Abstract: A process control system includes first type and second type controllers having different hardware architectures coupled together by a redundancy network for providing a controller pool. Primary application modules (AMs) are coupled to the controller platforms by a plant-wide network. The controller platforms are coupled by an input/output (I/O) mesh network to I/O devices to provide an I/O pool coupled to field devices coupled to processing equipment. A translating device translates states and values from one of the primary AMs running on a first type controller to generate a backup AM having an instruction set compatible with the second type controller. A controller application module orchestrator (CAMO) extends synchronization to the second type controller, makes the backup AM available to the second type controller, and then switches to utilize the second type controller as an active controller running the process.

Abstract: A system includes a shared data center having at least one data storage unit and at least one processing unit. The shared data center is configured to service one, two, or more industrial automation systems. For each of the one, two, or more industrial automation systems, the shared data center is configured to receive process-related data associated from at least one local device in at least one local system, analyze the process-related data from the local device, and provide instructions to at least one client device associated with the local system.

Abstract: A method of fault-tolerant process control includes providing a network process control system in an industrial processing facility (IPF) including a plant-wide network coupling a server to computing platforms each including computing hardware and memory hosting a software application for simultaneously supporting a process controller and another process controller or an I/O gateway. The computing platforms are coupled together by a private path redundancy network for providing a hardware resource pool. At least some of the computing platforms are directly coupled by an I/O mesh network to a plurality of I/O devices to field devices that are coupled to processing equipment. Upon detecting at least one failing device in the hardware resource pool, over the private path redundancy network a backup is placed into service for the failing device from the another process controller or I/O gateway that is at another of the computing platforms in the hardware resource pool.

Abstract: A process control system includes a first process controller coupled to a first set of input/output (I/O) modules that provided first channels, including an I/O software agent coupled to an I/O module pool that includes a first and at least a second I/O module collectively providing pooled channels. The first channels and the pooled channels are each coupled by a respective field device to first and second processing equipment, respectively. The I/O software agent is configured for enabling addition of the first set of I/O modules to the LO module pool, coupling of a plurality of additional process controllers in a controller pool to the first process controller, and enabling at least one of i) making any of the first channels available to any of the process controllers in the controller pool, and ii) making any of the pooled channels available to the first process controller.

Abstract: An electronic device and other electronic device include a first and second port that utilizes a parallel redundancy protocol in a communications network including a first and second lane. The devices include a processing circuit, a PRP handler, a protocol stack, a memory, permanent storage accessible by the processing circuit, and transmit and receive circuitry for transmitting and receiving packets. A redundancy manager is for identifying path faults in the network. The processing circuit implements a method of detecting network path fault, including the other electronic device transmitting a frame pair over the first lane and second lane. The electronic device receives the frame pair and implements a receive processing flow, when the first frame or the second frame is identified to be a redundant frame, removes the redundant frame, and compares a first frame parameter to a second frame parameter to determine when the path fault is present.

Abstract: A process control system includes a first process controller coupled to a first set of input/output (I/O) modules that provided first channels, including an I/O software agent coupled to an I/O module pool that includes a first and at least a second I/O module collectively providing pooled channels. The first channels and the pooled channels are each coupled by a respective field device to first and second processing equipment, respectively. The I/O software agent is configured for enabling addition of the first set of I/O modules to the LO module pool, coupling of a plurality of additional process controllers in a controller pool to the first process controller, and enabling at least one of i) making any of the first channels available to any of the process controllers in the controller pool, and ii) making any of the pooled channels available to the first process controller.

Abstract: A process control system includes first type and second type controllers having different hardware architectures coupled together by a redundancy network for providing a controller pool. Primary application modules (AMs) are coupled to the controller platforms by a plant-wide network. The controller platforms are coupled by an input/output (I/O) mesh network to I/O devices to provide an I/O pool coupled to field devices coupled to processing equipment. A translating device translates states and values from one of the primary AMs running on a first type controller to generate a backup AM having an instruction set compatible with the second type controller. A controller application module orchestrator (CAMO) extends synchronization to the second type controller, makes the backup AM available to the second type controller, and then switches to utilize the second type controller as an active controller running the process.

Abstract: An industrial automation system employing a mesh topology of input/output allows flexibility in pairing field devices and controllers though the I/O mesh. Field devices can be connected to the geographically closest I/O module channel without regard to the location of the necessary controller. Modular prefabrication and deployment of the I/O modules becomes less complex and less time consuming thereby reducing costs.

Abstract: A system is provided with a group of controllers configured into a hive, wherein the hive is configured to receive control strategies and to assign a particular control strategy to a controller within the hive that is a best fit for a particular control strategy and wherein each controller communicates to a plurality of input/output (I/O) interfaces.

Abstract: An industrial automation system employing a mesh topology of input/output allows flexibility in pairing field devices and controllers though the I/O mesh. Field devices can be connected to the geographically closest I/O module channel without regard to the location of the necessary controller. Modular prefabrication and deployment of the I/O modules becomes less complex and less time consuming thereby reducing costs.

Abstract: A method of fault-tolerant process control includes providing a network process control system in an industrial processing facility (IPF) including a plant-wide network coupling a server to computing platforms each including computing hardware and memory hosting a software application for simultaneously supporting a process controller and another process controller or an I/O gateway. The computing platforms are coupled together by a private path redundancy network for providing a hardware resource pool. At least some of the computing platforms are directly coupled by an I/O mesh network to a plurality of I/O devices to field devices that are coupled to processing equipment. Upon detecting at least one failing device in the hardware resource pool, over the private path redundancy network a backup is placed into service for the failing device from the another process controller or I/O gateway that is at another of the computing platforms in the hardware resource pool.

Abstract: A system includes a shared data center having at least one data storage unit and at least one processing unit. The shared data center is configured to service one, two, or more industrial automation systems. For each of the one, two, or more industrial automation systems, the shared data center is configured to receive process-related data associated from at least one local device in at least one local system, analyze the process-related data from the local device, and provide instructions to at least one client device associated with the local system.

Abstract: A method for sterilising unpackaged consumable items by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, and using storage containers and outer packaging. In order that the abovementioned method can be designed and further developed so that contamination of the consumable items is reliably excluded, a certain quantity of unpackaged consumable items is stored together for a specified time in a storage container and the inside of the storage container is treated with a predetermined quantity of the treatment agent. In order to achieve “long-term sterilisation” a storage container serves to accommodate a plurality of unarranged, unpackaged consumable items, with the material of the storage container being plastic, wherein the storage container is designed as a bag, which after filling with consumable items and subsequent treatment is closed and then stored in a closed outer package.

Abstract: Presented are a method for sterilising packaged, partially packaged, or partially sealed consumable items, such as plastic opening and/or closing elements for subsequent use with beverage or food packaging, by means of a treatment agent having a disinfectant, and storage containers and outer packagings that can be used for this purpose. The method can be designed and further developed so that contamination of the consumable items with germ-forming spores is reliably excluded. A consumable item or an area thereof to be sterilised can be disposed in a first sealed environment, so that a plurality of such individually packaged consumable items or sealed areas thereof is stored together for a specified time in a storage container, the inside of which the treatment agent, so that, through the diffusion thereof, the packaged consumable items or sealed areas thereof are also sterilised, thereby achieving “long-term sterilisation”.