Abstract: Implementations are described herein for commissioning a distributed control node (DCN) to a process automation network. In various implementations, one or more messages transmitted on the process automation network by the DCN announcing that the DCN has joined the process automation network may be detected. Based on the one or more messages, one or more operational technology (OT) capabilities of the DCN may be determined. Based on the one or more OT capabilities, the DCN may be commissioned to the process automation network, e.g., by configuring the DCN to cooperate with one or more other process automation nodes on the process automation network to implement an at least partially automated process.

Abstract: Implementations herein leverage knowledge about historical process automation facilities to automate designing a new process automation facility. A first level design input may be processed to generate a first embedding that encodes design aspect(s) of the requested process automation facility with a degree of detail commensurate with a first level of a hierarchy reflected by design documents typically used to design a process automation facility. The first embedding may be used to find first level reference embeddings that encode design aspects of reference process automation facilities. Second level reference embedding(s) may be identified based on mapping(s) from the selected first level reference embedding(s). Each second level reference embedding may encode design aspect(s) of a respective reference process automation facility with a degree of detail that is commensurate with a second level of the design document hierarchy.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for automatic deployment of function block application programs (FBAPs) across process automation nodes of a process automation system. In various implementations, one or more constraints associated with execution of a FBAP may be identified. Based on the one or more constraints, a process automation system that includes a plurality of process automation nodes may be analyzed. Based on the analysis, a subset of two or more process automation nodes on which to distributively deploy the FBAP may be selected from the plurality of processing node. In response to selecting the subset, the FBAP may be distributively deployed across the two or more process automation nodes of the subset.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for leveraging an “out-of-band” communication channel between nodes of a process automation system. In various implementations, an out-of-band communication channel may be established between two or more process automation nodes of a process automation system. The out-of-band communication channel may be outside of a process automation network through which the two or more process automation nodes are communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system. The two or more process automation nodes may cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes to implement an at least partially automated process. One or more characteristics of the process automation system may be monitored, and based on the monitoring, traffic may be selectively diverted from the process automation network to the out-of-band communication channel.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for provisioning a device such as a DCN with configuration data for operation on a process automation network using an “out-of-band” communication channel. In various implementations, a temporary out-of-band communication channel may be established between a first and second DCNs. The out-of-band communication channel may be distinct from a process automation network through which the first DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of a process automation system. Provisioning data may be transmitted from the second DCN to the first DCN over the temporary out-of-band communication channel. The provisioning data may include: information technology (IT) configuration data and operational technology (OT) configuration data. Subsequent to the transmitting, the temporary out-of-band communication channel may be closed.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for commissioning a device such as a distributed control node (DCN) for operation with a process automation system (PAS) using a portable setup device (PSD) and an “out-of-band” communication channel. In various implementations, static information conveyed by a passive data store of the DCN may be used to establish an out-of-band communication channel between the DCN and PSD. The out-of-band communication channel may be distinct from a process automation network through which the DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the PAS. The DCN may be commissioned to the process automation system by exchanging operational technology (OT) data between the DCN and the PSD via the out-of-band communication channel to enable the DCN to cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes on the process automation network to implement an at least partially automated process.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for commissioning a distributed control node (DCN) to a process automation network. In various implementations, one or more messages transmitted on the process automation network by the DCN announcing that the DCN has joined the process automation network may be detected. Based on the one or more messages, one or more operational technology (OT) capabilities of the DCN may be determined. Based on the one or more OT capabilities, the DCN may be commissioned to the process automation network, e.g., by configuring the DCN to cooperate with one or more other process automation nodes on the process automation network to implement an at least partially automated process.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein for leveraging an “out-of-band” communication channel between nodes of a process automation system. In various implementations, an out-of-band communication channel may be established between two or more process automation nodes of a process automation system. The out-of-band communication channel may be outside of a process automation network through which the two or more process automation nodes are communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system. The two or more process automation nodes may cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes to implement an at least partially automated process. One or more characteristics of the process automation system may be monitored, and based on the monitoring, traffic may be selectively diverted from the process automation network to the out-of-band communication channel.

Abstract: An Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) server includes: a storage that stores a configuration file written in a compiled programming language and in which an interpreter is embedded; a transceiver that receives, from an OPC UA client, an execution request to execute a calculation defined in the configuration file; and a processor that executes the calculation using the interpreter.

Abstract: An Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) server includes: a storage that stores a configuration file written in a compiled programming language and in which an interpreter is embedded; a transceiver that receives, from an OPC UA client, an execution request to execute a calculation defined in the configuration file; and a processor that executes the calculation using the interpreter.

Abstract: A system that operates using Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) includes: a redundant server set including a first OPC UA server and a second OPC UA server; an OPC UA client that designates an endpoint Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to communicate with the redundant server set; and a load balancer (LB) connected between the redundant server set and the OPC UA client. The OPC UA client sends a request for connection to the endpoint URL. The first OPC UA server is an active server. The second OPC UA server is a standby server. The LB proxies the connection to the first OPC UA server. The end point ULR is different from a URL of each of the first OPC UA server and the second OPC UA server.

Abstract: A system that operates using Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) includes: a redundant server set including a first OPC UA server and a second OPC UA server; an OPC UA client that designates an endpoint Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to communicate with the redundant server set; and a load balancer (LB) connected between the redundant server set and the OPC UA client. The OPC UA client sends a request for connection to the endpoint URL. The first OPC UA server is an active server. The second OPC UA server is a standby server. The LB proxies the connection to the first OPC UA server. The end point ULR is different from a URL of each of the first OPC UA server and the second OPC UA server.

Abstract: A management system for a plant facility is disclosed. The system includes a server, a mobile terminal, and beacon transmitters. The beacon transmitter is attached to or embedded into a field device in the plant facility and broadcasts a beacon signal including an identifier of the field device. The server includes a display, a storage that stores process data corresponding to the identifiers, and a controller that receives wireless signals including the identifiers from the mobile terminal and identifies the process data corresponding to the identifiers received with the wireless signals. The mobile terminal includes a display, a beacon receiver that receives the beacon signals, and a controller that transmits the wireless signals to the server with the identifiers received with the beacon signals. At least one of the displays of the server and the mobile terminal displays the process data identified by the controller of the server.

Abstract: A removable magnetic cartridge provides enhanced data access. The removable magnetic cartridge includes a rigid casing, and a magnetic disk disposed within the rigid casing. The magnetic disk includes a top surface for storage of data, and a bottom surface for storage of data, the bottom surface including at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the second cylinder adjacent the first cylinder, the first cylinder having a first plurality of logically numbered servo bursts including a reference servo burst and a secondary servo burst, the secondary servo burst positioned at an angular displacement relative to the reference servo burst, the second cylinder having a second plurality of logically numbered servo bursts including a reference servo burst located at approximately the angular displacement relative to the reference servo burst of the first cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing cables, cable connections associated with devices and devices in a daisy chain configuration. Cable malfunctions and cable connection malfunctions can be isolated down to a single device in a daisy chain system by looping back the data bus to the control bus or vice versa. A signal is then sent out on the first bus and received back on the second bus. If a cable malfunction is present, the signal received will not be the same as the signal transmitted.