Abstract: A historian system enables the creation, storage, and retrieval of extended metadata properties. A tag metadata database module of the historian system stores tag metadata received over a network connection in a tag metadata database and retrieves tag metadata in response to requests received over the network and from within the historian system. An extended property database module creates extended properties associated with a tag metadata instance in response to requests, stores the created extended properties, and retrieves the stored extended properties in response to requests. The extended property search index module indexes extended properties as they are created, searches the indexed extended properties in response to requests, and provides the indexes of extended properties to enable location of the extended properties in the extended property database.

Abstract: Processing raw data stored in an historian device for determining an amount of products passed through a process element in a process control environment is described. A count value is incremented by a counter at a rate at which products pass through the process element. The count value rolls over to zero when the count value reaches a rollover value R. An historian device periodically receives count value data points from the counter. A deadband value D is set in the historian device for distinguishing between rollovers, resets, and reversals. A client device queries the historian device for an amount of products passed through the process element for a timeframe. The historian device selects a set of count value data points from within the queried timeframe. The historian device determines, based on the selected data points and their quality, an amount of products passed through the process element.

Abstract: Automated recovery of execution roles in a distributed historian system in accordance with actions and rules customized to each execution role. A monitoring service monitors the health status of execution roles and automatically performs a corrective action in response to the health state of an execution role triggering a predetermined rule.

Abstract: Associating comments with tags in a managed historian system in accordance with a flexible, platform-independent data structure. A worker role instance automatically associates received comments with a process tag at a particular time in response to receiving the comments. The worker role instance stores the comments in the flexible, platform-independent data structure such that the comment is provided in association with the tag at the particular time in response to a display or search request for the tag.

Abstract: Automated detection of anomalous operation of equipment in an industrial process. A reporting architecture utilizes scaled entropy calculations that enable comparing signal entropies across a plurality of time periods without prior knowledge of the scale of the signal. The reporting architecture combines the scaled entropy values with statistical analyses to detect anomalous time periods that represent anomalous operation of equipment in an industrial process. The reporting architecture generates reports of the anomalous operation for transmission to particular user devices via a communications network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing configuration information for cloud-based services. A system comprises a data store and data sets including plant process information and configuration information. A memory device stores computer-executable instructions. When executed by a processor coupled to the cloud service, the instructions receive configuration information, store it in a data file, apply a generated certificate to the file, and deploy the resulting protected configuration data file to the cloud-based service. In addition, the protected configuration data file is made available by obtaining the file from the cloud-based service.

Abstract: Automated correlation of process attribute value changes with events related to the changes. A managed historian utilizes a namespace property to correlate process tag values with corresponding events. The managed historian generates and provides to remote user devices a graphical user interface that includes a plot of data values of the process tag and a visual icon representing the event overlaid atop the plot of data values.

Abstract: A user authentication system enables control of access to historian data through a historian application. The user authentication system creates a user authentication directory for storing user authentication information. The system populates the directory with user authentication information. The system links the directory to a historian application and receives credential data from a user. The system grants access to the historian application when it determines that the credential data from the user matches a portion of the user authentication information on the directory.

Abstract: A system for displaying statistical data in a process control environment. A client device connects, via a network, to a historian connection module, and subscribes, via the connection to the historian connection module, to statistical data stored in a historian server module. A historian device receives a connection, by the historian connection module via the network, from the client device, forms a connection between the historian connection module and the historian server module, receives a subscription, by the historian connection module via the network, to statistical data stored in the historian server module from the client device, and stores, by the historian connection module, the received subscription.

Abstract: A system for communicating data packets in a process control environment is described. A client device connects, via the network, to an historian device, creates, via a first dictionary manager module, a first tag dictionary, synchronizes, via the network, the first tag dictionary with a second tag dictionary created by the historian device, optimizes a packet via a packet optimization layer comprising scanning a tag ID present in the packet, determines a matching tag handle for the tag ID from the first tag dictionary, replaces each instance of the tag ID in the packet with the matching tag handle, and sends the optimized packet to the historian device via the network.

Abstract: Annotating content, comprising data values of one or more tags corresponding to a process device within a continuous process, with content descriptors in a historian system. Content descriptors enable indexing and saving content within a search service database for later retrieval by search strings that match the content descriptors. Content having one or more common content descriptors are retrieved and transmitted to a client computing device via a communications network for displaying in a dashboard on the client computing device.

Abstract: Operational historian system retrieving summary data values and source data values based on alignment between a summarization cycle duration and a query cycle duration. A retrieval service process executing on a historian device utilizes a summarization cycle duration, including start and/or end times thereof, and a query cycle duration, including start and/or end times thereof, to determine whether to retrieve, via a communications network, source tag data and/or summary tag data from memory storage devices.

Abstract: An event historian system receives and responds to queries for event data from a client device over a network connection. The queries comprise parameters indicating a date range and filter limitations defining the desired event data. The system selects storage blocks based on the date range and filters event data in the storage blocks based on the filter limitations. The filtered event data is grouped into a results message and sent to the client system via the network connection.

Abstract: An event historian system merges stored event data snapshots into sorted event storage blocks. The system determines that a storage block contains a plurality of snapshots to be merged. A new snapshot is created into which the plurality of snapshots will be merged. The event data within the snapshots is combined and recorded into the new snapshot in a sorted order. The index files within the snapshots are combined and recorded into the new snapshot.

Abstract: Targeted distributing of reports containing historical process control information to particular user devices via a communications network. A curating service permits assigning a score to each report based on an interest level value of the historical process control information to a user associated with each user device and/or an urgency value of the historical process control information. Routing reports to user devices based on the score raises visibility of the historical process control information without overburdening the communications network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing configuration information for cloud-based services. A system comprises a data store and data sets including plant process information and configuration information. A memory device stores computer-executable instructions. When executed by a processor coupled to the cloud service, the instructions receive configuration information, store it in a data file, apply a generated certificate to the file, and deploy the resulting protected configuration data file to the cloud-based service. In addition, the protected configuration data file is made available by obtaining the file from the cloud-based service.

Abstract: An event historian system receives and responds to queries for event data from a client device over a network connection. The queries comprise parameters indicating a date range and filter limitations defining the desired event data. The system selects storage blocks based on the date range and filters event data in the storage blocks based on the filter limitations. The filtered event data is grouped into a results message and sent to the client system via the network connection.

Abstract: An event historian system merges stored event data snapshots into sorted event storage blocks. The system determines that a storage block contains a plurality of snapshots to be merged. A new snapshot is created into which the plurality of snapshots will be merged. The event data within the snapshots is combined and recorded into the new snapshot in a sorted order. The index files within the snapshots are combined and recorded into the new snapshot.

Abstract: An event historian system stores an event data dictionary. The system receives an initial query from a client device on a network connection and responds by providing the event data dictionary information to the client device. The client device sends another query requesting data values which are defined in the event data dictionary. The system responds to the second query by sending results comprising the requested data values to the client system over the network connection.

Abstract: Processing raw data stored in an historian device for determining an amount of products passed through a process element in a process control environment is described. A count value is incremented by a counter at a rate at which products pass through the process element. The count value rolls over to zero when the count value reaches a rollover value R. An historian device periodically receives count value data points from the counter. A deadband value D is set in the historian device for distinguishing between rollovers, resets, and reversals. A client device queries the historian device for an amount of products passed through the process element for a timeframe. The historian device selects a set of count value data points from within the queried timeframe. The historian device determines, based on the selected data points and their quality, an amount of products passed through the process element.