Abstract: The present invention provides a processing system that is capable of achieving substantially optimal control performance of a process facility on a “worst case” process system by accounting for changing system dynamics. The processing system includes a storage device and a processor. The storage device is operable to represent (i) at least one of a plurality of associated processes mathematically to define the various relationships among different inputs and outputs of the one or more represented associated processes, and (ii) uncertainty factors that are associated with these defined relationships. The uncertainty factors define a range of dynamics across which the one or more represented associated processes operate, an error in the mathematical representation, or, alternatively, some combination of the same.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for maintaining data coherency between a primary process controller operable to execute process control tasks and a backup process controller operable to replace the primary process controller upon failure, wherein the primary process controller cyclically executes the process control tasks during base control cycles having a period, T. The system comprises 1) a tracking circuit operable to detect changed data in a main memory in the primary process controller; 2) a data buffer for temporarily storing the changed data; and 3) data transfer circuitry for transferring the changed data in the data buffer to a backup memory in the backup process controller at least once during each base control cycle of the primary process controller, such that the transfer of changed data does not interfere with execution of the process control tasks.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for controlling associated processes of a process facility and, in particular, for distributing data among various nodes of a real time process control system that controls such a facility. An exemplary process control system includes a plurality of sensors, controllable devices, and communication paths, as well as a computer system. The sensors and controllable devices are associated with various ones of the processes of the process facility, and the communication paths associate the sensors and controllable devices with the computer system. The computer system operates on data relating to the process facility, and distributes the data among the nodes thereof. The nodes are associated by the communication paths, and the computer system further includes notification controllers.

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 with a computer system having a dynamic data referencing (DDR) module, a plurality of external data references accessible via the DDR module, the computer system capable of executing a user application that operates on a plurality of generic variables, a system and method for dynamically binding the external data references to the generic variables. The system includes a DDR routine within the user application that allows creation of an alias variable for at least some of the plurality of generic variables. The alias variable is adapted to identify a given external data reference. The user application employs the alias variable at runtime to request the DDR module to bind a given generic variable to the given external data reference to allow communication of data between the user application and the external references.

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: An optimizer that reduces execution time of computer code and a system and method that optimizes an execution time for a sequence of instruction blocks in a processor. The optimizer includes: (1) a parsing routine that scans the computer code to identify a conditional branching instruction that leads to execution being diverted from a main execution stream into a branch execution stream in which computer code is executed non-sequentially and (2) a code replication routine that inserts instructions into the branch execution stream to reduce non-sequential code execution.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for balancing a plurality of received processing requests among a plurality of servers of a processing system network. At least a subset of the processing requests are received from one or more of a plurality of network nodes of the processing system network. Storage means are provided for storing one or more measurable characteristics for at least each of a first server and a second server, both of which are operative to run a common application. A control circuit is also provided and is operative to receive a processing request to run the common application from a particular network node. The control circuit is further operative, in response to the processing request, to allocate either the first and/or the second server to run the common application as a function of the one or more measurable characteristics.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, emulating, on a non-native computer, a native environment for a visual display object file for a real time process control system and a real time process control system employing the emulator. The visual display object file contains a drawing command, an address pointer for communicating data with the real time process control system and a rule for interpreting data received from a touch-sensitive screen.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for detecting and avoiding faults stemming from conflicts in hardware and/or software configurations in a computer system. The system comprises communications circuitry that, from time to time, automatically transmits at least part of the current hardware and software configuration data of the computer system to a remote data source capable of identifying inherent conflicts in the hardware and software configuration. The remote data source then transmits to the computer system software revisions that are capable of resolving the inherent conflicts. After the communications circuitry receives the software revisions, processing circuitry in the computer system modifies the current software configuration according to the received software revisions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a telephone instrument having controller and audio unit portions coupled together by a control bus and a user data bus having four audio states. The audio unit portion comprises a state machine that allows operating modes of the telephony instrument to be monitored and controlled. The state machine places the user data bus in a first predetermined state and the controller portion responds by placing the control bus in a selected state. The state machine detects the selected state and, in response thereto, places the user data bus in a second predetermined state. The second predetermined state indicates whether the first predetermined state was intended to be one of the four audio states or one of at least two mode control states. The user data bus and the control bus cooperate to provide a sequential output having at least six states, thereby allowing the operating modes to be monitored and controlled without modifying the bus drive circuitry.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to network modeling, and more specifically, to systems and methods for generating and displaying a symbolic representation of a network model. The present invention provides a method of graphically displaying data on a display device of a processing system and a computer system employing the method. The processing system includes a memory for storing tasks, a processing circuit for executing ones of the tasks, and a display device. The display device, which is associated with the processing circuit, is operative to provide a display area that is accessible to executed ones of the tasks. The display area is capable of displaying a symbolic representation of a network model. The memory includes a network modeling task that is retrievable and executable by the processing circuit to create a set of associated data records representing network elements within the network model.

Abstract: For use in a computer network having first and second endpoints coupled thereto, a target application object being instantiatable on the first endpoint and a corresponding surrogate application object being instantiatable on the second endpoint, a secure system for, and method of, allowing the target application object to authenticate and authorize the surrogate application object and a computer network employing the system or the method.

Abstract: A testing system for, and method of, simulating signal flow through a logic block pattern of a real time process control system. The system includes: (1) a memory that contains a data base of input data associated with simulated sensors and a rule base containing control rules and constituting a logic block pattern and (2) a processor that operates in an arbitrary time base to apply the input data to the control rules to simulate signal flow through the logic block pattern and thereby produce simulated output data and real time control system responses thereby testing the logic block pattern, the memory and the processor being detached from the real time process control system to prevent use of resources thereof in connection with the logic block pattern testing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to network connectivity, and more specifically to circuits and methods for intelligent acknowledgment-based flow control in a processing system network. The present invention concerns governing transmission of data packets and reception indicia by a transmission circuit over a network. Detector circuitry is included and is operative to (1) monitor a first latency characteristic of the network that is indicative, at least in part, of a utilization level of the network; and (2) monitor a second latency characteristic indicative, at least in part, of an efficiency level associated with transmission of the reception indicia by the transmission circuit. Control circuit is further included and is associated with the detector circuitry and the transmission circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed, in general, to network design, and more specifically, to systems and methods for modeling a network. The present invention provides a method of modeling a network and a computer system employing the method. The processing system includes a memory for storing tasks and a processing circuit, associated with the memory, for executing ones of the tasks A set of associated data records, which is storable in the memory, is included. The set of associated data records represents a plurality of network elements within a network model. The associated data records include one or more parameters representing characteristics of the network elements within the network model. A modeling task, storable in said memory and executable by the processing circuit, simulates transmission of data packets between ones of the network elements within the network model.