Abstract: A system for securely disseminating information relating to a process control plant includes a process control node and a controller that is coupled to a plurality of process control devices. The process control node includes a communicator module operable to transmit, via a first network, information of the process plant received from the controller. The system also includes a data services module operable to receive from the communicator module, via the first network, the information of the process plant and to transmit some or all of that information via a second network, and a mobile server, coupled to the second network and to a third network, and operable to receive data from the data services module. The mobile server is operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile computing devices via the third network.

Abstract: A system for securely disseminating information relating to a process control plant includes a process control node and a controller that is coupled to a plurality of process control devices. The process control node includes a communicator module operable to transmit, via a first network, information of the process plant received from the controller. The system also includes a data services module operable to receive from the communicator module, via the first network, the information of the process plant and to transmit some or all of that information via a second network, and a mobile server, coupled to the second network and to a third network, and operable to receive data from the data services module. The mobile server is operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile computing devices via the third network.

Abstract: A method of providing process data to a remote computing device includes receiving configuration data describing a configuration of at least part of the process control system. The configuration data includes information associated with a plurality of process control entities, and the information regarding each entity includes at least one tag associated with a level in a hierarchy of the system. The method includes identifying a plurality of levels within the system based upon the tags, including at least a first-level identifier and a plurality of second-level identifiers associated with the first-level identifier. Further, the method includes identifying a plurality of control modules, each associated with a second-level identifier, and each associated with the entities based upon the configuration data. The method includes generating a hierarchical list of available process data, and selecting from the hierarchical list a set of information to include on a watch list or alarm list.

Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium stores machine readable instructions optimized for a microprocessor on a mobile computing device. When executed by the microprocessor, the instructions cause the microprocessor to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The instructions also cause the microprocessor to receive, via the GUI, a selection of one or more items to view. Each of the one or more items is related to a process control system. The instructions cause the microprocessor to transmit to a mobile server, via either the Internet or a mobile telephony data connection, the selection of the one or more items. Thereafter, the instructions cause the microprocessor to receive from the mobile server, via either the Internet or the mobile telephony data connection, a plurality of real-time values corresponding to the selected one or more items, and to display the plurality of real-time values on the GUI.

Abstract: A method of providing data from a process control system to remote computing devices includes obtaining, at a data server via a first network from a mobile server, one or more lists including indications of requested process data parameters indicating process data for communication from the server to the remote devices via a second network. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of controllers within the process control system via a third network, a stream of process data parameter values associated with process data parameters included in one or more configuration files. The configuration files describe a configuration of the process control system. The method includes identifying, by processors of the data server, a subset of the received parameter values corresponding to the requested process data parameters of the lists, and communicating, from the data server to the mobile server via the first network, the identified subset of parameter values.

Abstract: A method of providing process data to a remote computing device includes receiving configuration data describing a configuration of at least part of the process control system. The configuration data includes information associated with a plurality of process control entities, and the information regarding each entity includes at least one tag associated with a level in a hierarchy of the system. The method includes identifying a plurality of levels within the system based upon the tags, including at least a first-level identifier and a plurality of second-level identifiers associated with the first-level identifier. Further, the method includes identifying a plurality of control modules, each associated with a second-level identifier, and each associated with the entities based upon the configuration data. The method includes generating a hierarchical list of available process data, and selecting from the hierarchical list a set of information to include on a watch list or alarm list.

Abstract: A method of providing process data to a remote computing device includes receiving configuration data describing a configuration of at least part of the process control system. The configuration data includes information associated with a plurality of process control entities, and the information regarding each entity includes at least one tag associated with a level in a hierarchy of the system. The method includes identifying a plurality of levels within the system based upon the tags, including at least a first-level identifier and a plurality of second-level identifiers associated with the first-level identifier. Further, the method includes identifying a plurality of control modules, each associated with a second-level identifier, and each associated with the entities based upon the configuration data. The method includes generating a hierarchical list of available process data, and selecting from the hierarchical list a set of information to include on a watch list or alarm list.

Abstract: A method of providing batch process data from a process control system of a process plant to a remote computing device includes receiving a request to create a list of batch data to be provided to the remote computing device, presenting a selection interface to facilitate selection of batch data to be provided, and receiving, via the selection interface, a selection of a batch executive from which to provide the batch process data. The method also includes receiving, via the selection interface, one or more filter criteria, applying the filter criteria to data available from the batch executive to determine a set of data to be included on the list of batch data to be provided to the remote computing device, and transmitting to a mobile server an indication of the set of data associated with the list of batch data to be provided to the mobile device.

Abstract: Negating effects of continuous introduction of risk in scoring the health of a process control system includes automatically and periodically assessing a risk for each of the process control systems, calibrating the center of a health score scale to the average risk assessments, and scoring the health of each process control system within the health score scale according to a nonlinear scale applied to the risk assessment. Introduction of a risk factor to a process control system increases the risk assessment, and elimination of a risk factor decreases the risk assessment. The same risk factor introduced to each of the of process control systems does not affect the health score of any process control system, and elimination of a risk factor has more of an effect on the health score towards the center of the health score scale than towards upper and lower limits of the health score scale.

Abstract: A system communicates process data to a remote computing device. The system includes a processor, a communication unit, and a memory storing instructions for modules. The modules include a scanner interfacing with the communication unit to enable communication with a server via a first network. The scanner enables communication by receiving data from the server, identifying polling requests in the data received, and transmitting request lists to the server in response to the polling requests. The modules also include a data stream processor determining a set of process data values in the data received, the set of process data values corresponding to view list data to be communicated to the remote computing device. Another module is an application program interface (API) interfacing with the communication units to enable communication with the remote computing device a second network by transmitting the set of process data values to the remote computing device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to filter process control system alarms based on alarm source type and/or alarm purpose are disclosed. An example method includes assigning a first subset of the process control alarms in a process control system to a first source type of the process control alarms. The first source type is associated with a first subset of user roles. The example method also includes assigning a second subset of the process control alarms to a second source type of the process control alarms. The second source type is associated with a second subset of the user roles. The example method further includes displaying alarm information associated with the process control alarms. The alarm information identifies the first source type of the first subset of the process control alarms and the second source type of the second subset of the process control alarms.

Abstract: A system communicates process data to a remote computing device. The system includes a processor, a communication unit, and a memory storing instructions for modules. The modules include a scanner interfacing with the communication unit to enable communication with a server via a first network. The scanner enables communication by receiving data from the server, identifying polling requests in the data received, and transmitting request lists to the server in response to the polling requests. The modules also include a data stream processor determining a set of process data values in the data received, the set of process data values corresponding to view list data to be communicated to the remote computing device. Another module is an application program interface (API) interfacing with the communication units to enable communication with the remote computing device a second network by transmitting the set of process data values to the remote computing device.

Abstract: A method of providing process data to a remote computing device includes receiving configuration data describing a configuration of at least part of the process control system. The configuration data includes information associated with a plurality of process control entities, and the information regarding each entity includes at least one tag associated with a level in a hierarchy of the system. The method includes identifying a plurality of levels within the system based upon the tags, including at least a first-level identifier and a plurality of second-level identifiers associated with the first-level identifier. Further, the method includes identifying a plurality of control modules, each associated with a second-level identifier, and each associated with the entities based upon the configuration data. The method includes generating a hierarchical list of available process data, and selecting from the hierarchical list a set of information to include on a watch list or alarm list.

Abstract: A method of providing data from a process control system to remote computing devices includes obtaining, at a data server via a first network from a mobile server, one or more lists including indications of requested process data parameters indicating process data for communication from the server to the remote devices via a second network. The method includes receiving, from a plurality of controllers within the process control system via a third network, a stream of process data parameter values associated with process data parameters included in one or more configuration files. The configuration files describe a configuration of the process control system. The method includes identifying, by processors of the data server, a subset of the received parameter values corresponding to the requested process data parameters of the lists, and communicating, from the data server to the mobile server via the first network, the identified subset of parameter values.

Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium stores machine readable instructions optimized for a microprocessor on a mobile computing device. When executed by the microprocessor, the instructions cause the microprocessor to display a graphical user interface (GUI). The instructions also cause the microprocessor to receive, via the GUI, a selection of one or more items to view. Each of the one or more items is related to a process control system. The instructions cause the microprocessor to transmit to a mobile server, via either the Internet or a mobile telephony data connection, the selection of the one or more items. Thereafter, the instructions cause the microprocessor to receive from the mobile server, via either the Internet or the mobile telephony data connection, a plurality of real-time values corresponding to the selected one or more items, and to display the plurality of real-time values on the GUI.

Abstract: A method of providing batch process data from a process control system of a process plant to a remote computing device includes receiving a request to create a list of batch data to be provided to the remote computing device, presenting a selection interface to facilitate selection of batch data to be provided, and receiving, via the selection interface, a selection of a batch executive from which to provide the batch process data. The method also includes receiving, via the selection interface, one or more filter criteria, applying the filter criteria to data available from the batch executive to determine a set of data to be included on the list of batch data to be provided to the remote computing device, and transmitting to a mobile server an indication of the set of data associated with the list of batch data to be provided to the mobile device.

Abstract: A system for securely disseminating information relating to a process control plant includes a process control node and a controller that is coupled to a plurality of process control devices. The process control node includes a communicator module operable to transmit, via a first network, information of the process plant received from the controller. The system also includes a data services module operable to receive from the communicator module, via the first network, the information of the process plant and to transmit some or all of that information via a second network, and a mobile server, coupled to the second network and to a third network, and operable to receive data from the data services module. The mobile server is operable to communicate with a plurality of mobile computing devices via the third network.

Abstract: Methods for collaboratively assisting a control room operator are disclosed. An example method disclosed includes receiving a notification associated with a person via a portable wireless device. The notification includes information regarding a process control variable in a process control environment. The example method further includes altering the notification by the person via the portable wireless device and transmitting the altered notification via the portable wireless device. The control room operator and other persons associated with the notification are to receive the altered notification.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to audit process control alarms. An example disclosed method includes identifying components in the process control system that correspond to alarms to be audited. The example method also includes if a query to request a status of a particular one of the alarms to be audited is not in a status update queue, generating a query associated with the audit report request to request the status of the particular one of the alarms from the corresponding component. Otherwise, if the query to request the status of a particular one of the alarms to be audited is in the status update queue, associating the audit report request to the query. The example method also includes transmitting, via a process control system bus, the queries to be designated as low priority.

Abstract: Negating effects of continuous introduction of risk in scoring the health of a process control system includes automatically and periodically assessing a risk for each of the process control systems, calibrating the center of a health score scale to the average risk assessments, and scoring the health of each process control system within the health score scale according to a nonlinear scale applied to the risk assessment. Introduction of a risk factor to a process control system increases the risk assessment, and elimination of a risk factor decreases the risk assessment. The same risk factor introduced to each of the of process control systems does not affect the health score of any process control system, and elimination of a risk factor has more of an effect on the health score towards the center of the health score scale than towards upper and lower limits of the health score scale.