Patents by Inventor Mark J. Nixon
Mark J. Nixon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Publication number: 20230350397Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11789428Abstract: An I/O server service interacts with multiple containerized controller services each implementing the same control routine to control the same portion of the same plant. The I/O server service may provide the same controller inputs to each of the containerized controller services (e.g., representing measurements obtained by field devices and transmitted by the field devices to the I/O server service). Each containerized controller service executes the same control routine to generate a set of controller outputs. The I/O server service receives each set of controller outputs and forwards an “active” set to the appropriate field devices. The I/O server service and other services, such as an orchestrator service, may continuously evaluate performance and resource utilization in the control system, and may dynamically activate and deactivate controller services as appropriate.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony Amaro, Jr., Mark J. Nixon
-
Patent number: 11782421Abstract: To provide a trusted, secure, and immutable record of storage operations executed by a storage center for storing measurement data provided by a process plant, techniques are described for utilizing a distributed ledger. When a data contributor such as a process plant generates measurement data, an encrypted version of a set of measurement data is transmitted to a storage center for secure storage of the measurement data. In some instances, the data contributor divides the set of measurement data into several subsets and transmits each subset of encrypted measurement data to a different storage center. Furthermore, the storage center generates a transaction for the storage operation which is recorded in a distributed ledger. When a data subscriber retrieves the encrypted measurement data from a storage center, the data subscriber can verify the authenticity of the data based on the information recorded in the distributed ledger.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Gang Wang, Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr.
-
Patent number: 11775587Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, Jr., John M. Caldwell
-
Patent number: 11768878Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, Jr., John M. Caldwell, Mariana C. Dionisio, Benjamin J. Jackman
-
Patent number: 11768877Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, Jr., John M. Caldwell
-
Publication number: 20230297408Abstract: In one aspect, a micro-service control architecture provides a modular, flexible platform for designing, diagnosing, updating and/or expanding process control systems. Each service is containerized to provide portability and isolation from other components of the process control system. In another aspect, a function block diagram includes a “shadow” block that acts as an interface to an external, custom calculation engine, thereby enabling the custom calculation engine to operate synchronously with respect to other function blocks of the function block diagram.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR.
-
Patent number: 11747797Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11747798Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11734213Abstract: A process control input/output (I/O) device provides traditional I/O support with direct physical layers or interfaces associated with traditional process control communication protocols while at the same time supporting an advanced physical layer or other IP based physical layer and the communication protocols that run on top of them. In addition, the new I/O device is able to nest protocols inside of other protocols for use when protocols, such as safety protocols, require additional handshaking, confirmations, etc. Still further, the new I/O device includes hardware configurable capabilities that enable easy configuration of a process control system that uses multiple different physical layers, including those used by traditional process control protocols such as HART and FOUNDATION Fieldbus protocols, and more advanced physical layers, including those that are used by IP-based, Ethernet based, packet based and other types of advanced communication protocols.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Gary K. Law, Sergio Diaz, Claudio Fayad
-
Patent number: 11726464Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11726933Abstract: An I/O server service interacts with multiple containerized controller services each implementing the same control routine to control the same portion of the same plant. The I/O server service may provide the same controller inputs to each of the containerized controller services (e.g., representing measurements obtained by field devices and transmitted by the field devices to the I/O server service). Each containerized controller service executes the same control routine to generate a set of controller outputs. The I/O server service receives each set of controller outputs and forwards an “active” set to the appropriate field devices. The I/O server service and other services, such as an orchestrator service, may continuously evaluate performance and resource utilization in the control system, and may dynamically activate and deactivate controller services as appropriate.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony Amaro, Jr., Mark J. Nixon
-
Patent number: 11726463Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11726460Abstract: A method and associated system, includes implementing a controller, configured to communicate, over a communication network, with a plurality of highly-versatile field devices coupled to the controller. The method and system also include configuring the network to facilitate communication of traffic over an advanced physical layer (APL) medium. One or more APL power switches are configured to provide connectivity to other devices and each includes a power supply to provide power via the medium. One or more APL field switches, each receiving power from a power switch, are configured to distribute both communication signals and power signals to field devices communicatively coupled to a respective field switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Gary K. Law
-
Patent number: 11700232Abstract: To secure communications from a process plant across a unidirectional data diode to a remote system, a sending device at the plant end publishes data across the diode to a receiving device at the remote end. The publication of various data is respectively in accordance with context information (e.g., identification of data sources, respective expected rate of data generation/arrival, etc.) that is descriptive of data sources of the plant and that is recurrently provided by the sending device across the diode. A recurrence interval may be based on a tolerance for lost data or another characteristic of an application, service, or consumer of data at the remote system. The publishing may leverage an industrial communication protocol (e.g., HART-IP) and/or a suitable general-purpose communication protocol (e.g., JSON).Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Eric Rotvold, Mark J. Nixon
-
Patent number: 11693396Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Publication number: 20230205190Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
-
Publication number: 20230195087Abstract: A system for securely disseminating information relating to a process control plant includes a process control node and a controller that is coupled to a plurality of process control devices. The process control node includes a communicator module operable to transmit, via a first network, information of the process plant received from the controller. The system also includes a data services module operable to receive from the communicator module, via the first network, the information of the process plant and to transmit some or all of that information via a second network, and a mobile server, coupled to the second network and to a third network, and operable to receive data from the data services module. The mobile server is operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile computing devices via the third network.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, David R. Denison, Hoa Van Lai, Ken J. Beoughter, Daniel R. Strinden, Mariana C. Dionisio, Kim Ordean Van Camp, Matthew William Poplawski
-
Patent number: 11656609Abstract: A first component of a process control loop (e.g., a controller or I/O gateway) monitors for and detects performance degradation of a second component of the loop by sending heartbeat messages to the second component via a diagnostic channel different from a control communications channel via which the first and second components communicate control messages for controlling an industrial process. The second component utilizes its control message interpreter to return received heartbeat messages to the first component via the diagnostic channel. The first component detects degradation of the second component when the round trip time (RTT) of a heartbeat message falls outside of an acceptable range of RTTs for the second component, and may suggest or automatically initiate mitigating actions. The first component may determine the average RTT or expected response time of the second component and acceptable range of variations based on a sample number of measured RTTs.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony Amaro, Jr., Mark J. Nixon
-
Patent number: 11635980Abstract: In one aspect, a micro-service control architecture provides a modular, flexible platform for designing, diagnosing, updating and/or expanding process control systems. Each service is containerized to provide portability and isolation from other components of the process control system. In another aspect, a function block diagram includes a “shadow” block that acts as an interface to an external, custom calculation engine, thereby enabling the custom calculation engine to operate synchronously with respect to other function blocks of the function block diagram.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, Jr.