Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of managing changes to a process control system are provided. The method includes obtaining a plurality of changes to the process control system. The plurality of changes are categorized into a plurality of categories. Each change is assigned an initial status. The categorized changes are displayed with their associated status to a user to receive user action relative to at least one categorized change. A status of the at least one categorized change is stored.

Abstract: Operational status information associated with a process entity in a process plant is received. The operational status information is mapped into one of a plurality of status conditions. Then, an alert message associated with the process entity is generated, where the alert message is indicative of the one status condition of the plurality of status conditions.

Abstract: A user interface is adapted to be used in a process control network having a controller communicatively coupled to a plurality of field devices, a process control configuration database and a workstation having a display, a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the controller. The user interface includes a process control configuration system that enables a user to manipulate and view a process control solution for use in the process control network, a field device management system that enables a user to communicate with one of the field devices and an interface that passes data between the process control configuration system and the field device management system to enable simultaneous use of the process control configuration system and the field device management system.

Abstract: A field device management system includes an interface which provides communication between a software application implemented on the system and a set of smart field devices coupled to the system. The interface accesses information from and/or writes information to the smart field devices, a database and device descriptions associated with the smart field devices to provide a consistent communication connection with such devices, database and device descriptions, irrespective of the types of smart field devices connected to the system. The interface is based on a predefined hierarchy of categories of information defining the device data associated with the smart field devices, and is implemented using an OLE object for each of the predefined categories of information.

Abstract: An interface control for use in a field device management system coupled to a set of smart field devices automatically performs functions related to communication between a device, a database and a user of the management system and functions related to interfacing with a user in a manner which is transparent to the software application running on the management system. The control monitors a device, or a block or a parameter of a device, displays information pertaining to the device, block or parameter to a user, receives information pertaining to such device, block, or parameter from a user and the device, automatically updates the displayed information, and implements changes to the device block or parameter specified by the user. A timeline control specifies a time at which past, present or future configurations of devices, blocks, parameters, or other data associated with one or more devices is to be displayed.

Abstract: A field device management system communicates with a smart device using a device description written in a communication protocol associated with the smart device and accesses data pertaining to a conventional or non-smart field device using a device description written in conformance with the smart device communication protocol. The field device management system uses the device description for the conventional device to initially request certain data pertaining to the conventional device from a user and then stores this data in a memory for future access.