Abstract: The subject invention relates to integrating agents, control logic, and simulations in order to simulate and validate a control strategy for a physical system. The systems and methods integrate agents and control logic with simulations, and utilize the integrated agents, control logic, and simulations to generate a proxy. The proxy can be employed to couple one or more controllers executing the agents and control logic with the simulations. Visualization is utilized to visualize the simulation, including the agents and the control logic. In addition, the systems and methods utilize a synchronization algorithm to synchronize the execution times of the controllers and the simulations. The foregoing mitigates validation through building and testing physical system and/or test beds. Upon validating control strategies, associated agents and logic can be loaded in one or more industrial controllers controlling the physical system, and the simulation can be utilized to represent the physical system.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods that provide electronic data (e.g., Electronic Product Code (EPC) data) obtained from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags by RFID readers and/or from servers to one or more industrial components (e.g., controllers, programmable logic controllers, modules, etc.). The systems and methods employ component that processes, if desired, and stores received electronic data as records within a table. Processing includes filtering for data of interest and/or formatting the data in a suitable structure. Storage can include delineating related electronic data across rows the table and types of data across columns of a row. Upon receiving a subscription and/or request for electronic data from the one or more industrial components, the data can be retrieved and conveyed to the subscribing and/or requesting components.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods that distribute electronic data, such as Electronic Product Code (EPC) data, obtained from RFID tags by Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and/or servers to agents within an agent-based control system. The systems and methods employ a component that collects, filters, processes, and stores electronic product data. The component collects electronic product data through corresponding reader and/or server interfaces. This data can be filtered to accept particular electronic product data, processed to a format suitable to the agents, and stored. Such storage can include delineating the electronic product data across rows of a table by electronic product code and across columns of the table by various types of data. Upon receiving a subscription and/or request from an agent for electronic product data, the component can obtain and convey the information to the agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for time synchronization of operations in a control system. Synchronization networks and devices are provided for transferring synchronization information between controllers in a distributed or localized control system, which is employed in order to allow operation of such controllers to be synchronized with respect to time. Also disclosed are synchronization protocols and hardware apparatus employed in synchronizing control operations in a control system.

Abstract: A heterogeneous agent-based distributed control system for controlling a controlled system having a plurality of components is disclosed. The heterogeneous agent-based distributed control system includes one or more agent of a first type and one or more agents of a second type that communicate with one another by way of one or more networks or other communication links. The agents of the first and second types differ from one another in terms of one or both of their respective architectures and their respective responsibilities. The agents interact with one another in a collaborative manner, and communicate through the use of a special, standardized communications protocol and through the use of certain special functional components.

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 depending on one or more security models, system capabilities, and/or other factors such as risk and cost-based assessments, for example. The security models can include asset and access based models having respective security attributes that describe the type of automation component to be accessed and the type of access permitted within the automation component such as a read and/or write access. Other type attributes include time and location information that further control outside network access to automation components.

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.

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 depending on considerations of system performance while promoting security in accordance with one or more security protocols. The security protocols can include protocol extensions that are adapted to factory networks. Dynamic security operations are provided that include altering security patterns or interfaces based on such factors as performance, time, and the nature of network communications. The security protocols can also include integrity mechanisms, encryption mechanisms, session management protocols, intrusion detection components, and wireless considerations.