Abstract: A method for transporting a message from an end device in an industrial plant over an Ethernet network with extended functionality for time-sensitive communication includes obtaining the message from a control application of the end device, mapping the message, based at least in part on the content of the message, to at least one functionality for time-sensitive communication converting the message into Ethernet frames; encoding a request to transport the message; transmitting the Ethernet frames; decoding the request; and forwarding the message on the Ethernet network according to the requested functionality for time-sensitive communication.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring industrial devices through a secured wireless side channel may include a compute device. The compute device may have primary communication circuitry configured to communicate through a network and side channel communication circuitry configured to communicate through a wireless side channel that is different from the network. The compute device may additionally include circuitry configured to obtain, via the wireless side channel, configuration data indicative of a configuration for one or more operations of an industrial device of an industrial process plant. Additionally the circuitry may be configured to configure, in response to obtaining the configuration data, the one or more operations of the industrial device.

Abstract: A method for establishing time-sensitive communication from at least one end device in an industrial plant into an Ethernet network with extended functionality for time-sensitive communication includes obtaining a first information model of the at least one end device, obtaining a second information model of the Ethernet network; determining first configuration information; determining second configuration information; transmitting the first configuration information to the at least one end device; and transmitting the second configuration information to the at least one network device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a controller configured to communicate over a network in a process plant, wherein the network comprises one or more native TSN devices. The controller comprises one or more process applications for controlling one or more processes in the process plant, wherein the one or more process applications includes plurality of tags corresponding to one or more process variables of the one or more processes in the process plant, a software TSN agent for receiving and transmitting packets associated with the one or more process applications on the controller, wherein the software TSN agent is configured to segregate packets associated with the one or more process applications for processing the packets in at least one of a TSN communication mode and a non-TSN communication mode; and a first network interface dedicated for TSN communication and a second network interface dedicated for non-TSN communication.

Abstract: According to one aspect of this disclosure, a distributed control system may include a diagnostic engine, a plurality of computing resources generating diagnostic parameters for transmission to the diagnostic engine, a first communication link operatively coupling the plurality of computing resources to one another, a second communication link operatively coupling the plurality of computing resources to the diagnostic engine, and a remote connection operatively coupling the diagnostic engine to a remote computing resource. The diagnostic parameters may indicate one or more conditions for at least one of the plurality of computing resources. The diagnostic engine locally observes the diagnostic parameters of the plurality of computing resources via the first communication link, and the remote computing resource initiates operation of the diagnostic engine via the remote connection and evaluates the diagnostic parameters remotely.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a controller configured to communicate over a network in a process plant, wherein the network comprises one or more native TSN devices. The controller comprises one or more process applications for controlling one or more processes in the process plant, wherein the one or more process applications includes plurality of tags corresponding to one or more process variables of the one or more processes in the process plant, a software TSN agent for receiving and transmitting packets associated with the one or more process applications on the controller, wherein the software TSN agent is configured to segregate packets associated with the one or more process applications for processing the packets in at least one of a TSN communication mode and a non-TSN communication mode; and a first network interface dedicated for TSN communication and a second network interface dedicated for non-TSN communication.

Abstract: A method for detecting system problems in a distributed control system including a plurality of computational devices is suggested. The method includes:—deploying one or more software agents on one or more devices of the system;—monitoring, via the one or more software agents, a system configuration and/or a system functionality;—detecting a problem in the monitored system configuration and/or a system functionality;—adding one or more new software agents and deploying the one or more new software agents on one or more devices of the system associated with the problem;—collecting data associated with the problem, via the added software agents.

Abstract: A method for allocating fog applications in a fog network with a plurality of fog nodes is suggested. The method includes: providing an application model; providing a fog network image that reflects the properties of the fog network; performing a resource usage test of the application model on the fog network image, and receiving resource requirements for the fog network; creating a concrete application model based on the application model, wherein the concrete application model contains the received resource requirements; and performing allocation of the concrete application model on one or more of the fog nodes of the fog network.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of industrial automation are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an industrial automation system including a primary time-sensitive network (TSN) and a redundant TSN. The system also includes a control system configured to determine a primary data flow, determine a redundant data flow duplicative of the primary data flow, and generate a plurality of sets of configuration information using the primary data flow and the redundant data flow. The primary TSN and the redundant TSN, using the plurality of sets of configuration information, are configured to transmit the primary data flow and the redundant data flow simultaneously.

Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of industrial automation are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an industrial automation system including a primary time-sensitive network (TSN) and a redundant TSN. The system also includes a control system configured to determine a primary data flow, determine a redundant data flow duplicative of the primary data flow, and generate a plurality of sets of configuration information using the primary data flow and the redundant data flow. The primary TSN and the redundant TSN, using the plurality of sets of configuration information, are configured to transmit the primary data flow and the redundant data flow simultaneously.

Abstract: In aspects, the present invention discloses a method for communicating with a plurality of field devices using a remote terminal unit. The plurality of field devices includes a first set of field devices and a second set of field devices capable of communicating using a first and second wireless communication protocols respectively. The method comprises scanning for a beacon message from a first field device, determining a corresponding wireless communication protocol associated from the first field device, identifying a first set of configuration blocks for communicating with the first field device based on a configuration schema file and the corresponding wireless communication protocol of the first field device, and building a protocol stack for use with a radio front end from the one or more radio front ends using the first set of configuration blocks, for communicating with the first field device from the plurality of field devices.

Abstract: A method for generating corrected measured current in an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) that is a true representation of primary current in an electrical network is disclosed. The method uses regression and a first threshold on measured sampled values from CT to detect a deviation instance that indicates a possibility of saturation. Wavelet and second threshold based detection of instances of saturation is then done. Then a regression based correction that uses a dynamic correction factor is implemented in real time to obtain corrected sampled values i.e. corrected measured current. Ending of correction is done based upon a predetermined selection criterion, The generated corrected measured current is used for protection and control functions in the IED. A CT output re-generation module as a functional module in the IED for implementing the method as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: In aspects, the present invention discloses a method for replacing a first field device with a second field device using a commissioning tool. The method comprising retrieving a device description file associated with the first field device, analyzing the device description file, generating a first object by mapping a parameters of the second field device to a parameter from the identified one or more parameters based on a first index and a second index, generating a configuration file associated with the second file device based on the device description file and the generated first object, and transmitting the configuration file to the second field device for commissioning operation of the second field device. The step of analyzing the device description file comprises identifying one or more parameters from the plurality of parameters for mapping based on a predetermined criteria.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for time synchronizing one or more devices in a control network using a first device. The method comprises selecting a first device from information of the topology of the control network. The method further comprises sending a first set of packets to the second device, receiving a first set of delay requests in response to the first set of packets, and sending a first set of delay responses in response to the first set of delay requests. The method further comprises, determining a first set of forward times and first set of backward times. The method further comprises, determining a first minimum forward time and a first minimum backward time. Further the method comprises determining a first correction factor. The method also comprises, applying the first correction factor to a clock provided at the second device and storing the first correction factor.

Abstract: A method for generating corrected measured current in an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) that is a true representation of primary current in an electrical network is disclosed. The method uses regression and a first threshold on measured sampled values from CT to detect a deviation instance that indicates a possibility of saturation. Wavelet and second threshold based detection of instances of saturation is then done. Then a regression based correction that uses a dynamic correction factor is implemented in real time to obtain corrected sampled values i.e. corrected measured current. Ending of correction is done based upon a predetermined selection criterion, The generated corrected measured current is used for protection and control functions in the IED. A CT output re-generation module as a functional module in the IED for implementing the method as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for advising wireless computer networks on inter-network interferences during their life time. The method of the present invention initially observes initial channel utilization profiles along with corresponding time-slots of dynamic network elements and network characteristics of a first network and stores as historical channel utilization profiles. The initial transmission profiles an interfering second network are also recorded. The threshold transmission profiles are then recorded as historical transmission profiles. The aggregator determines interference patterns, by comparing historical channel utilization profiles with runtime threshold transmission profiles and advises and pre-warns appropriate network actions to a network manager of the first network on the interference prone zones. The system of the present invention includes a first network with a common multi-network interference observer, to advise on inter-network interferences.

Abstract: A protection relay is disclosed that generates a trip signal to operate a circuit breaker in case of a fault condition. A first module provides measurement and analysis of power parameters of the power line connecting the power equipment that is being protected, the protection being provided by generating a first trip signal for operating a circuit breaker connected in the power line. One or more second modules can boost performance of the protection relay by measurement and analysis of power parameters-to generate a second trip signal for operating a circuit breaker connected in the power line. The first trip signal and the second trip signal are logically combined to generate a trip signal that operates the circuit breaker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for time synchronizing one or more devices in a control network using a first device. The method comprises selecting a first device from information of the topology of the control network. The method further comprises sending a first set of packets to the second device, receiving a first set of delay requests in response to the first set of packets, and sending a first set of delay responses in response to the first set of delay requests. The method further comprises, determining a first set of forward times and first set of backward times. The method further comprises, determining a first minimum forward time and a first minimum backward time. Further the method comprises determining a first correction factor. The method also comprises, applying the first correction factor to a clock provided at the second device and storing the first correction factor.

Abstract: In aspects, the present invention discloses a method for communicating with a plurality of field devices using a remote terminal unit. The plurality of field devices includes a first set of field devices and a second set of field devices capable of communicating using a first and second wireless communication protocols respectively. The method comprises scanning for a beacon message from a first field device, determining a corresponding wireless communication protocol associated from the first field device, identifying a first set of configuration blocks for communicating with the first field device based on a configuration schema file and the corresponding wireless communication protocol of the first field device, and building a protocol stack for use with a radio front end from the one or more radio front ends using the first set of configuration blocks, for communicating with the first field device from the plurality of field devices.

Abstract: A relay interface module that is commutatively connectable to at least one I/O device and a controller, wherein the relay interface module is configured to provide data from the I/O device to at least one controller in a distributed control system (DCS) via a communication interface. An application related to a particular I/O device may then be executed freely on any controller present in a DCS without losing real time connection with the associated I/O device. Data can be transferred from an I/O device to an associated application executed on a controller such that the real time connection between the I/O device and the application being executed is maintained.