Abstract: A configuration dataset indicative of a setting of one or more operational policies of a control of an industrial field device and a measurement dataset indicative of an event associated with the industrial field device is read from a distributed database. An analysis of the measurement dataset is performed, depending on the configuration dataset.

Abstract: A device for simulating a controlled machine or installation includes a process simulation apparatus designed to perform simulation steps that simulate a physical process of the machine or installation, and a controller simulation apparatus designed to perform simulation steps that simulate a controller of the machine or installation. The process simulation apparatus and the controller simulation apparatus exchange particular output values so as to simulate the controlled machine or installation in the respective simulation steps. The controller simulation apparatus transmits an item of information to the process simulation apparatus, which item of information describes a result time for an end of a simulation step performed by the controller simulation apparatus, while the process simulation apparatus is designed to adjust a duration of at least one of the simulation steps depending on the result time.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a corresponding apparatus for allowing the introduction of pay-per-use models in the renting out of components in automation business. The challenge and the success in the introduction of pay-per-use models include appropriately addressing the conflict of interest between the protection of sensitive production data and the need to collect as much of the production data as possible for use as usage-relevant billing data. Therefore, a method is proposed that securely protects the data used and nevertheless allows the data to be reconstructed at a later time in the event of contentious questions.

Abstract: A system includes a first module configured to collect automation plant-related data that include at least operating data, and to generate based on the operating data manipulation-proof usage data which are then transmitted to a second module configured to determine at least a part of the manipulation-proof usage data, to form a checksum from the at least one part of the manipulation-proof usage data, to transfer the checksum to at least one node of a distributed ledger network, and to store the manipulation-proof usage data in an area outside the distributed ledger network. A third module participates in the distributed ledger network and is configured to obtain the manipulation-proof usage data from the area and to check the correctness of the manipulation-proof usage data by forming a checksum.

Abstract: An industrial control system includes an engineering device having a security key, a memory and a first user interface embodied as a display representing a second user interface of an operating device of the industrial control system. The engineering device stores project data and furthermore includes an engineering program running in a cloud, wherein for implementing calculation results, commands and outputs are transmitted via the cloud to the engineering device and/or the operating device. A programming device connects the engineering device to a cloud device. A method for controlling the industrial control system is also described.

Abstract: A method for scheduling cyclic control applications on a controller includes defining a plurality of function block clusters by clustering a plurality of function blocks of the cyclic control applications based on a sampling time of each function block, creating a plurality of organization blocks from the plurality of function block clusters, each organization block comprising at least one function block from a function block cluster and an organization block record including a sampling time value and next deadline time value associated with the corresponding organization block, and scheduling the plurality of organization blocks for execution on the controller, based on either a sampling time value and/or the next deadline time value, where a sampling time value of an organization block is based at least one sampling time of at least one function block of the corresponding organization block.

Abstract: A method for scheduling cyclic control applications on a controller includes defining a plurality of function block clusters by clustering a plurality of function blocks of the cyclic control applications based on a sampling time of each function block, creating a plurality of organization blocks from the plurality of function block clusters, each organization block comprising at least one function block from a function block cluster and an organization block record including a sampling time value and next deadline time value associated with the corresponding organization block, and scheduling the plurality of organization blocks for execution on the controller, based on either a sampling time value and/or the next deadline time value, where a sampling time value of an organization block is based at least one sampling time of at least one function block of the corresponding organization block.

Abstract: Provided is a control unit of an automation system for determining the execution time of a user program, including a first time-determining unit, wherein the first time-determining unit determines the execution time for the control unit and/or another control unit in a first operating mode, wherein at least one boundary condition is taken into account in the determination of the execution time, and wherein statistical data about the running time of commands of the user program of the control unit or of a linear representation of the real time of the control unit are taken into account in the determination of the execution time. A corresponding method and to a computer program product is also provided.

Abstract: A measurement dataset indicative of operational characteristics of an industrial field device is obtained. In an embodiment, based on the measurement dataset, a performance indicator dataset including one or more figures of merit of the operational characteristics is determined and storage of the performance indicator dataset in a distributed database and storage of the measurement dataset in a non-distributed database is triggered.

Abstract: A configuration dataset indicative of a setting of one or more operational policies of a control of an industrial field device and a measurement dataset indicative of an event associated with the industrial field device is read from a distributed database. An analysis of the measurement dataset is performed, depending on the configuration dataset.

Abstract: A mining node of an infrastructure of a distributed database includes a control circuitry. In an embodiment, the control circuitry is configured to: obtain a measurement dataset indicative of one or more observables of an event, the measurement dataset including processed raw data samples; perform a comparison between the measurement dataset and a reference dataset, the reference dataset including at least one of one or more predefined constraints associated with the event or a further measurement dataset indicative of one or more further observables of the event; and, depending on a result of the comparison, selectively trigger one or more validation measures for the measurement dataset, the one or more validation measures being implemented at the distributed database.

Abstract: An industrial control system includes an engineering device having a security key, a memory and a first user interface embodied as a display representing a second user interface of an operating device of the industrial control system. The engineering device stores project data and furthermore includes an engineering program running in a cloud, wherein for implementing calculation results, commands and outputs are transmitted via the cloud to the engineering device and/or the operating device. A programming device connects the engineering device to a cloud device. A method for controlling the industrial control system is also described.

Abstract: A device for simulating a controlled machine or installation includes a process simulation apparatus designed to perform simulation steps that simulate a physical process of the machine or installation, and a controller simulation apparatus designed to perform simulation steps that simulate a controller of the machine or installation. The process simulation apparatus and the controller simulation apparatus exchange particular output values so as to simulate the controlled machine or installation in the respective simulation steps. The controller simulation apparatus transmits an item of information to the process simulation apparatus, which item of information describes a result time for an end of a simulation step performed by the controller simulation apparatus, while the process simulation apparatus is designed to adjust a duration of at least one of the simulation steps depending on the result time.

Abstract: Provided is a control unit of an automation system for determining the execution time of a user program, including a first time-determining unit, wherein the first time-determining unit determines the execution time for the control unit and/or another control unit in a first operating mode, wherein at least one boundary condition is taken into account in the determination of the execution time, and wherein statistical data about the running time of commands of the user program of the control unit or of a linear representation of the real time of the control unit are taken into account in the determination of the execution time. A corresponding method and to a computer program product is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a system and a simulator for the disengageable simulation of installations or machines within programmable logic controllers, in which control program and simulation program are strictly separate within the same processing environment, wherein the direction of access for the input/output memory area during normal operation and the consistent reversal thereof in the simulation part are ensured, and which involves the simulation program being executed between the program cycles, with a virtual clock being stopped during the simulation. As a result, the test on an unaltered user program in the PLC avoids errors in the startup or test phase through code changes, and a timing response as in the genuine installation, particularly in the event of tests on timers and under race conditions, achieves a higher level of program quality through better test results.