Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: A method for use by a primary device associated with a secondary device of a redundant pair, the primary device issuing a synchronization request to its control database causing the primary device to send a tracked memory file storage of the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database and to periodically send on request of the primary device the cached changes made in the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database. The secondary device using the updated control database to identify communications connections and paths to I/O modules and peer devices assigned to the secondary device and to perform diagnostic testing of the communications connections and paths identified by the interrogation and send diagnostic messages upon detection of faults in the communication connections and paths identified.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using an alternate communication path to send and receive data between a first network node and a second network node. The method includes establishing a first communication path between the first network node and the second network node that sends and receives data between the first network node and second network node and a second communication path between the first network node and the second network node that sends and receives data between the first network node and second network node. A diagnostic program tests the first and second communication paths for network failures causing the alternate network path to send and receive data between the first network node and second network node when a network failure in the first and second communication paths is detected and alerting a technician of the failure and that the first and second communication paths need repair. The first and second communication paths returning to normal operation upon the repair of the failure.

Abstract: A method for use by a primary device associated with a secondary device of a redundant pair, the primary device issuing a synchronization request to its control database causing the primary device to send a tracked memory file storage of the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database and to periodically send on request of the primary device the cached changes made in the primary device to the secondary device to update the secondary device control database. The secondary device using the updated control database to identify communications connections and paths to I/O modules and peer devices assigned to the secondary device and to perform diagnostic testing of the communications connections and paths identified by the interrogation and send diagnostic messages upon detection of faults in the communication connections and paths identified.

Abstract: A apparatus having a control network and a first controller comprising a microprocessor configured to support communication functions, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, a second controller configured as a redundant partner to the first controller, and an I/O link and I/O modules.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that is used in an industrial process control and automation system that operates using an open platform data communication protocol. The apparatus includes a processor and a memory, and a communications interface connected to at least one process instrument and arranged to transmit instructions to and receive data from the at least one process instrument and to a data network of the industrial process control and automation system that communicates using the open platform data communication protocol. The apparatus memory contains a system repository file containing process data information sent to the apparatus from the at least one process instrument, a stored function block definition file containing function blocks that define a control strategy for controlling the at least one process instrument and an engineering repository containing the characteristics and parameters for the function blocks associated with the at least one process instrument.

Abstract: A method of modeling dynamic system performance includes enabling a user to create a user-defined static behavior model of a user-defined system of computers, networks and/or bridges. A library of blocks is provided that each represent a computer, a network and/or a bridge for the user to use in defining a user-defined static behavior model, at least some of the blocks in the library of blocks may include one or more block parameters that are user definable. The static behavior model is automatically converted into a dynamic behavior model that is compatible with a simulator and is read into the simulator. A plurality of Monte-Carlo simulations are run on the dynamic behavior model to produce a plurality of simulation outputs, which are analyzed and the analyzed results are outputted.

Abstract: A method of modeling dynamic system performance includes enabling a user to create a user-defined static behavior model of a user-defined system of computers, networks and/or bridges. A library of blocks is provided that each represent a computer, a network and/or a bridge for the user to use in defining a user-defined static behavior model, at least some of the blocks in the library of blocks may include one or more block parameters that are user definable. The static behavior model is automatically converted into a dynamic behavior model that is compatible with a simulator and is read into the simulator. A plurality of Monte-Carlo simulations are run on the dynamic behavior model to produce a plurality of simulation outputs, which are analyzed and the analyzed results are outputted.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that is used in an industrial process control and automation system that operates using an open platform data communication protocol. The apparatus includes a processor and a memory, and a communications interface connected to at least one process instrument and arranged to transmit instructions to and receive data from the at least one process instrument and to a data network of the industrial process control and automation system that communicates using the open platform data communication protocol. The apparatus memory contains a system repository file containing process data information sent to the apparatus from the at least one process instrument, a stored function block definition file containing function blocks that define a control strategy for controlling the at least one process instrument and an engineering repository containing the characteristics and parameters for the function blocks associated with the at least one process instrument.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: In an industrial automation system, a control device adapted to a container-based architecture has been developed. The control device may comprise one or more containers instantiated with control execution application, communication application, and or redundancy management application.

Abstract: A apparatus having a control network and a first controller comprising a microprocessor configured to support communication functions, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, a second controller configured as a redundant partner to the first controller, and an I/O link and I/O modules.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods for development of legacy control language programs in an integrated development environment. A method includes interacting with a user, by an integrated development environment (IDE) system, to develop and store a control language program in the IDE system. The method includes applying, by the IDE system, one or more control language rules to identify at least one of correct syntax, incorrect syntax, semantics, and programming conventions during the interaction. The method includes displaying, to a user and by the IDE system, results of the application of the control language rules to the control language program during the interaction.

Abstract: A method includes executing a first function block configured to (i) receive multiple input data values associated with an industrial process control and automation system, (ii) pre-process the input data values, and (iii) store the pre-processed input data values in a shared memory. The method also includes executing a second function block configured to (i) receive references to the pre-processed input data values in the shared memory, (ii) invoke execution of one or more core functions to implement a process control algorithm, and (iii) store output data values in the shared memory. The method further includes executing a third function block configured to (i) receive references to the output data values in the shared memory, (ii) post-process the output data values, and (iii) output multiple output signals containing the post-processed output data values.

Abstract: A method includes executing a first function block configured to (i) receive multiple input data values associated with an industrial process control and automation system, (ii) pre-process the input data values, and (iii) store the pre-processed input data values in a shared memory. The method also includes executing a second function block configured to (i) receive references to the pre-processed input data values in the shared memory, (ii) invoke execution of one or more core functions to implement a process control algorithm, and (iii) store output data values in the shared memory. The method further includes executing a third function block configured to (i) receive references to the output data values in the shared memory, (ii) post-process the output data values, and (iii) output multiple output signals containing the post-processed output data values.

Abstract: Phase function blocks are associated with a process for producing at least one product or part thereof. For example, a phase function block could reside in a recipe control module defining the process. Each phase function block can be executed to implement the process. A phase function block may acquire and initiate execution of a module providing control over a process element. The phase function block may also provide one or more first parameters to the module. The first parameters define how the module implements a portion of the process using the process element. In addition, the phase function block may retrieve one or more second parameters from the module. The second parameters are associated with results of the execution of the module. Multiple phase function blocks could be contained in multiple recipe control modules, which are distributed in multiple controllers in a hard real-time process control system.

Abstract: Various system architectures for a state machine-based, hybrid real-time control system, and methods of operation thereof, are disclosed. In one embodiment of a system architecture for use with a state machine capable of controlling a real-time process and having a plurality of states and handlers that govern transitions between ones of the plurality of states, a system for invoking one of the handlers includes an invoke transition that monitors conditions of the real-time process, the invoke transition causing the automatic invocation of the handler when the conditions match predetermined conditions under which the handler is to be invoked, the invoke transition thereby allowing the handler to be invoked without an explicit command.