Abstract: A method includes receiving information associated with one or more first alarms in a first control system and generating a graphical user interface containing information associated with a second control system. The method also includes presenting, in the graphical user interface, at least a portion of the information associated with the one or more first alarms. The method further includes receiving, from a user via the graphical user interface, an invocation of an alarm management function. In addition, the method includes performing the invoked alarm management function using at least one of the one or more first alarms. The alarm management function could include acknowledging, shelving, and/or filtering the at least one of the one or more first alarms. The first control system may not support acknowledging, shelving, and filtering of alarms, while the second control system may support acknowledging, shelving, and filtering of alarms.

Abstract: A method includes receiving information associated with one or more first alarms in a first control system and generating a graphical user interface containing information associated with a second control system. The method also includes presenting, in the graphical user interface, at least a portion of the information associated with the one or more first alarms. The method further includes receiving, from a user via the graphical user interface, an invocation of an alarm management function. In addition, the method includes performing the invoked alarm management function using at least one of the one or more first alarms. The alarm management function could include acknowledging, shelving, and/or filtering the at least one of the one or more first alarms. The first control system may not support acknowledging, shelving, and filtering of alarms, while the second control system may support acknowledging, shelving, and filtering of alarms.

Abstract: A gateway is configured to perform a method that includes receiving data from a first device using a first protocol. The first protocol is a cloud based protocol. The method also includes determining that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol. The method further includes converting the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol. In addition, the method includes transmitting the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

Abstract: A gateway is configured to perform a method that includes receiving data from a first device using a first protocol. The first protocol is a cloud based protocol. The method also includes determining that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol. The method further includes converting the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol. In addition, the method includes transmitting the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes installing a new release software onto a virtual machine server. The method also includes performing a replacement of a first device already installed within an industrial process control and automation system with the virtual machine server. The method further includes converting the virtual machine server into a physical machine, the physical machine comprising one of (i) the first device or (ii) a second device installed or to be installed within the industrial process control and automation system.

Abstract: An OPC redirection manager maintains the information necessary for taking appropriate action when the target OPC server fails and for ensuring that no bad status is returned to the client. Any existing OPC client needing seamless failover between target OPC data access and/or alarm and event servers will connect to a uniquely configured instance of the redirection manager instead of connecting to the primary server. The client application continues to perform OPC related tasks as usual. Because each client connection is unique, the redirection manager itself is not a single point of failure. Each configured redirection manager instance monitors the health of the target server mode and the target server itself by subscribing to failure events.

Abstract: An OPC redirection manager maintains the information necessary for taking appropriate action when the target OPC server fails and for ensuring that no bad status is returned to the client. Any existing OPC client needing seamless failover between target OPC data access and/or alarm and event servers will connect to a uniquely configured instance of the redirection manager instead of connecting to the primary server. The client application continues to perform OPC related tasks as usual. Because each client connection is unique, the redirection manager itself is not a single point of failure. Each configured redirection manager instance monitors the health of the target server mode and the target server itself by subscribing to failure events.

Abstract: For use in time-limiting a request for information from a client to a resource, a timeout object, a method of operating the same and a real-time process control system employing the timeout object or the method. In one embodiment, the timeout object includes: (1) a client interface that receives, from the client, the request and a time-based parameter and (2) a resource interface that forwards the request to the resource and waits for the information an amount of time that is a function of the time-based parameter, the client interface: (2a) returning the information to the client if the timeout object receives the information within the amount of time and (2b) returning a timeout indicator to the client if the timeout object fails to receive the information within the amount of time.

Abstract: An OPC redirection manager maintains the information necessary for taking appropriate action when the target OPC server fails and for ensuring that no bad status is returned to the client. Any existing OPC client needing seamless failover between target OPC data access and/or alarm and event servers will connect to a uniquely configured instance of the redirection manager instead of connecting to the primary server. The client application continues to perform OPC related tasks as usual. Because each client connection is unique, the redirection manager itself is not a single point of failure. Each configured redirection manager instance monitors the health of the target server mode and the target server itself by subscribing to failure events.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, constructing an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for Process Control (OPC) compliant data server from a device-specific noncompliant user application and a real-time process control system employing the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a generic OPC compliant interface object and (2) a template associated with the generic OPC compliant interface object. The template is modifiable and combinable with a device-specific interface portion to yield the device-specific noncompliant user application. The device-specific noncompliant user application is dynamically linkable with and aggregates to the generic OPC compliant interface object to yield the OPC compliant data server.

Abstract: For use in time-limiting a request for information from a client to a resource, a timeout object, a method of operating the same and a real-time process control system employing the timeout object or the method. In one embodiment, the timeout object includes: (1) a client interface that receives, from the client, the request and a time-based parameter and (2) a resource interface that forwards the request to the resource and waits for the information an amount of time that is a function of the time-based parameter, the client interface: (2a) returning the information to the client if the timeout object receives the information within the amount of time and (2b) returning a timeout indicator to the client if the timeout object fails to receive the information within the amount of time.

Abstract: For use in time-limiting a request for information from a client to a resource, a timeout object, a method of operating the same and a real-time process control system employing the timeout object or the method. In one embodiment, the timeout object includes: (1) a client interface that receives, from the client, the request and a time-based parameter and (2) a resource interface that forwards the request to the resource and waits for the information an amount of time that is a function of the time-based parameter, the client interface: (2a) returning the information to the client if the timeout object receives the information within the amount of time and (2b) returning a timeout indicator to the client if the timeout object fails to receive the information within the amount of time.