Abstract: A device and method for extracting digital data from field devices of a process control system connected to a controller on a first network supported by a first protocol for transmission of the digital data to a second network using a second protocol. A bridging device connected to the first network and to the second network includes a first transmission path coupled to the first network that provides bi-directional communication between the field devices and the controller. A second transmission path operatively couples the first network to an extraction component associated with each field device. Each extraction component extracts digital data from the first protocol from each field device connected to the first network. A conversion component operatively coupled to each extraction component is arranged to receive the digital data and convert the digital data into the second protocol for transmission of the digital data on the second network.

Abstract: A gateway system and method for use in an industrial process control system. The control system has a first network that uses a first communication protocol and at least one second network using a second communication protocol. A network interface is coupled to the second network and to a local area network coupled to the first network. A gateway converts supervisory control and data received on the first network from the controller in the first communication protocol to the second communication protocol and couples the converted supervisory control and data over the local area network to the network interface and the second network. The gateway converts information and data received in the second communication protocol on the local area network from the network interface and the second network to the first communication protocol coupling the converted data and information to the first network.

Abstract: A method comprises controlling, via a first process of a process controller, the industrial process, wherein the process controller is coupled, via a communication path, to an input/output (I/O) link execution environment manager (IOL EE), the process controller comprising a microprocessor configured to host a first control execution environment to support a first set of I/O functions and corresponding control execution functions to control the industrial process; migrating a subset of the first set of I/O functions and corresponding control execution functions to a second process of the process controller to form a second set of I/O functions and corresponding control functions, wherein the microprocessor is configured to host a second control execution environment to support the second set of I/O functions and the corresponding control execution functions to control the industrial process; and controlling, via second process.

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: Interactive instructions in sequential control modules in controllers supports the integration of manual operations with automated process actions in the sequential control module function block, which executes in various controller platforms. Also supported is a table view operator display for effective interaction with the manual instructions. Manual interactions and changes are journaled so that a record of all actions is recorded.