Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for connecting authenticated persons, willing to pay for crowd-sourced answers to technical problems, to authenticated subject matter experts willing to sell answers to these problems in return for a variety of items of value; the system comprising a secure repository for questions posed by users and answers from other users, an innovation engine for selecting subject matter experts and facilitating collaborative solutions, a project governance engine configured to optimize the development path, a pricing engine to determine the market value of the answers, a marketplace engine for exchanging items and services of value, and means for users to communicate with other users or groups of users.

Abstract: A remote asset server allows an industrial asset (e.g., a controller, motor drive, etc.) to be remotely and securely monitored and managed by an owner of the industrial asset as well as other relevant entities, such as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The remote asset server acts as a network infrastructure device that regulates access to the industrial asset by different entities in accordance with security policies defined by an end user. These defined security policies are implemented in a cloud platform as role-specific portals by a connectivity broker, the portals serving as secure connection pipelines to the industrial asset via the remote asset server. Using this architecture, an end user can define which aspects of an industrial asset are allowed to be remotely viewed, accessed, or modified by outside entities such as OEMs or system integrators.

Abstract: Cloud-aware industrial devices feed robust sets of data to a cloud-based data analyzer that executes as a service in a cloud platform. In addition to industrial data generated or collected by the industrial devices, the devices can provide device profile information to the cloud-based analyzer that identifies the device and relevant configuration information. The industrial devices can also provide customer data identifying an owner of the industrial devices, contact information for the owner, active service contracts, etc. The cloud-based data analyzer leverages this information to perform a variety of custom analytics on the data and generate reports or notifications catered to the particular industrial assets' optimal performance and business goals of the owner's industrial enterprise, as well as perform real-time decision making and control.

Abstract: A cloud-based risk assessment service collects industrial data from multiple relevant and connected sources for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service analyzes gathered data from internal and external sources and customers across different industries to identify operational trends as a function of industry type, application type, equipment in use, device configurations, and other such variables. Based on the analysis, the risk assessment service identifies risk factors inherent in a customer's particular industrial enterprise. The cloud-based system generates a risk profile for the customer that identifies the determined risks and recommends risk aversion strategies based on the customer's specific profile, compared to industry standards, product information, internal business expectations, external regulatory bodies, and/or past performance.

Abstract: A cloud-based performance enhancement service captures and collects data relating to interactions of users with industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform.

Abstract: A cloud-based virtualization generation service collects industrial-automation-system-related data from multiple industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. A virtualization management component analyzes the data and generates a virtualized industrial automation system of the industrial automation system based on the analysis results. The virtualization management component updates the virtualized industrial automation system based on operation of, and user interactions with, the industrial automation system. The virtualization management component receives user interactions with the virtualized industrial automation system to facilitate remotely interacting with and/or controlling the industrial automation system and/or generates corresponding control signals that it sends to the industrial automation system to facilitate controlling operation of the industrial automation system.

Abstract: A cloud-based simulation generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service employs a simulation generator component that analyzes data to facilitate generating a simulation model that simulates an industrial automation system, including simulating or emulating industrial devices, industrial processes, other industrial assets, or network-related assets or devices, and their respective interrelationships with each other. The simulation generator component also analyzes modification data to facilitate generating a modified simulation model that simulates the industrial automation system based on the modification.

Abstract: A remote technical support system leverages a cloud platform to automate technical support interactions, facilitating rapid diagnosis and solution of detected performance issues in industrial systems. The technical support system facilitates automated collection of relevant system data from a customer's industrial assets in the event of a detected performance issue requiring involvement of a technical support entity. The relevant system data can be sent to the cloud platform in response to a manual request for support at the plant floor, or automatically in response to detection of a possible device failure or performance issue. The cloud-based remote technical support system then routes the data to a suitable remote support representative, providing the representative with information about customer's industrial system and operations that may be relevant in connection with diagnosing the issue.

Abstract: A cloud-based predictive maintenance service collects industrial data from multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service analyzes data gathered from multiple customers across different industries to identify operational trends as a function of industry type, application type, equipment in use, device configurations, and other such variables. Based on results of the analysis, the predictive maintenance service predicts anticipated device failures or system inefficiencies for individual customers. Notification services alert the customers of impending failures or inefficiencies before the issues become critical. The cloud-based notification services also notify appropriate technical support entities to facilitate proactive maintenance and device management.

Abstract: A cloud-based virtualization generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. A virtualization management component (VMC) generates a virtualized industrial automation system of an industrial automation system based on data analysis results. The VMC facilitates remotely controlling the industrial automation system based on user interactions with the virtualized industrial automation system, and updates the virtualized industrial automation system based on collected data relating to the industrial automation system. The VMC customizes a user's view of the virtualized industrial automation system based on a user's role, authorization, location, or preferences, wherein different views of the virtualized industrial automation system with different data overlays are presented on different communication devices of different users.

Abstract: An industrial attestation service executing on a cloud platform collects industrial data from multiple levels of an industrial enterprise and identifies subsets of the industrial data that characterize normal operation. In the cloud platform, baselines are generated for diverse aspects of the industrial enterprise based on the identified subsets, where the baselines characterize normal operation. The baselines are used as a reference in connection with device and system attestation. Aspects of the industrial enterprise that deviate from their corresponding baselines are identified in the cloud platform. Attestation reports indicating aspects of the enterprise that have altered relative to their baselines are delivered to client devices via the cloud platform.

Abstract: A method and system for granting premium access to a service application stored within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open API platform is provided. The method includes receiving a request for premium access to the service application from a developer of a developer application wherein the developer application is configured to request data from the service application, assigning a production key to the developer application, sending an electronic message to a service owner (SO) associated with the service application requesting premium access to the service application, granting premium access to the service application by the SO for the developer application, updating the production key at the open API platform to include premium access to the service application, and notifying the developer of the granting of the premium access to the service application for the developer application.

Abstract: A method and system for an open application programming interface (API) dashboard system for monitoring and managing one or more developer programmed applications configured to use one or more services provided by a service owner are provided. The system includes an application area associated with a corresponding programmed application, each application area including a call metrics group configured to display summarized metrics, a services used group configured to display a listing of each service called by the programmed application and metrics associated with each service, and a key management group configured to prompt a developer of the programmed application to request or revoke a key, wherein the key includes a developer identification, a programmed application identification, and signed certificates relating to services used by the programmed application.

Abstract: A method and system for granting premium access to a service application stored within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open API platform is provided. The method includes receiving a request for premium access to the service application from a developer of a developer application wherein the developer application is configured to request data from the service application, assigning a production key to the developer application, sending an electronic message to a service owner (SO) associated with the service application requesting premium access to the service application, granting premium access to the service application by the SO for the developer application, updating the production key at the open API platform to include premium access to the service application, and notifying the developer of the granting of the premium access to the service application for the developer application.

Abstract: A method and system for granting premium access to a service application stored within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open API platform is provided. The method includes receiving a request for premium access to the service application from a developer of a developer application wherein the developer application is configured to request data from the service application, assigning a production key to the developer application, sending an electronic message to a service owner (SO) associated with the service application requesting premium access to the service application, granting premium access to the service application by the SO for the developer application, updating the production key at the open API platform to include premium access to the service application, and notifying the developer of the granting of the premium access to the service application for the developer application.

Abstract: A method and system for granting premium access to a service application stored within a service provider (SP) computer system through an open API platform is provided. The method includes receiving a request for premium access to the service application from a developer of a developer application wherein the developer application is configured to request data from the service application, assigning a production key to the developer application, sending an electronic message to a service owner (SO) associated with the service application requesting premium access to the service application, granting premium access to the service application by the SO for the developer application, updating the production key at the open API platform to include premium access to the service application, and notifying the developer of the granting of the premium access to the service application for the developer application.

Abstract: A method and system for an open API dashboard system for monitoring and managing one or more developer programmed applications configured to use one or more services provided by a service owner are provided. The system includes an application area associated with a corresponding programmed application, each application area including a call metrics group configured to display summarized metrics, a services used group configured to display a listing of each service called by the programmed application and metrics associated with each service, and a key management group configured to prompt a developer of the programmed application to request or revoke a key, wherein the key includes a developer identification, a programmed application identification, and signed certificates relating to services used by the programmed application. The system also includes a side bar area configured to prompt a developer to request information or help relating to the application area.

Abstract: Controlled avalanche driver circuits and apparatuses for gas lasers. One embodiment typically delivers short, rapid, high voltage ionizing pulses in combination with an electric field whose magnitude is too low to sustain a normal glow discharge. The plasma is typically impedance matched with the pulse-forming network. Pre-ionization pulses may be generated. The circuits enable very high power, stable lasers.

Abstract: A channel assignment process for a multi-stage switch arrangement having a plurality of inputs arranged in a plurality of logical associations and a plurality of outputs, wherein time-slotted traffic is received by each logical association of inputs is operated on by one or more switching stages arranged to operate only on traffic provided by the respective logical association of inputs, the channel assignment process comprising: for each logical association, aggregating the time-slots carrying traffic from the inputs forming said logical association to form a channel comprising a plurality of logically associated time-slots; determining a path through a spatial switching stage of the switch arrangement arranged to receive a said channel from each of said logical associations of inputs of the switch arrangement; determining a path for each time-slot within each logical association such that a plurality of end-to-end time-space channels are provided for one or more inputs of the switch arrangement to their req