Abstract: A system includes a camera and a monitoring system that are capable of wireless communication. The camera is operable to send a message to the monitoring system via a plurality of wireless communication paths. The message includes information relating to an operational status of the camera. The camera may generate and analyze a video signal and the message may include information relating to the analysis of the video signal. The camera may be one of a plurality of cameras capable of generating video signals. The system may further include an intermediate node capable of wireless communication with the cameras and the monitoring system. The intermediate node may multiplex the video signals from the cameras to the monitoring system.

Abstract: Beacon generators transmit wireless beacon signals for use in tracking an object. Among other things, a wireless beacon signal from a particular beacon generator contains information identifying a power supply voltage associated with that beacon generator. A tracking device associated with the object receives one or more of the beacon signals. The tracking device measures the signal strength of a received beacon signal, and the tracking device identifies the power supply voltage associated with the beacon generator that transmitted the received beacon signal. The tracking device or an external component, such as a control unit, can use the identified signal strength and the identified power supply voltage to determine the location of the object. As a particular example, signal strengths and power supply voltages associated with at least three beacon signals can be used to identify the location of the object.

Abstract: A method includes executing one or more applications in an execution environment. The one or more applications are capable of requesting allocation of memory during execution. The method also includes allocating a plurality of memory blocks in a heap to the one or more executing applications. The plurality of memory blocks are allocated sequentially in the heap to the one or more executing applications. In addition, the method includes deallocating the plurality of memory blocks during a single deallocation. Memory blocks in multiple heaps could be allocated to the one or more executing applications. A particular memory block in a particular heap could be allocated to a particular executing application by pushing an indicator identifying the particular heap onto a stack. The particular memory block is allocated in the particular heap based on the indicator, and the indicator is popped from the stack after allocation.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a first proposed value or attribute for a parameter associated with a field device. The field device is or will be used in a process control system. The method also includes determining whether the first proposed value or attribute is valid using a device description associated with the field device. The method further includes, if the first proposed value or attribute is not valid, receiving a second proposed value or attribute for the parameter associated with the field device and determining whether the second proposed value or attribute is valid. The determinations of whether the first and second proposed values or attributes are valid could occur when the field device is offline in the process control system. The method could further include receiving a configuration having multiple values or attributes for multiple parameters associated with the field device and validating at least some of those values or attributes.

Abstract: A method includes receiving information identifying a plurality of selections made by a user. The method also includes updating a help index value based on one or more of the selections. The method further includes detecting a request for help from the user. In addition, the method includes retrieving help information using the help index value and presenting the retrieved help information to the user. At least one of the selections by the user may include a selection of an option from a plurality of options, where each of the options is associated with a different incremental value. Updating the help index value may include adding the incremental value associated with the selected option to the help index value.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program for stiction compensation in a process control system are provided. A determination is made as to whether a valve is suffering from stiction. A control signal provided to the valve is adjusted in order to at least partially compensate for the stiction suffered by the valve. Adjusting the control signal could include (i) adjusting the control signal to cause the valve to move into a steady-state position and (ii) adjusting the control signal to cause the valve to remain in the steady-state position. Adjusting the control signal to cause the valve to move into the steady-state position could include (a) adjusting the control signal to cause the valve to move from a current position into a new position and (b) adjusting the control signal to cause the valve to move from the new position into the steady-state position.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program are provided for controller performance monitoring in a process control system. A level of disturbance associated with the process system is determined, and at least one value identifying a stability measure of a controller in the process system is determined using the determined level of disturbance and operating data associated with operation of the process system. The at least one value is compared to at least one threshold value, and a problem with the controller is identified based on the comparison. As an example, the process system could represent a product production system. Also, the operating data could include at least one of: measurement data from one or more sensors and control data for one or more actuators. The controller may be operable to receive the measurement data and generate the control data.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are provided for an integrated location detection and wireless communication tracking node. The tracking node includes a housing, a wireless node located in the housing, and a tracking receiver located in the housing. The tracking receiver is coupled to the wireless node and the wireless node is operable to transmit a location signal received by the tracking receiver from a tracking device. The wireless node may include a wireless relay node that is operable to relay a radio frequency signal from a leaf node to one of a gateway and an intermediate node.

Abstract: Various methods, devices, systems, and computer programs are disclosed relating to the use of models to represent systems and processes (such as manufacturing and production plants). For example, a method may include generating a first model and a second model using operating data associated with a system or process. The method may also include using the first and second models to predict one or more events associated with the system or process. The one or more events are predicted by generating one or more initial event predictions using the first model and adjusting the one or more initial event predictions using the second model. The first model may represent a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model, and the second model may represent a Fuzzy Logic model.

Abstract: A method includes predicting measurements or states to be used by a controller to control a process. The predicted measurements or states are generated using a model of the process. The method also includes providing the predicted measurements or states to the controller such that the controller uses the predicted measurements or states at a sampling rate of the controller. In addition, the method includes updating at least some of the predicted measurements or states using measurements associated with a characteristic of an item from a sensor. The model may represent a discrete time model, and the method may also include generating the discrete time model using a continuous time model of the process. The measurements could be received from a plurality of sensors, where at least two of the sensors have different sampling times.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for measuring the color of a sample are disclosed. The exemplary device may have one or more light emitting diodes for directing a beam of ultraviolet light onto the sample and may also have one or more light emitting diodes for directing a beam of visible light onto the sample. The exemplary device may have a component for controlling the timing and power of operation of each light emitting diode. The exemplary device may also have at least one light detector for receiving the beam of light reflected from or transmitted through the sample and measuring at least one wavelength band of the received light. The exemplary device may further have a measurement analyzer for determining the color of the sample based on the measured light. The color may be determined for a specified illuminator incorporating effects of fluorescence.

Abstract: A sensor detects one or more hazardous materials, such as by measuring the concentration of one or more hazardous gasses. The sensor or an external system can also determine a location of the sensor. This location can be associated with the measured data from the sensor at the external system or at the sensor. The location could be determined at the sensor using GPS or RFID. The location could be determined at the external system using RFID. The external system can use the measured data and the location information to perform a wide variety of tasks, such as mapping hazardous materials in a processing or other environment or identifying trends in the concentration of the hazardous materials.

Abstract: A method includes receiving traffic through a first interface in a first group of interfaces at a switch. The first group of interfaces is associated with a first virtual network. The method also includes determining that the traffic is destined for a destination associated with a second virtual network and forwarding the traffic to a second interface in a second group of interfaces at the switch. The second group of interfaces is associated with the second virtual network. The method further includes filtering the traffic that is received at the second interface in the second group of interfaces and communicating the filtered traffic towards the destination. The first and second virtual networks could represent Virtual Local Area Networks associated with different network levels of a process control system.

Abstract: A system includes multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, where each wireless node is configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock. One of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master. Each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node. The time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for facilitating communication between, for example, a configuration tool in a process control system and a wireless field device (such as a wireless sensor or actuator). The configuration tool and the wireless field device use different protocols, and the apparatus converts between the different protocols. The protocol used by the configuration tool could include HART. From the perspective of the wireless field device, the apparatus could appear to support the application protocol of the wireless field device. From the perspective of the configuration tool, the apparatus could simulate a HART multiplexer. This may allow a user to use the configuration tool to configure, commission, and monitor the wireless field device, even when the user does not know or understand the protocol used by the wireless field device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for in-belt conveyor idler condition monitoring. A sensor is mechanically coupled to a conveyor belt and senses a characteristic of a support structure associated with the conveyor belt. The sensor wirelessly transmits a corresponding signal to a monitor system. The monitor system determines a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal. The support structure may be one of a plurality of support structures and characteristics of each of the support structures may be sensed, associated with identifiers for the support structures, and transmitted to the monitor system. The support structure may include a plurality of elements and a characteristic of each element may be sensed and transmitted by one of a corresponding plurality of sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one process element and a first transceiver configured to communicate with the at least one process element. The apparatus also includes a second transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the first transceiver and to communicate with a process control system. The process control system may transmit data to the at least one process element via the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The process control system may also receive data from the at least one process element via the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing characteristics of a liquid are disclosed. The exemplary embodiment may have an electrode for transmitting electrical signals associated with characteristics of the liquid to and from the liquid. The electrode may have an aperture on the interior of the electrode with the aperture surface in contact with the liquid. The electrode may have a sensor portion in contact with the liquid and a coupling portion with a tapered thread. The electrode may contain an electrical coupling on the isolated outer surface of the electrode for communicating the electrical signal from the electrode.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for network traffic monitoring for a process control network are disclosed. The exemplary system may include a connection to a physical media and a connection to a media access controller of the process control network. The system may also include a filter having a position identifier, a data comparator, a counter, and an access controller. The position identifier may determine the position of relevant data within a packet. The data comparator may compare the relevant data to predetermined criterion. The counter may count the amount of packets transmitted to the media access controller that do not match the predetermined criterion during a specified period. The access controller may pass packets to the media access controller if the relevant data matches the predetermined criterion or a predetermined amount of packets have not been transmitted.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for managing communications traffic on a fault tolerant network are disclosed. The exemplary system may include a fault tolerant network with at least two nodes and at least two channels of communication. Each channel of communication is in communication with each of the two nodes. Each node selectively communicates on one of the plurality of channels. A switch is in communication with the at least two channels. The switch receives network traffic and terminates network traffic on one or more of the channels. The termination of network traffic causes a fault tolerance manager to reroute network traffic on one of the two communication channels based on received network traffic.