Patents by Inventor Paul Richard Muston

Paul Richard Muston 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).

  • Patent number: 10656627
    Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a data storage device configured to receive process control data from control system devices and store the process control data. The big data network or system identifies various parameters or attributes from the process control data, and creates and uses rowkeys to store the parameters according to various combinations, such as combinations using timestamps. The big data network or system may also store certain aggregate data analyses associated with time periods specified by the timestamps. Accordingly, the big data network or system efficiently stores real-time data having measurements within a database schema, and users or administrators can leverage the aggregate data to analyze certain data associated with certain time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Deji Chen, Song Han
  • Patent number: 10311015
    Abstract: A distributed big data device in a process plant includes an embedded big data appliance configured to locally stream and store, as big data, data that is generated, received, or observed by the device, and to perform one or more learning analyzes on at least a portion of the stored data. The embedded big data appliance generates or creates learned knowledge based on a result of the learning analysis, which the device may use to modify its operation to control a process in real-time in the process plant, and/or which the device may transmit to other devices in the process plant. The distributed big data device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, or other process plant device, and may utilize learned knowledge created by other devices when performing its learning analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis
  • Patent number: 10296668
    Abstract: A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Daniel Dean Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken Beoughter
  • Patent number: 10223327
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence Blevins, Daniel Dean Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken Beoughter
  • Patent number: 10037303
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Daniel D. Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken J. Beoughter
  • Patent number: 9823626
    Abstract: A regional big data node oversees or services, during real-time operations of a process plant or process control system, a respective region of a plurality of regions of the plant/system, where at least some of the regions each includes one or more process control devices that operate to control a process executed in the plant/system. The regional big data node is configured to receive and store, as big data, streamed data and learned knowledge that is generated, received, or observed by its respective region, and to perform one or more learning analyses on at least some of the stored data. As a result of the learning analyses, the regional big data node creates new learned knowledge which the regional big data node may use to modify operations in its respective region, and/or which the regional big data node may transmit to other big data nodes of the plant/system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Zornio, Mark J. Nixon, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, J. Michael Lucas, Eric D. Rotvold, Terrence L. Blevins, Paul Richard Muston, Gary K. Law
  • Patent number: 9804588
    Abstract: Techniques for automatically determining, without user input, one or more sources of a variation in the behavior of a target process element operating to control a process in a process plant include using a process element alignment map to determine process elements upstream of the target process element in the process; performing a data analysis on data corresponding to the upstream elements with respect to the target element to determine behavior time offsets, strengths of impact, and impact delays; and determining the source(s) based on the data analysis outputs. Techniques may include automatically defining the process element alignment map by obtaining and processing data from a plurality of diagrams or data sources of the process and/or plant. Furthermore, the techniques may be performed during plant run-time by any high-volume, high density device such as centralized or embedded big data appliances, controllers, field or I/O devices, and/or by an unsupervised application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston
  • Patent number: 9740802
    Abstract: A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence Blevins, Daniel Dean Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken Beoughter
  • Publication number: 20170235298
    Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a data storage device configured to receive process control data from control system devices and store the process control data. The big data network or system identifies various parameters or attributes from the process control data, and creates and uses rowkeys to store the parameters according to various combinations, such as combinations using timestamps. The big data network or system may also store certain aggregate data analyses associated with time periods specified by the timestamps. Accordingly, the big data network or system efficiently stores real-time data having measurements within a database schema, and users or administrators can leverage the aggregate data to analyze certain data associated with certain time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Deji Chen, Song Han
  • Publication number: 20170199843
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Daniel D. Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken J. Beoughter
  • Patent number: 9697170
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Daniel D. Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken J. Beoughter
  • Patent number: 9665088
    Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a data storage device configured to receive process control data from control system devices and store the process control data. The big data network or system identifies various parameters or attributes from the process control data, and creates and uses rowkeys to store the parameters according to various combinations, such as combinations using timestamps. The big data network or system may also store certain aggregate data analyses associated with time periods specified by the timestamps. Accordingly, the big data network or system efficiently stores real-time data having measurements within a database schema, and users or administrators can leverage the aggregate data to analyze certain data associated with certain time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Deji Chen, Song Han
  • Patent number: 9606958
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Daniel D. Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken J. Beoughter
  • Patent number: 9558220
    Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a big data apparatus including a data storage area configured to store, using a common data schema, multiple types of process data and/or plant data (such as configuration and real-time data) that is used in, generated by or received by the process control system, and one or more data receiver computing devices to receive the data from multiple nodes or devices. The data may be cached and time-stamped at the nodes and streamed to the big data apparatus for storage. The process control system big data system provides services and/or data analyzes to automatically or manually discover prescriptive and/or predictive knowledge, and to determine, based on the discovered knowledge, changes and/or additions to the process control system and to the set of services and/or analyzes to optimize the process control system or plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence Blevins, Daniel Dean Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken Beoughter
  • Publication number: 20160098021
    Abstract: A regional big data node oversees or services, during real-time operations of a process plant or process control system, a respective region of a plurality of regions of the plant/system, where at least some of the regions each includes one or more process control devices that operate to control a process executed in the plant/system. The regional big data node is configured to receive and store, as big data, streamed data and learned knowledge that is generated, received, or observed by its respective region, and to perform one or more learning analyses on at least some of the stored data. As a result of the learning analyses, the regional big data node creates new learned knowledge which the regional big data node may use to modify operations in its respective region, and/or which the regional big data node may transmit to other big data nodes of the plant/system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Zornio, Mark J. Nixon, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, J. Michael Lucas, Eric D. Rotvold, Terrence L. Blevins, Paul Richard Muston, Gary K. Law
  • Publication number: 20150261215
    Abstract: Techniques for automatically determining, without user input, one or more sources of a variation in the behavior of a target process element operating to control a process in a process plant include using a process element alignment map to determine process elements upstream of the target process element in the process; performing a data analysis on data corresponding to the upstream elements with respect to the target element to determine behavior time offsets, strengths of impact, and impact delays; and determining the source(s) based on the data analysis outputs. Techniques may include automatically defining the process element alignment map by obtaining and processing data from a plurality of diagrams or data sources of the process and/or plant. Furthermore, the techniques may be performed during plant run-time by any high-volume, high density device such as centralized or embedded big data appliances, controllers, field or I/O devices, and/or by an unsupervised application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston
  • Publication number: 20150220080
    Abstract: A big data network or system for a process control system or plant includes a data storage device configured to receive process control data from control system devices and store the process control data. The big data network or system identifies various parameters or attributes from the process control data, and creates and uses rowkeys to store the parameters according to various combinations, such as combinations using timestamps. The big data network or system may also store certain aggregate data analyses associated with time periods specified by the timestamps. Accordingly, the big data network or system efficiently stores real-time data having measurements within a database schema, and users or administrators can leverage the aggregate data to analyze certain data associated with certain time periods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Paul Richard Muston, Deji Chen, Song Han
  • Publication number: 20140280678
    Abstract: A device supporting big data in a process plant includes an interface to a communications network, a cache configured to store data observed by the device, and a multi-processing element processor to cause the data to be cached and transmitted (e.g., streamed) for historization at a unitary, logical centralized data storage area. The data storage area stores multiple types of process control or plant data using a common format. The device time-stamps the cached data, and, in some cases, all data that is generated or created by or received at the device may be cached and/or streamed. The device may be a field device, a controller, an input/output device, a network management device, a user interface device, or a historian device, and the device may be a node of a network supporting big data in the process plant. Multiple devices in the network may support layered or leveled caching of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence L. Blevins, Dan D. Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken J. Beoughter
  • Publication number: 20140282227
    Abstract: A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: MARK J. NIXON, TERRENCE L. BLEVINS, DANIEL DEAN CHRISTENSEN, PAUL RICHARD MUSTON, KEN BEOUGHTER
  • Publication number: 20140278312
    Abstract: A data modeling studio provides a structured environment for graphically creating and executing models which may be configured for diagnosis, prognosis, analysis, identifying relationships, etc., within a process plant. The data modeling studio includes a configuration engine for generating user interface elements to facilitate graphical construction of a model and a runtime engine for executing data models in, for example, an offline or an on-line environment. The configuration engine includes an interface routine that generates user interface elements, a plurality of templates stored in memory that serve as the building blocks of the model and a model compiler that converts the graphical model into a data format executable by the run-time engine. The run time engine executes the model to produce the desired output and may include a retrieval routine for retrieving data corresponding to the templates from memory and a modeling routine for executing the executable model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FISHER-ROSEMONUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Terrence Blevins, Daniel Dean Christensen, Paul Richard Muston, Ken Beoughter