order to generate efficient network configuration data. | 03-05-2009 |
20090062931 | Appendable System and Devices for Data Acquisition, Analysis and Control - An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface. | 03-05-2009 |
20090287321 | CONFIGURATION SYSTEM USING SECURITY OBJECTS IN A PROCESS PLANT - A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant, composite templates, module templates, etc. The objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant may comprise, for example, phase classes or unit phases. | 11-19-2009 |
20090299495 | Non-Periodic Control Communications in Wireless and Other Process Control Systems - Disclosed is a controller having a processor and a control module adapted for periodic execution by the processor and configured to be responsive to a process variable to generate a control signal for a process. An iteration of the periodic execution of the control module involves implementation of a routine configured to generate a representation of a process response to the control signal. The routine is further configured to maintain the representation over multiple iterations of the periodic execution of the control module and until an update of the process variable is available. In some cases, the update of the process variable is made available via wireless transmission of the process signal. In those and other cases, the controller may be included within a process control system having a field device to transmit the process signal indicative of the process variable non-periodically based on whether the process variable has changed by more than a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the field device also transmits the process signal if a refresh time has been exceeded since a last transmission. | 12-03-2009 |
20100168874 | GRAPHICS INTEGRATION INTO A PROCESS CONFIGURATION AND CONTROL ENVIRONMENT - Graphic elements and graphic displays are provided for use in a process environment to display information to one or more users about the process environment, such as the current state of devices within a process plant. The graphic elements and displays may be associated with various logical and physical elements within the process plant during configuration of the process plant, and may be configured and downloaded to the hardware within the process plant along with other configuration items, such as control routines. In particular, the graphic elements and graphic displays may be created and stored in a library, and may then be configured by being associated with various logical or physical entities within the plant. During the configuration process, the graphic elements and graphic displays may be associated with areas, equipment, process modules, control routines or control strategies of the plant as defined elsewhere in the plant configuration, or may be associated with interfaces or display devices, to define the hardware on which the graphic displays will execute during runtime, as well at to define the process entities to which these displays will be bound for display purposes. Still further, each of the graphic displays may be defined with a role or a functional use, such as an operator view, a maintenance view, etc., and these roles may be used to define the proper access and use of the graphic displays within the runtime environment. | 07-01-2010 |
20100188410 | GRAPHIC ELEMENT WITH MULTIPLE VISUALIZATIONS IN A PROCESS ENVIRONMENT - Smart graphic elements are provided for use as portions or components of one or more graphic displays, which may be executed in a process plant to display information to users about the process plant environment, such as the current state of devices within the process plant. Each of the graphic elements is an executable object that includes a property or a variable that may be bound to an associated process entity, like a field device, and that includes multiple visualizations, each of which may be used to graphically depict the associated process entity on a user interface when the graphic element is executed as part of the graphic display. Any of the graphic element visualizations may be used in any particular graphic display and the same graphic display may use different ones of the visualizations at different times. The different visualizations associated with a graphic element make the graphic element more versatile, at they allow the same graphic element to be used in different displays using different graphical styles or norms. These visualizations also enable the same graphic element to be used in displays designed for different types of display devices, such as display devices having large display screens, standard computer screens and very small display screens, such as PDA and telephone display screens. | 07-29-2010 |
20100222899 | PROCESS PLANT MONITORING BASED ON MULTIVARIATE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND ON-LINE PROCESS SIMULATION - Disclosed are systems and methods for on-line monitoring of operation of a process in connection with process measurements indicative of the operation of the process. In some cases, the operation of the process is simulated to generate model data indicative of a simulated representation of the operation of the process and based on the process measurements. A multivariate statistical analysis of the operation of the process is implemented based on the model data and the process measurements. The output data from the multivariate statistical analysis may then be evaluated during the operation of the process to enable the on-line monitoring of the process involving, for instance, fault detection via classification analysis of the output data. | 09-02-2010 |
20100228373 | VERSION CONTROL FOR OBJECTS IN A PROCESS PLANT CONFIGURATION SYSTEM - A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item. | 09-09-2010 |
20110009985 | CUSTOM FUNCTION BLOCKS FOR USE WITH PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS - A system and method for creating and incorporating a function block within a process control system enables a user of the process control system to generate a function block by combining a plurality of files selected from a group of files provided by the manufacturer of the process control system to form a source code file associated with the function block. The user can modify the function block source code file to include a procedure, routine or algorithm that is not provided by the manufacturer and can send the modified source code file to the manufacturer for validation. If the function block source code file is validated, a security measure such as a digital signature is provided to the user that enables the user to incorporate the function block within the process control system. The function blocks can be used to incorporate anew function into a process control application or to operatively integrate a data source external to a process control application with the process control application via data mapping functions performed by the function blocks. | 01-13-2011 |
20110022187 | PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED EXTERNAL DATA SOURCES - Methods and systems for integrating external and/or enterprise data into a process control system are disclosed. A user interface may be provided to enable browsing and selection of a data item from an external and/or enterprise data source. The selected data item may be associated with a process control entity. At run time, independent of a configuration of the process control entity, an external data integration server or instance of an external data integration service at a process control computing device may periodically communicate with the data source to obtain an updated current value and updated current status for the selected data item for use by the process control entity. The external data integration server and/or external data integration service may consolidate access of external/enterprise data across process control entities, optimize communications with various data sources, and maintain a status of communication with each various data source. | 01-27-2011 |
20110040390 | System Configuration Using Templates - A method in a computer system for developing a process control strategy includes providing a module template having a first plurality of components and being associated with a control operation, receiving a selection of one or more of the first plurality of components of the module template, generating an instance of a module based on the module template, including instantiating only the selected one or more of the first plurality of components, and associating the generated instance of the module with the process control strategy. | 02-17-2011 |
20110134973 | APPENDABLE SYSTEM AND DEVICES FOR DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND CONTROL - An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface. | 06-09-2011 |
20110216656 | Routing Packets on a Network Using Directed Graphs - A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network includes defining a first graph through the first node and the second node and zero or more intermediate nodes, associating several nodes which belong to the communication network with the first graph, associating a first unique graph identifier with the first graph and providing at least partial definitions of the first graph and the first unique identifier to at least some of the nodes associated with the first graph. The method then sends data packet with the graph identifier from the first node, and directs the data packet to the second node via the zero or more intermediate nodes using the graph identifier. This method may include forwarding the packet to a neighbor node of an intermediate node if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are nodes associated with the first graph and if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one direct communication connection. | 09-08-2011 |
20110224808 | Security for Objects in a Process Plant Configuration System - A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant, composite templates, module templates, etc. The objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant may comprise, for example, phase classes or unit phases. | 09-15-2011 |
20110252355 | GRAPHIC DISPLAY CONFIGURATION FRAMEWORK FOR UNIFIED CONTROL SYSTEM INTERFACE - A common process control graphical user interface plant operators, plant maintenance personnel, and management is disclosed which provides a real-time interface to both the process and the plant. The common interface is modular in design and is capable of supporting various specializations for each user type. Operator consoles are dedicated to each section of the plant and include additional functions such as maintenance, configuration, simulation and supervisory information. The unified for common graphical interface replaces control room displays filled with single case analog controllers, meters, and digital indicators. The common interface addresses the functions that previously were provided by the panel motor start/stop buttons and status indications, chart recorders, annunciator panels and subsystem interfaces. From a console, operators manage alarms, adjust the process by entering new setpoints or other parameters, “zoom in” on particular portions of the process for details, and utilize other specialized applications to work with their batch, advanced control, or business applications. The interface will run in both dedicated and non-dedicated modes, will run as a rich client or as part of a browser style interface utilizing web services and will run on workstations, laptops, tablet PC's, handhelds, and smart phones. | 10-13-2011 |
20110302635 | ENHANCING SECURITY IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - A method of enhancing security in a wireless mesh communication network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of wireless network devices includes processing a join request from a wireless device wishing to join the wireless mesh communication network, providing a limited network functionality to the wireless device if the join request is granted, requesting a complete approval of the wireless device; and granting a full network functionality to the wireless device if the complete approval of the wireless device is received. | 12-08-2011 |
20120035749 | SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF PROCESS CONTROL DEVICES IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT - In order to facilitate seamless integration of process control devices in a process control system, an integrated seamless diagnostic device collects diagnostic data related to the operation of (or problems associated with) one communication link that supports one process control protocol but communicates the collected diagnostic data to other entities in the process control system via another communication link that supports a different process control protocol. As a result, problems with the communication link monitored by the integrated seamless diagnostic device can be reported to the appropriate entities in the process control system as they occur and without unwanted delay. Moreover, problems with the monitored communication link can be communicated to the appropriate entities via process control protocols that are understood by those entities (and other entities in the process control system) and without consuming the potentially valuable resources of the monitored communication link. | 02-09-2012 |
20120083917 | PREDICTED FAULT ANALYSIS - Example methods, apparatuses and systems to correlate candidate factors to a predicted fault in a process control system are disclosed. Techniques may include obtaining a value associated with a particular factor corresponding to a process, and predicting a fault based on the value. A set of candidate factors corresponding to the predicted fault may be determined, and a correlation between the predicted fault and at least one factor from the set may be displayed. Different sections of the display may respectively correspond to the predicted fault and to the at least one factor, and the correlation may be indicated by time aligning the different sections. Modifications to one displayed section may result in automatic modification of other sections to maintain the correlation. A user may select one or more candidate factors to be displayed, and may indicate a particular point of a particular section to obtain additional details. | 04-05-2012 |
20120196636 | SUSPENDING TRANSMISSIONS IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - A method of increasing operational safety of a wireless communication network operating in a process control environment and having a plurality of network devices includes detecting a first triggering condition associated with an increased operational risk due to a wireless transmissions by at least one of the plurality of network devices, sending a suspend command to at least some of the plurality of network devices, suspending transmissions at the at least some of the plurality of network devices; and resuming transmissions at the at least some of the plurality of network devices upon occurrence of a second triggering condition. | 08-02-2012 |
20130060351 | ASSET TRACKING IN PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENTS - An asset tracking system for use in a process control environment may include one or more asset tracking devices and an asset tracking host. The asset tracking device may receive signals corresponding to a position or location of an asset to be tracked, and may communicate, using an industrial automation protocol such as wireless HART, an indication of the position to the asset tracking host. The signals may be GPS signals that are re-radiated into the process control environment. Other information, such as environmental data, may be communicated in conjunction with the position of the asset. The asset tracking host may store and/or display the data or information included in the message, and may send a different message to the asset tracking device. An asset tracking device may be included in a field device, a network device, or a portable communications device used in the process control environment. | 03-07-2013 |
20130069792 | INFERENTIAL PROCESS MODELING, QUALITY PREDICTION AND FAULT DETECTION USING MULTI-STAGE DATA SEGREGATION - A process modeling technique uses a single statistical model developed from historical data for a typical process and uses this model to perform quality prediction or fault detection for various different process states of a process. The modeling technique determines means (and possibly standard deviations) of process parameters for each of a set of product grades, throughputs, etc., compares on-line process parameter measurements to these means and uses these comparisons in a single process model to perform quality prediction or fault detection across the various states of the process. In this manner, a single process model can be used to perform quality prediction or fault detection while the process is operating in any of the defined process stages or states. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079901 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING ALIASING - In order to reduce or eliminate aliasing in a process control network, filtering of a measurement signal may be set based on the module execution rate in a process control system. A Nyquist frequency for the module may be determined based on the module execution rate where the Nyquist frequency may be twice the execution rate. Filtering after an analog to digital convertor may be set based on the module execution rate. In the analog to digital convertor, digital filtering after the converter may be set based on the module execution rate and the frequency content of the analog signal may be attenuated by a filter at and above the Nyquist frequency for the module execution rate. | 03-28-2013 |
20130184837 | COMPENSATING FOR SETPOINT CHANGES IN A NON-PERIODICALLY UPDATED CONTROLLER - A technique for controlling a process using non-periodically received process variable measurements enables more robust controller responses to setpoint changes. The control technique implements iterations of a control routine to generate a control signal using a reset or rate contribution component that produces an expected process response to the control signal. When a new measurement of the process variable is unavailable to the controller, the reset or rate contribution component that was generated in response to the receipt of the previous process variable is maintained when generating the control signal. However, the reset contribution component is iteratively recalculated during each controller execution cycle so that the output of the reset contribution component incorporates expected process changes that occur as a result of a setpoint change. | 07-18-2013 |
20140038591 | EFFICIENT ADDRESSING IN WIRELESS HART PROTOCOL - A method of providing a wireless extension to a wired protocol for transferring data to and from a field device operating in a process control environment via a wired connection, wherein the wired protocol and the wireless extension to the wired protocol have at least one protocol layer in common includes associating a unique address consistent with an addressing scheme of the wired protocol with each of a plurality of wireless devices operating in the process control environment and forming a wireless network, such that a data packet is routed between two of the plurality of wireless devices based on the unique address; associating a network identifier with the plurality of wireless devices; forming, for each of the plurality of wireless devices, a global address including the respective unique address and the network identifier in accordance with a second addressing scheme; and providing access to an external host operating outside the wireless network to each of the plurality of wireless devices based on the global address associated with the wireless device specified at the external host. | 02-06-2014 |
20140249653 | USE OF PREDICTORS IN PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS WITH WIRELESS OR INTERMITTENT PROCESS MEASUREMENTS - A control technique that enables the use of slow or intermittently received process variable values in a predictor based control scheme without the need to change the control algorithm includes a controller, such as a PID controller, and a predictor, such as a model based predictor, coupled to receive intermittent feedback in the form of, for example, process variable measurement signals from a process. The predictor, which may be an observer like a Kalman filter, or which may be a Smith predictor, is configured to produce an estimate of the process variable value from the intermittent or slow process feedback signals while providing a new process variable estimate to the controller during each of the controller execution cycles to enable the controller to produce a control signal used to control the process. | 09-04-2014 |
20140249654 | KALMAN FILTERS IN PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS - A control technique that enables the use of received process variable values in a Kalman filter based control scheme without the need to change the control algorithm includes a controller, such as a PID controller, and a Kalman filter, coupled to receive feedback in the form of, for example, process variable measurement signals from a process. The Kalman filter is configured to produce an estimate of the process variable value from slow or intermittent process feedback signals while providing a new process variable estimate to the controller during each of the controller execution cycles to enable the controller to produce a control signal used to control the process. The Kalman filter is also configured to compensate the process variable estimate for process noise with non-zero mean value that may be present in the process. The Kalman filter may apply this compensation to both continuously and intermittently received process variable values. | 09-04-2014 |
20140250153 | BIG DATA IN PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS - A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a big data apparatus including a data storage area configured to store, using a common data schema, multiple types of process data and/or plant data (such as configuration and real-time data) that is used in, generated by or received by the process control system, and one or more data receiver computing devices to receive the data from multiple nodes or devices. The data may be cached and time-stamped at the nodes and streamed to the big data apparatus for storage. The process control system big data system provides services and/or data analyses to automatically or manually discover prescriptive and/or predictive knowledge, and to determine, based on the discovered knowledge, changes and/or additions to the process control system and to the set of services and/or analyses to optimize the process control system or plant. | 09-04-2014 |
20140273847 | CONTEXT SENSITIVE MOBILE CONTROL IN A PROCESS PLANT - A mobile device for context-sensitive operation in a process control environment, and a system including such a device, includes a first circuit for acquiring information associated with a process entity in the process control environment. The mobile device also includes a processor, communicatively coupled to the first circuit, for identifying the process entity based on the acquired information. Further, the mobile device includes a network interface, communicatively connected to the processor, for receiving work item data associated with a process entity. The work item data indicates a target function associated with the process entity. The processor triggers an event to facilitate implementing the target function associated with the process entity in response to the proximity of the mobile device to the process entity and the work item data. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274123 | MOBILE CONTROL ROOM WITH REAL-TIME ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS - A method and apparatus track the location of a mobile device within a process plant and display present information about the location of the mobile device in the process plant relative to equipment of the process plant. A location awareness component generates information pertaining to the location of the mobile control room device. A first routine interprets information generated by the location awareness component according to information stored in a database to determine a relationship between the location of the device and a layout of the process plant. A second routine generates a graphic for depiction on the display according to the determined relationship between the location of the device and the layout of the plant. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277593 | SUPERVISOR ENGINE FOR PROCESS CONTROL - A supervisor engine cooperates with an expert system in a process control environment to automatically generate, assign, track, and manage work items. The supervisor engine creates work items according to data received from the expert system, selects available personnel to execute work items, sends work items to the selected personnel, schedules the execution of the work items, and creates and stores permissions that allow the assigned personnel to complete a target function of the work item at an assigned time. The supervisor engine determines required skill sets, roles, certifications, and/or credentials associated with a work item, and selects personnel to perform the work item according to a personnel profile specifying a skill set, a role, certifications, and/or credentials associated with the personnel. Alternatively or additionally, the supervisor engine assigns a work item according to the presence of personnel at or near the target equipment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277594 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEAMLESS STATE TRANSFER BETWEEN USER INTERFACE DEVICES IN A MOBILE CONTROL ROOM - Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a process plant include multiple user interface devices, each accessing process control data for display in dynamically generated user interfaces, and each operable to transfer device state directly to another device. A first user interface device stores instructions operable to cause a processor of the first user interface device to dynamically generate a user interface for displaying process data. Process data are provided to the first user interface device by a server coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area. When a second user interface device receives from a first user interface device data indicative of the state of the first user interface device, the second user interface device dynamically generates a user interface for displaying data on the second user interface device according to the received data indicative of the state of the first user interface device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277595 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEAMLESS STATE TRANSFER BETWEEN USER INTERFACE DEVICES IN A MOBILE CONTROL ROOM - Methods and systems for operating a process plant include multiple user interface devices, each operating a plurality of applications, and operable to pass device state from device to device. A first user interface device is communicatively coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area, and executes one or more first routines for performing a function. A second user interface device is communicatively coupled via a network to the unitary, logical data storage area and executes one or more stored routines each corresponding to one of the first routines. The first user interface device passes to the second user interface device state information indicative of one or more first routines operating on the first user interface device such that the second user interface device, upon receiving the state information, executes one or more of the second routines corresponding to one or more of the first routines. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277596 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A WORK FLOW IN A PROCESS PLANT - An automated method for managing a work flow in a process plant includes determining the steps of performing a work item and generating associated displays for an operator or other personnel to perform the steps of the work item. A work item is created specifying a task to be performed in the process plant and determining from the specified task a set of procedures for execution of the work item. For each procedure, an associated display is generated and the associated displays are displayed on a mobile user interface device sequentially in an order in which the set of procedures are to be performed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277604 | DISTRIBUTED BIG DATA IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A distributed big data device in a process plant includes an embedded big data appliance configured to locally stream and store, as big data, data that is generated, received, or observed by the device, and to perform one or more learning analyses on at least a portion of the stored data. The embedded big data appliance generates or creates learned knowledge based on a result of the learning analysis, which the device may use to modify its operation to control a process in real-time in the process plant, and/or which the device may transmit to other devices in the process plant. The distributed big data device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, or other process plant device, and may utilize learned knowledge created by other devices when performing its learning analysis. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277605 | MOBILE ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL PHENOMENA IN A PROCESS PLANT - In a process plant, a mobile device detects a physical phenomenon and converts the detected physical phenomenon to digital data representative of the physical phenomenon. The data are transmitted to an expert system and analyzed by the expert system to determine a state of one or more process elements. Abnormal conditions associated with the process elements may be detected, and a cause of the abnormal condition may be determined from the digital data. Process control parameters may be automatically changed to correct the abnormal condition, work items may be created to cause personnel to take action to correct the abnormal condition, and/or an operator may be prompted to take a corrective action to resolve the abnormal condition. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277607 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A MOBILE CONTROL DEVICE IN A PROCESS PLANT - Methods, systems, and apparatus for determining with dead reckoning the position, relative to an anchor point, of a mobile device. Data indicating an anchor position within a process plant is acquired and an anchor position is determined according to the acquired data. Data indicative of acceleration and orientation of the mobile device are received from circuitry of the mobile device. A position of the mobile device is determined according to the received data and the anchor position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277615 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEAMLESS STATE TRANSFER BETWEEN USER INTERFACE DEVICES IN A MOBILE CONTROL ROOM - Methods and systems for operating a process plant include multiple user interface (UI) devices, each accessing a plurality of applications on a server, and operable to store device state on the server and receive device state from the server. The server is coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area and provides functions related to the process data stored in the data storage areas via one or more user interfaces. A first UI device coupled to the server accesses the process data and maintains on the server state information indicative of a state of the user interface executing on the first UI device. A second UI device coupled to the server accesses the process data and the state information to execute a user interface on the second UI device in accordance with the state information indicative of the state of the user interface executing on the first UI device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277616 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEAMLESS STATE TRANSFER BETWEEN USER INTERFACE DEVICES IN A MOBILE CONTROL ROOM - Methods and apparatus for operating a process plant include a server providing display information to a first user interface (UI) device, storing state information, and providing display information to a second user interface device according to the stored state data. A processor is coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area and to a memory device that stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor. The instructions cause the processor to retrieve process data for display on a first UI device, transmit to the first UI device the retrieved process data, store state information associated with the display of the process data on the first UI device, retrieve process data for display on a second UI device according to the stored state information, and transmit to the second UI device the process data retrieved according to the stored state information. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277617 | METHOD FOR INITIATING OR RESUMING A MOBILE CONTROL SESSION IN A PROCESS PLANT - User interface sessions in a user interface device are initiated or resumed according to stored state data. A session request is received from a first client device. A user profile associated with the session request is identified and a determination made as to whether a previous session exists. If no previous session exists, a new session is instantiated using a default session configuration. If a previous session exists, a new session is instantiated according to the previous session. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277618 | METHOD FOR INITIATING OR RESUMING A MOBILE CONTROL SESSION IN A PROCESS PLANT - User interface sessions in a user interface device are initiated or resumed according to a device type and a target session. A session request is received from a first client device. A device type associated with the session request is determined, and a graphical user interface configuration is identified according to the device type. A target session associated with the session request is identified and a new session is configured for the first client device according to the identified graphical user interface configuration and the identified target session. Data associated with the new session are transmitted to the first client device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277619 | GRAPHICAL PROCESS VARIABLE TREND MONITORING IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM USING A NAVIGATION PANE - A process control monitoring system for a process control plant uses graphic trend symbols to assist in detecting and monitoring trends of process variables within the process control plant. A graphic display application within the process control monitoring system may implement and display each graphic trend symbol to graphically indicate or encapsulate current trend and value information of a process variable within the process control plant. The graphic display application may display the graphic trend symbol in a spatially realistic location within a graphical representation of the process control plant while maintaining the hierarchical structure or each hierarchical level of the process plant. The graphic display application may also include a navigation pane and a zoom feature that enable a user to quickly drill down through tend data to obtain more information and to support problem identification and diagnosis tasks. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277620 | GRAPHICAL PROCESS VARIABLE TREND MONITORING WITH ZOOM FEATURES FOR USE IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A process control monitoring system for a process control plant uses graphic trend symbols to assist in detecting and monitoring trends of process variables within the process control plant. A graphic display application within the process control monitoring system may implement and display each graphic trend symbol to graphically indicate or encapsulate current trend and value information of a process variable within the process control plant. The graphic display application may display the graphic trend symbol in a spatially realistic location within a graphical representation of the process control plant while maintaining the hierarchical structure or each hierarchical level of the process plant. The graphic display application may also include a zoom feature that enables a user to quickly drill down through tend data to obtain more information and to support problem identification and diagnosis tasks. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277656 | COLLECTING AND DELIVERING DATA TO A BIG DATA MACHINE IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278312 | DATA MODELING STUDIO - A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model. | 09-18-2014 |
20140280497 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A PROCESS PLANT WITH LOCATION AWARE MOBILE CONTROL DEVICES - A computer-readable storage medium for controlling a process plant includes instructions operable to determine the location of a device in the process plant and to display data related to proximate devices. The instructions cause a processor to transmit to a server a first request for first data from a data storage area and to receive from the server, in response to the first request, first data from the storage area. The instructions cause the processor to cause the display to display the first data received from the server and to receive an indication that the mobile user interface device is in proximity to an external device. The instructions cause the processor to transmit to the server a second request for second data according to the received indication and to receive second data from the server. | 09-18-2014 |
20140280678 | COLLECTING AND DELIVERING DATA TO A BIG DATA MACHINE IN A PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM - A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282015 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A PROCESS PLANT WITH LOCATION AWARE MOBILE CONTROL DEVICES - Methods and apparatus for operating a process plant include multiple user interface devices operable to determine the location of the device in the process plant and to display data related to proximate devices. A processor in a mobile user interface device transmits a first request for data and receives the requested data in response to the request. The processor causes a display to display the received data. The processor receives an indication that the mobile user interface device is in proximity to an external device the processors transmits a second request for data according to the received indication. The processor then receives data in response to the second request. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282195 | Graphical Process Variable Trend Monitoring for a Process Control System - A process control monitoring system for a process control plant uses graphic trend symbols to assist in detecting and monitoring trends of process variables within the process control plant. A graphic display application within the process control monitoring system may implement and display each graphic trend symbol to graphically indicate or encapsulate current trend and value information of a process variable within the process control plant. The graphic display application may display the graphic trend symbol in a spatially realistic location within a graphical representation of the process control plant while maintaining the hierarchical structure or each hierarchical level of the process plant. The graphic display application may also include a zoom feature that enables a user to quickly drill down through tend data to obtain more information and to support problem identification and diagnosis tasks. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282227 | DATA MODELING STUDIO - A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282257 | GENERATING CHECKLISTS IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT - A method executed in a process control environment automatically generates, displays, and tracks check lists according to assigned work items. The work items include information such as required equipment, required safety equipment, required tools, target function, and target equipment. The target function and/or target equipment information can be associated, together or separately, with the required equipment, required safety equipment, and required tools if the required equipment and tools are not specifically included in the work items. The check lists indicate the required equipment, tools, devices, parts, maintenance materials, manuals, and/or documents, that are necessary to perform the target function on the target equipment. A check list is displayed on a user interface device, which tracks, internally or in cooperation with a supervisor engine, whether a user of the user interface device has checked off the items on the check list. | 09-18-2014 |