Patents by Inventor John M. Caldwell
John M. Caldwell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20210089593Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, JR., John M. Caldwell, Mariana C. Dionisio, Benjamin J. Jackman
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Publication number: 20210089542Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, JR., John M. Caldwell
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Publication number: 20210089592Abstract: To provide search capabilities in a process control system, a contextual knowledge repository is generated that organizes process plant-related data according to semantic relations between the process plant-related data and the process plant entities. When a user submits a process plant search query related to process plant entities within a process plant, search results are obtained by identifying a data set from the contextual knowledge repository which is responsive to the process plant search query. The search results are then presented on a user interface device based on the identified data set. To allow for searches to be performed by user interface devices external to the process plant, a data diode is disposed between a field-facing component and an edge-facing component of the process plant so that data flows from the field-facing component to the edge-facing component without flowing from the edge-facing component to the field-facing component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Peter Hartmann, Richard Clarence Dayo Fabros, Anthony Amaro, JR., John M. Caldwell
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Publication number: 20210089526Abstract: An edge gateway system securely delivers and exposes data generated by and/or related to a process plant for consumption by external systems, and includes an edge-facing component that receives process plant-related data from a process plant via a field-facing component of the system. The received data may comport with an exposable data type system utilizing a syntax known to the external systems. The edge-facing component stores the received data in a data lake, and mines the data lake to thereby discover relationships between stored data points. Indications of the received data and the discovered interrelationships are stored in a contextualized process plant knowledge repository, such as a graph database, that is accessible to the external systems and other systems and applications via one or more access mechanisms, which may include utilities, services, servers, and/or applications. Some of the access mechanisms allow external applications to be installed at the edge-facing component.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Claudio Fayad, Robert G. Halgren, III, Gary K. Law, John M. Caldwell, Anthony Amaro, JR., Peter Hartmann
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Publication number: 20210092173Abstract: An edge gateway system securely delivers and exposes data generated by and/or related to a process plant for consumption by external systems, and includes a field-facing component that sends, to an edge-facing component of the system, a collection of data types defined based on configurations of the process plant and represented using a syntax that is native to the one or more external systems. The field-facing component streams process plant-related content data indicated by one or more interest lists to the edge-facing component, where the streamed data is expressed using the collection of data types. Each interest list may include multiple types of data (e.g., control, I/O, diagnostic, device, historical, etc.) that collectively represent a particular named entity of the plant. Accordingly, the streamed data is securely delivered and exposed, via the edge-facing component, to the external systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Claudio Fayad, Robert Halgren, III, Gary K, Law, John M. Caldwell, Anthony Amaro, JR., Peter Hartmann
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Patent number: 10915081Abstract: An edge gateway system securely delivers and exposes data generated by and/or related to a process plant for consumption by external systems, and includes a field-facing component that stores interest lists indicating the particular data that is allowed to be exposed by the field-facing component. Each interest list is defined (e.g., manually and/or automatically) in accordance with an exposable data type system extracted from (in some cases, multiple different) configurations of the process plant, and may include multiple types of data (e.g., control, I/O, diagnostic, device, historical, etc.) that collectively represent a particular named entity of the plant. The field-facing component obtains the process plant-related data indicated by the interest lists, and provides the obtained field content data to an edge-facing component of the edge gateway system for exposure to external systems, for example, by streaming and/or publishing the obtained data to the edge-facing component.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Claudio Fayad, Robert G. Halgren, III, Gary K. Law, John M. Caldwell, Anthony Amaro, Jr., Peter Hartmann
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Publication number: 20200387143Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
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Publication number: 20200387149Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
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Publication number: 20200387147Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
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Publication number: 20200387145Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
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Publication number: 20200387146Abstract: A Multi-Purpose Dynamic Simulation and run-time Control platform includes a virtual process environment coupled to a physical process environment, where components/nodes of the virtual and physical process environments cooperate to dynamically perform run-time process control of an industrial process plant and/or simulations thereof. Virtual components may include virtual run-time nodes and/or simulated nodes. The MPDSC includes an I/O Switch which delivers I/O data between virtual and/or physical nodes, e.g., by using publish/subscribe mechanisms, thereby virtualizing physical I/O process data delivery. Nodes serviced by the I/O Switch may include respective component behavior modules that are unaware as to whether or not they are being utilized on a virtual or physical node. Simulations may be performed in real-time and even in conjunction with run-time operations of the plant, and/or simulations may be manipulated as desired (speed, values, administration, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Mark J. Nixon, Anthony Amaro, JR., Noel Howard Bell, John M. Caldwell, Gary K. Law
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Publication number: 20190286076Abstract: A method of controlling and managing a process control system having a plurality of control loops includes implementing a plurality of control routines to control operation of the plurality of control loops, respectively, wherein the control routines may include at least one non-adaptive control routine. The method then collects operating condition data in connection with the operation of each control loop, and identifies a respective process model for each control loop from the respective operating condition data collected for each control loop. The identification of the respective process models may be automatic as a result of a detected process change or may be on-demand as a result of an injected parameter change. The process models are then analyzed to measure or determine the operation of the process control loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: John M. Caldwell, Terrence L. Blevins, Peter Wojsznis, Wihelm K. Wojsznis
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Patent number: 10310456Abstract: A method of controlling and managing a process control system having a plurality of control loops includes implementing a plurality of control routines to control operation of the plurality of control loops, respectively, wherein the control routines may include at least one non-adaptive control routine. The method then collects operating condition data in connection with the operation of each control loop, and identifies a respective process model for each control loop from the respective operating condition data collected for each control loop. The identification of the respective process models may be automatic as a result of a detected process change or may be on-demand as a result of an injected parameter change. The process models are then analyzed to measure or determine the operation of the process control loops.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2014Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: John M. Caldwell, Terrence L. Blevins, Peter Wojsznis, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis
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Patent number: 10140253Abstract: A process modeling technique uses a single statistical model, such as a PLS, PRC, MLR, etc. model, developed from historical data for a typical process and uses this model to perform quality prediction or fault detection for various different process states of a process. The modeling technique determines means (and possibly standard deviations) of process parameters for each of a set of product grades, throughputs, etc., compares on-line process parameter measurements to these means and uses these comparisons in a single process model to perform quality prediction or fault detection across the various states of the process. Because only the means and standard deviations of the process parameters of the process model are updated, a single process model can be used to perform quality prediction or fault detection while the process is operating in any of the defined process stages or states.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
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Patent number: 10061286Abstract: A multiple-input/multiple-output control routine in the form of a model predictive control (MPC) routine operates with wireless or other sensors that provide non-periodic, intermittent or otherwise delayed process variable measurement signals at an effective rate that is slower than the MPC controller scan or execution rate. The wireless MPC routine operates normally even when the measurement scan period for the controlled process variables is significantly larger than the operational scan period of the MPC controller routine, while providing control signals that enable control of the process in a robust and acceptable manner. During operation, the MPC routine uses an internal process model to simulate one or more measured process parameter values without performing model bias correction during the scan periods at which no new process parameter measurements are transmitted to the controller.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Terrence L. Blevins, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
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Patent number: 9494931Abstract: Methods and systems for providing knowledge access in a process control system and methods and systems for providing dynamic hyperlinks in a process control system are disclosed. A dynamic hyperlink may define an association between a process control object corresponding to a process control element and a knowledge object corresponding to a knowledge reference stored internally or externally to the process control system. At a run-time of a display view that includes the process control object, the defined dynamic hyperlink may be established without a configuration or a download. Upon selection of the defined dynamic hyperlink, the corresponding knowledge reference may be displayed. Defined dynamic hyperlinks may be stored in a process control system database independent of process control objects or knowledge objects. Embodiments of user interfaces for administrating dynamic hyperlinks are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: John M. Caldwell
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Publication number: 20160048119Abstract: A multiple-input/multiple-output control routine in the form of a model predictive control (MPC) routine operates with wireless or other sensors that provide non-periodic, intermittent or otherwise delayed process variable measurement signals at an effective rate that is slower than the MPC controller scan or execution rate. The wireless MPC routine operates normally even when the measurement scan period for the controlled process variables is significantly larger than the operational scan period of the MPC controller routine, while providing control signals that enable control of the process in a robust and acceptable manner. During operation, the MPC routine uses an internal process model to simulate one or more measured process parameter values without performing model bias correction during the scan periods at which no new process parameter measurements are transmitted to the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Terrence L. Blevins, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
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Publication number: 20150324329Abstract: A process modeling technique uses a single statistical model, such as a PLS, PRC, MLR, etc. model, developed from historical data for a typical process and uses this model to perform quality prediction or fault detection for various different process states of a process. The modeling technique determines means (and possibly standard deviations) of process parameters for each of a set of product grades, throughputs, etc., compares on-line process parameter measurements to these means and uses these comparisons in a single process model to perform quality prediction or fault detection across the various states of the process. Because only the means and standard deviations of the process parameters of the process model are updated, a single process model can be used to perform quality prediction or fault detection while the process is operating in any of the defined process stages or states.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
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Patent number: 9110452Abstract: A process modeling technique uses a single statistical model developed from historical data for a typical process and uses this model to perform quality prediction or fault detection for various different process states of a process. The modeling technique determines means (and possibly standard deviations) of process parameters for each of a set of product grades, throughputs, etc., compares on-line process parameter measurements to these means and uses these comparisons in a single process model to perform quality prediction or fault detection across the various states of the process. In this manner, a single process model can be used to perform quality prediction or fault detection while the process is operating in any of the defined process stages or states.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Terrence L. Blevins, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
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Patent number: 9042708Abstract: A process control system user display provides a display image containing control system information. The system may include a digital recording module including an image capture module for making a real-time digital recording of at least a portion of the display image, the image capture module buffering a terminal portion of the real-time digital recording. A storage module may store at least a portion of the real-time digital recording. A real-time digital recording may contain at least a portion of the display image, wherein, at any particular time, the real-time digital recording includes information from the control system for a predetermined duration proximate the particular time, and at least a portion of the real-time digital recording may be stored. A desired portion of the digital recording may be played back, optionally with process control system event and/or continuous history.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: John M. Caldwell, Marty J. Lewis, Gary K. Law