Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods that provide electronic data (e.g., Electronic Product Code (EPC) data) obtained from Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags by RFID readers and/or from servers to one or more industrial components (e.g., controllers, programmable logic controllers, modules, etc.). The systems and methods employ component that processes, if desired, and stores received electronic data as records within a table. Processing includes filtering for data of interest and/or formatting the data in a suitable structure. Storage can include delineating related electronic data across rows the table and types of data across columns of a row. Upon receiving a subscription and/or request for electronic data from the one or more industrial components, the data can be retrieved and conveyed to the subscribing and/or requesting components.

Abstract: In an industrial control system, a relatively large number of bindings can permeate between different controllers. As a modification is made in a primary binding, supplemental bindings can be impacted and can become erroneous. The supplemental bindings can be automatically resolved such that they are no longer erroneous. Resolution can take place through access of a distributed directory that holds information related to the different controllers. To lower a likelihood of control system error or failure, the primary binding and supplemental binding can be placed online in synchronization.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods that distribute electronic data, such as Electronic Product Code (EPC) data, obtained from RFID tags by Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and/or servers to agents within an agent-based control system. The systems and methods employ a component that collects, filters, processes, and stores electronic product data. The component collects electronic product data through corresponding reader and/or server interfaces. This data can be filtered to accept particular electronic product data, processed to a format suitable to the agents, and stored. Such storage can include delineating the electronic product data across rows of a table by electronic product code and across columns of the table by various types of data. Upon receiving a subscription and/or request from an agent for electronic product data, the component can obtain and convey the information to the agent.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to integrating agents, control logic, and simulations in order to simulate and validate a control strategy for a physical system. The systems and methods integrate agents and control logic with simulations, and utilize the integrated agents, control logic, and simulations to generate a proxy. The proxy can be employed to couple one or more controllers executing the agents and control logic with the simulations. Visualization is utilized to visualize the simulation, including the agents and the control logic. In addition, the systems and methods utilize a synchronization algorithm to synchronize the execution times of the controllers and the simulations. The foregoing mitigates validation through building and testing physical system and/or test beds. Upon validating control strategies, associated agents and logic can be loaded in one or more industrial controllers controlling the physical system, and the simulation can be utilized to represent the physical system.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates providing manageability within an industrial environment. A controller can execute with a real-time operating system such that the controller can include two or more controller engine instances executing as processes on the controller. A distribution component can divide a portion of the industrial environment into at least two or more units based at least in part upon scale data, the two or more units include respective dedicated execution space.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hardware implemented connection monitoring system. A timer array establishes an input timer and an output timer for each connection between the processor and each I/O connection. A state machine periodically steps through the timer array to update the accumulated values of the timers and to monitor if any of the timers has reached a preset, timer done value. If a timer reaches the timer done value, the state machine loads the timer status into an event buffer and generates an interrupt for the processor. The processor reads the event buffer, identifies whether the expired timer was an input timer or an output timer, and takes action accordingly.

Abstract: An alarm provision system comprises a recognizer component that receives an alarm/event and recognizes the alarm/event. A provision component analyzes hierarchical relationships associated with an industrial environment and automatically provides a subscribing entity with the alarm/event and at least one other alarm/event that is related to the received alarm/event, the provision of the at least one other alarm/event is based at least in part upon the analysis of the hierarchical relationships.

Abstract: Techniques for system wide analysis of industrial protocol traffic are provided to determine an optimal location of a security device and/or to dynamically and automatically create rules for security devices, communication modules, and/or proxy devices, including replacement devices. Intrusion detection and/or prevention can be provided for an system utilizing mechanisms for an industrial protocol space. Automated configurable security rule combining can maintain a rule set that is simple and manageable. Configuration and maintenance of industrial protocol devices, communication devices, security-enabled devices, security proxies, and intrusion detection and/or prevention can be simplified within unique industrial environment architectures.

Abstract: A portable RFID reader (or reader/writer) that also employs a location determination subsystem that facilitates determination of the reader (or reader/writer) location. The location subsystem can employ a satellite-based GPS (Global Positioning System) location technology where such signals are unimpeded by structures. Additionally, the location subsystem can employ other terrestrial location technologies that operate inside structures such as warehouses and the factory automation environment.

Abstract: A GUI framework leverages interfaces of extensible engineering platforms to provide a tool that easily constructs HMIs for automation systems. The GUI framework can import existing GUI components and/or create new GUI components. The GUI framework can also combine basic GUI components to create complex composite GUI components. An import mechanism can also be employed to import existing GUI components by encapsulating them in common, reusable software code that is compatible with an extensible engineering platform. The GUI framework utilizes function blocks to represent the GUI components and automatically generates GUI function block networks with linking as required. This allows complex GUIs to be created with minimal user effort.

Abstract: A controller and module for an industrial automation system is provided. A logical module employs resources and logic to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module. A controller is operable with the logical module to provide interactions with components that are at, above, or below a layer associated with the controller.

Abstract: Systems and methods that correlate among disparate pieces of synchronized data, collected from an “internal” data stream (e.g., history data collected from an industrial unit) and an “external” data stream (e.g., traffic data on network services). A process trend component that determines/predicts an outcome of an industrial process and facilitates diagnostics/prognostics of an industrial system. Accordingly, relations among various parameters can be discovered (e.g., dynamically) and proper corrective adjustments supplied to the industrial process. Such enables a tight control and short reaction time to process parameters, and for a modification thereof.

Abstract: An alarm provision system comprises a recognizer component that receives an alarm/event and recognizes the alarm/event. A provision component analyzes hierarchical relationships associated with an industrial environment and automatically provides a subscribing entity with the alarm/event and at least one other alarm/event that is related to the received alarm/event, the provision of the at least one other alarm/event is based at least in part upon the analysis of the hierarchical relationships.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates utilizing multiple computer languages within an industrial environment. A controller can execute with a real-time operating system such that the controller can include two or more controller engine instances executing as processes on the controller. A language isolation component can organize one or more controller engine instances based upon a computer language utilized within the industrial environment.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates providing a service to an industrial environment. A selection component can identify a portion of data hosted by a remote server. A build component can construct at least one of a portion of a customized application or a portion of a customized service based at least in part upon the portion of data, wherein at least one of the portion of customized application or the portion of customized service is utilized within the industrial environment.

Abstract: Providing diagnostic functions for a distributed directory employed in an industrial control environment is described herein. By way of example, status of directory entries can be monitored, updated based on activity within the control environment, and propagated to entities coupled with the environment by way of distributed directory nodes. Directory entries can be validated over time and optionally flagged as valid or deleted if invalid. In some aspects, validation can occur via direct communication with entities coupled to the control environment. Changes to directory entries can be tracked, and can be propagated through the distributed directory. Further, automatic reconfiguration of control entities can be implemented based on the changes, resulting in a dynamic and self-adapting control environment.

Abstract: A logical module for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes one or more resources to perform an action and a logic component to control a state of the resources. A module employs the resources and the logic component to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates deploying data within an industrial environment. A controller can execute with a real-time operating system such that the controller can include two or more controller engine instances executing as processes on the controller. An update component that can dynamically deploy a portion of data to the industrial environment, the portion of data can be isolated within a controller engine instance for testing prior to exposing such portion of data outside the controller engine instance execution space.

Abstract: A human machine interface (HMI) interface for an industrial automation system is provided. A module is provided that employs resources and logic to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module. A human machine interface (HMI) component associated with the module adapts functionality of a display based at least in part on a type of user or application. In addition to the display, the HMI component adapts functionality of one or more interface inputs based in part on the type of user or application.

Abstract: A new industrial control system and method are disclosed allowing for communication between multiple control devices of the system and remote devices via the Internet. The system includes a web access interface that is capable of being coupled to the remote devices via the Internet, and is coupled to the control devices by way of a network. A program executed by the interface receives an Internet signal having socket API data and formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, and extracts the data from the Internet signal. Another program executed by the interface receives the data and transmits a network signal, which includes the data but is not formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, to an appropriate one of the control devices, each of which has a respective web server program. The data is processed by the server program at the appropriate control device.