Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling processes of a process facility and, in particular, for distributing data among nodes of a real time process control system controlling such a facility. An exemplary process control system includes a plurality of sensors, controllable devices, and communication paths, and a computer system. The sensors and controllable devices are associated with various ones of the processes of the process facility, and the communication paths couple the sensors and controllable devices to the computer system. The computer system operates on data related to the process facility, and distributes the data among both client and process nodes. The client nodes desire data associated with processes of the facility and the process nodes control such process data.

Abstract: For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a network management system for maintaining compatibility among the plurality of nodes, comprising 1) polling circuit that retrieves node configuration information from the plurality of nodes, and 2) a comparison circuit that compares selected node configuration information associated with a first selected one of the plurality of nodes with known-good node configuration information to determine a level of compatibility of the selected node with the known-good node configuration.

Abstract: For use in a computer network having a plurality of nodes associated therewith, a data traffic management system for managing data traffic among the plurality of nodes, comprising 1) a polling circuit that retrieves node traffic information from the plurality of nodes; and 2) process logic that compares first selected node traffic information associated with a first selected one of the plurality of nodes with a first threshold level to detect a trend in the first selected node traffic information with respect to the first threshold level.