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Author

Richard L. Thibault

Other affiliations: Schneider Electric
Bio: Richard L. Thibault is an academic researcher from Invensys. The author has contributed to research in topics: Interface (computing) & Java applet. The author has an hindex of 9, co-authored 19 publications receiving 969 citations. Previous affiliations of Richard L. Thibault include Schneider Electric.

Papers
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Patent
20 Jul 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a virtual machine for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual environment and communicate via an IP network. But their work is limited to the control of a single field device.
Abstract: 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.

378 citations

Patent
14 Jul 1997
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within a client digital data processor, which executes an applet for configuring the client digital processor as a process controller that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.
Abstract: A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.

202 citations

Patent
22 Nov 1999
TL;DR: In this article, a powered Ethernet connection is provided between two devices connected by an Ethernet connection that provides data communication between the devices, and the extracted power is used to power the second device.
Abstract: A powered Ethernet connection is provided between two devices connected by an Ethernet connection that provides data communication between the devices. Electrical power is applied to the Ethernet connection at the first device, and extracted from the Ethernet connection at the second device. The extracted power is used to power the second device.

152 citations

Patent
30 Jun 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, the first and second process control components are coupled to a third process control component, with which it transfers information, e.g., as part of an active or ongoing control process.
Abstract: A control system has blocks or other components that facilitate validation of their own replacements, e.g., downloaded via e-commerce transactions. The system includes first and second process control components. The first component is coupled to a third process control component, with which it transfers information, e.g., as part of an active or ongoing control process. The second component can be, for example, an update or other potential replacement for the first component. The first and/or second components can effect substitution of the second component for the first. More particularly, they can effect coupling of the second component for information transfer with the third component and decoupling of the first component from such transfer with the third component. Preferably, such coupling and decoupling occur while the process control system remains active.

75 citations

Patent
23 Aug 1999
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within a client digital data processor, which executes an applet for configuring the client digital processor as a process controller that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.
Abstract: A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.

65 citations


Cited by
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Patent
09 Jan 2003
TL;DR: In this paper, a power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed, which includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) distributed throughout the power distribution systems to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system using real time communications.
Abstract: A power management architecture for an electrical power distribution system, or portion thereof, is disclosed. The architecture includes multiple intelligent electronic devices (“IED's”) distributed throughout the power distribution system to manage the flow and consumption of power from the system using real time communications. Power management application software and/or hardware components operate on the IED's and the back-end servers and inter-operate via the network to implement a power management application. The architecture provides a scalable and cost effective framework of hardware and software upon which such power management applications can operate to manage the distribution and consumption of electrical power by one or more utilities/suppliers and/or customers which provide and utilize the power distribution system. Autonomous communication on the network between IED's, back-end servers and other entities coupled with secure networks, themselves interconnected, via firewalls, by one or more unsecure networks, is facilitated by the use of a back-channel protocol. The back-channel protocol allows a device coupled with a secure network to solicit communications from a device on the unsecure network, thereby opening a back-channel through the firewall through which the unsecure network device may send unsolicited messages to the secure network device. Communications between multiple secure networks is accomplished using a unsecure device on an intermediary unsecure network to relay communications between the secure network devices using the protocol described above.

707 citations

Patent
10 Mar 2003
TL;DR: In this article, an integrated phone-based home gateway system is described, which includes a broadband communication device, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) device, an analog modem, a wireless interface, integrated into a screen-phone for providing broadband communication service to home users.
Abstract: A integrated phone-based home gateway system is disclosed. The integrated phone-based home gateway system includes a broadband communication device, such as digital subscriber line (“DSL”) device, an analog modem, a wireless interface, integrated into a screen-phone for providing broadband communication service to home users. Multiple home users are able to access the Internet and the content services for conducting e-commerce, receiving content news, entertaining on-demand, making audio or video communications, and telecommuting or working at home. This screen-phone based, modular, plug-n-play home gateway interface allows in-home as well as to-home networking, provides automatic data and broadband initialization, configuration and service provisioning, routing and bridging functionality and allows resource sharing among home devices via the existing phone wire, wireless, coaxial or optical cable connections.

500 citations

Patent
08 Jun 2001
TL;DR: An industrial control user interface provides a flexible, extensible architecture for the provision of real-time process data to a state-of-the-art user interface, using MSHTML as the underlying rendering engine as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: An industrial control user interface provides a flexible, extensible architecture for the provision of real-time process data to a state-of-the-art user interface, using MSHTML as the underlying rendering engine. The architecture of the interface provides a user interface that is designed to harness key industry standard technologies in an open, adaptable, architecture that facilitates the technological convergence of disparate HMI products. The preferred embodiments offer open display page architecture via the separation of the provision of data and server specific user interactions from the implementation of individual page elements. The only real assumption made about a page element is that it is part of the HTML display page and accessible via the Document Object Model.

380 citations

Patent
20 Jul 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a virtual machine for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual environment and communicate via an IP network. But their work is limited to the control of a single field device.
Abstract: 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.

378 citations

Patent
12 Sep 2003
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a system and methodology facilitating automation security in a networked-based industrial controller environment, where various components, systems and methodologies are provided to facilitate varying levels of automation security.
Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automation security in a networked-based industrial controller environment. Various components, systems and methodologies are provided to facilitate varying levels of automation security in accordance with security analysis tools, security validation tools and/or security learning systems. The security analysis tool receives abstract factory models or descriptions for input and generates an output that can include security guidelines, components, topologies, procedures, rules, policies, and the like for deployment in an automation security network. The validation tools are operative in the automation security network, wherein the tools perform security checking and/or auditing functions, for example, to determine if security components are in place and/or in suitable working order. The security learning system monitors/learns network traffic patterns during a learning phase, fires alarms or events based upon detected deviations from the learned patterns, and/or causes other automated actions to occur.

324 citations