A web page has a player for playing media objects, a sequencer which displays a play list that defines an order in which media objects are played by the player, and a media access area for containing a plurality of graphical icons. Each graphical icon representing a media object, and the graphical icons can be manipulated by a user to modify the play list. For example, the media icons may be dragged to the sequencer to add them to the sequencer.

Web application for accessing media streams

The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

Methods and apparatus for control using control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an ip network

Operational status information associated with a process entity in a process plant(10) is received. The operational status information is mapped into one of a plurality of status conditions. Then, an alert message associated with the process entity is generated, where the alert message is indicative of the one status condition of the plurality of status conditions.

Integrated alert generation in a process plant

Methods and apparatus for control configuration with versioning, security, composite blocks, edit selection, object swapping, formulaic values and other aspects

A system and method for analyzing a process collects process data within a process control plant and transmits the collected process data to a remote data processing facility. The remote data processing facility analyzes the process data using a process analysis tool such as a process monitoring tool, an equipment monitoring tool, a device monitoring tool, an index generation tool, a work order generation tool and/or an accounting tool to generate analysis data. The analysis data is then transmitted to the process control plant via a communication link such as the Internet.

Remote analysis of process control plant data

A controller capable of interacting with a remotely located computer has an object-oriented control structure facilitating remote access to data formatted in accordance with instructions defined by the controller. The control structure may be organized around a database of object items each associated with a control function. For each control function, the items include one or more procedures for performing an action associated with the control function, and one or more procedures for displaying data associated with the control function. The action procedures effectively define the controller's repertoire with respect to a particular control function. The display procedures comprise instructions retrievable and executable by the remotely located computer, causing display thereon of the data in a predetermined format (i.e., the format prescribed by the instructions). The controller facilitates selection and performance of actions in the database, and execution of the display procedure makes the display instructions accessible to the remotely located computer.

Object-oriented programmable industrial controller with distributed interface architecture

A controller for one or more pieces of industrial equipment is configured to perform a series of control functions each organized into one or more procedures for performing particular machine actions. The progress of an action, or some parameter of the action-taking machine (which may or may not be associated with an action), is represented by one or more "states." A database associates entries corresponding to the items of an object (including the action(s) and the state(s)), and contains storage locations where the associated procedural instructions and/or data are to be found. The action can be independent of state information, or can instead be executed in a manner responsive to a sensed state. The controller may also include diagnostic capability, as well as accumulation and processing of performance data for subsequent analysis.

Object-oriented programmable controller

A controller for one or more pieces of industrial equipment accommodates multiple sensed conditions, that is, different conditions each associated with a different response, which may be an alarm or a branch control procedure. The controller includes a database of diagnostic templates specifying conditions, and actions or states associated therewith. For example, a template may provide multiple, specified, discrete time spans each reflecting a different machine condition, and each specifying a different action associated with that condition. The templates may be associated with a model of machine behavior, e.g., one based on probabilities, which utilizes the templates and programmed control instructions to simulate machine behavior over time. More broadly, the behavior model may be used to perform a simulated execution of control instructions based on various specified values for limit parameters, which may be provided by the user or computer in accordance with the behavior model (e.g., using a Monte Carlo method) as simulation proceeds.

Programmable controller including diagnostic and simulation facilities

L'invention a pour objet un controleur destine a une ou plusieurs unites d'equipement industriel et adapte a une multitude de conditions captees, a savoir a des conditions differentes dont chacune est associee a une reponse differente qui peut se presenter comme une alarme ou comme une procedure de commande de branche. Le controleur comprend une base de donnees constituee de schemas de diagnostic precisant les conditions ainsi que des actions ou des etats qui y sont associes. Ainsi, un schema peut-il proposer une multitude de laps de temps discrets et determines dont chacun, d'une part, reflete une condition differente en rapport avec la machine et, d'autre part, indique une action differente associee a la condition en question. Les schemas peuvent etre associes a un modele de comportement de la machine, par exemple, a un modele fonde sur les probabilites, qui utilise les schemas et les instructions de commande programmees pour simuler le comportement de la machine sur une periode donnee. De facon plus large, le modele de comportement peut s'utiliser pour simuler l'execution des instructions de commande sur la base de differentes valeurs pour des parametres limites, qui peuvent etre fournis par l'utilisateur ou calcules conformement au modele de comportement (par exemple, en utilisant la methode Monte-Carlo) a mesure que la simulation progresse.

Daniel L. Pierson

Papers

Object-oriented programmable industrial controller with distributed interface architecture

Object-oriented programmable controller

Programmable controller including diagnostic and simulation facilities

Controleur programmable possedant des fonctionnalites de diagnostic et de simulation