An industrial plant asset management system comprising of a synchronized multiple view graphical user interface combining simultaneous real time and database display capability, a database including a knowledge manager and having input and output interfaces, a normalizing data acquisition module with real time and database interfaces, and a variety of device dependent data collector modules with associated signal conditioning and processing devices for providing an environment for development and deployment of visual models for monitoring plant assets.

Industrial plant asset management system: apparatus and method

A user interface having a plurality of user interface elements including: background, passive elements such as frames and borders, information display elements that present information from application software operating on the control unit, and control elements that cause application software operating on the control unit to initiate programmed behaviors. The user interface as a whole is contextually sensitive in that the appearance of user interface elements (e.g., color, size, font, contrast, order, grouping, arrangement, etc.) and/or the behavior of user interface elements are varied in a manner that is dependent on the context of the control unit. The context of the control unit is represented by state information known to the control unit, which includes context-specific state information known to a particular control unit as well as global context information known to multiple or all control units in a system.

Home automation contextual user interface

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

A system and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communications networks includes a site specific model of the physical environment, and performs a wide variety of different calculations for predicting network performance using a combination of prediction modes and measurement data based on the components used in the communications networks, the physical environment, and radio propagation characteristics.

System and method for design, tracking, measurement, prediction and optimization of data communication networks

A configuration database includes multiple databases distributed at a plurality of physical locations within a process control system. Each of the databases may store a subset of the configuration data and this subset of configuration data may be accessed by users at any of the sites within the process control system. A database server having a shared cache accesses a database in a manner that enables multiple subscribers to read configuration data from the database with only a minimal number of reads to the database. To prevent the configuration data being viewed by subscribers within the process control system from becoming stale, the database server automatically detects changes to an item within the configuration database and sends notifications of changes made to the item to each of the subscribers of that item so that a user always views the state of the configuration as it actually exists within the configuration database.

Accessing and updating a configuration database from distributed physical locations within a process control system

A process controller implements an overall, user-developed control strategy in a process control network that includes distributed controller and field devices, such as Fieldbus and non-Fieldbus devices. A user defines the control strategy by building a plurality of function blocks and control modules and downloading or installing user-specified portions of the control strategy into the Fieldbus devices and the non-Fieldbus devices. Thereafter, the Fieldbus devices automatically perform the downloaded portions of the overall strategy independently of other portions of the control strategy. For example in a process control system that includes distributed field devices, controllers and workstations, portions of the control strategy downloaded or installed into the field devices operate independently of and in parallel with the control operations of the controllers and the workstations, while other control operations manage the Fieldbus devices and implement other portions of the control strategy.

Process control system using a process control strategy distributed among multiple control elements

A process controller implements and executes a standard set of function blocks or control functions defined by a standard protocol so that standard-type control is achieved with respect to non-standard-type devices. The process controller enables standard devices to implement the standard set of function blocks and control functions. The process controller implements an overall strategy as if all connected devices are standard devices by usage of a Fieldbus function block as a fundamental building block for control structures. These function blocks are defined to create control structures for all types of devices.

Process control system using standard protocol control-of standard devices and non-standard devices

A process control system includes a user interface which supports multiple IEC-1131 standard control languages and user-selection from among the control languages. From a single application routine, a user selects a control language from among a plurality of control languages including, for example, Function Blocks, Sequential Function Charts, Ladder Logic and Structured Text, to implement a control strategy.

Process control system user interface including selection of multiple control languages

A process control system includes a diagnostic monitoring and display functionality for viewing, in a coherent manner, diagnostic information relating to a process that operates over multiple devices and system components. Although the multiple devices and system components typically encompass widely different device types and operational standards, the process control system incorporates diagnostic information relating to all devices and presents this information to a system user in a uniform manner so that an operating control strategy and the diagnostic information are presented as though all control actions and diagnostic information were performed or generated at a single location. A user-defined diagnostic program is assembled as a set of function blocks and control modules and represented as a set of layers of interconnected control objects identified as modules which include informational structures accessed as attributes. Information is accessed using device hierarchy attribute addressing, supporting direct addressing of I/O signals from modules, bypassing the use of I/O function blocks and avoiding I/O function block behavior.

Process control system for monitoring and displaying diagnostic information of multiple distributed devices

A process controller implements an overall, user-developed control strategy in a process control network that includes distributed controller and field devices. A user defines a module control strategy by specifying function blocks that make up control modules and determine the control strategy. The user modifies or debugs a module control strategy by adding, modifying and deleting function blocks, configuring parameters associated with the function blocks and creating a view to new attributes. By defining function blocks and control modules, a user-defined control strategy, application program or diagnostic program is represented as a set of layers of interconnected control objects identified as modules. A layer of the control strategy includes a set of modules which are interconnected in a user-specified manner. A module typically includes an algorithm for performing a specific function and display components which are used to display information to a user. A module is optionally represented to include a set of input and output connections for connecting to other modules. A module may be considered to be a "black box" which performs a specified function and is connected to other modules via specified input and output connections.

Larry O. Jundt

Papers

Process control system using a process control strategy distributed among multiple control elements

Process control system using standard protocol control-of standard devices and non-standard devices

Process control system user interface including selection of multiple control languages

Process control system for monitoring and displaying diagnostic information of multiple distributed devices

Process control system using a control strategy implemented in a layered hierarchy of control modules