Abstract: Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website.

Abstract: Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage process control status rollups are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving process control information from at least one process control device included within a process control system, determining at least one issue associated with a portion of the received process control information, receiving a selection of a status type, determining if the at least one issue is associated with the selected status type, and displaying a process control status rollup associated with the selected status type and including the at least one issue.

Abstract: A system for performing statistical process control. A storage device stores a plurality of SPC charts, specifying data collected from a system during testing. A controller categorizes the SPC charts into a plurality of groups based on characteristics thereof. A detector determines whether the charts in any of the groups violate a preset rule. An alarm generator generates alarm information identifying the chart violating the rule.

Abstract: A method for operating a process plant, in which a number of alarm notifications for indicating non-compliant operating events of the process plant are generated at process level. Alarm notifications which can be generated during the operation of the process plant are defined. At least a number of the generatable alarm notifications are assigned, in each case at least a first value or a second value as a dependency value. A current process state of the process plant is determined and depending on the determined process state, those alarm notifications to which the first value was assigned as a dependency value are not indicated.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and computer readable media for obtaining status information from a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and sending the status information to a remote networked device using a data container. A thermostat obtains status information from a HVAC system, associates the status information with a corresponding index number, and includes the index number and HVAC information in a data container. The data container can assume different forms, including a customer-defined cluster or a publicly accessible cluster. The HVAC information may be encoded so that the HVAC information can be included as an attribute of the publicly accessible cluster. HVAC information may include relay status of a relay in the HVAC system. The relay is identified by an index number that is included in an attribute. A networked device typically receives the HVAC information from the thermostat in at least one data container.

Abstract: An automated abnormal machine tracking and notifying method includes automatically collecting and analyzing a plurality of test results to obtain a plurality of abnormal information, storing the abnormal information in a machine status database, respectively counting an integral value of each abnormal information of at least a related potentially abnormal machine, judging whether a sum of the integral values of each potentially abnormal machine is greater than n, and automatically notifying at least a user of the potentially abnormal machine and the abnormal information by an automatic notification subsystem when the sum of the integral values is greater than n.

Abstract: A data acquisition method comprising looking into a memory heap of event structures having condition parameters of at least one of memory pointers, event operators, and arguments; identifying event conditions that evaluate as true by evaluating the condition parameters for the even structures; and generating a notification message when a true condition is found.

Abstract: A system comprising a memory heap generated dynamically by useful software and a data acquisition engine. The memory heap comprises a plurality of event structures, each including at least one each of pointers into memory external to the event structure, event operators, and arguments. The data acquisition engine is configured to look into the memory heap, evaluate event conditions as true or false based on the at least one each of the pointers, operators, and arguments, and generate a notification message when a true condition is found.

Abstract: A safety control system includes a plurality of safety control stations connected to a control bus to communicate with each other and with a distributed control system including a plurality of control stations connected to the control bus, wherein each of the plurality of safety control stations has an interface through which each of the plurality of safety control stations is connected to the control bus for transmitting own data of each of the plurality of safety control stations to all other safety control stations by broadcasting at a fixed cycle via the control bus and for receiving by each safety control station transmitted data from all other safety control stations, and wherein the interface implements a safety layer used to generate and diagnose safety information.

Abstract: A method for detecting tool errors to stop a process recipe for a single chamber is disclosed. When a recipe error for one of chamber of a process tool is detected, only the chamber with the recipe error is terminated and other chambers are allowed to proceed with their recipe processes for preventing excursions.

Abstract: System(s) and procedure(s) facilitate monitoring of devices and automatic adjustment of fault timing parameters. A fault tuning component is embedded within a control module involved in a batch operation. The component executes a configurable tuning method that allows one or more devices to automatically tune fault timers. The fault tuning component can probe a number of events/operations to create a rolling average of device response, where the operational response for normal operation can be automatically adjusted as a result.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a field device connected via a data bus with a control unit. To prevent unauthorized tampering with the field device, the control unit requests, at intervals of time, an individual identifier of the field device. The requested individual identifier is compared with an identifier stored in the control unit. An alarm is produced or a warning, in the case of a change in the requested individual identifier.

Abstract: This invention relates to safety instrumented systems (“SIS”) for monitoring and controlling chemical and other industrial process field devices, and that are responsive to signals for the emergency shutdown of the process or system. The patent will significantly improve the reliability of communications within an emergency shutdown system, reduce unwanted trips, and adapt to process conditions by failing to a safe mode in dynamic conditions that are not considered by prior art logic solvers.

Abstract: Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring assets of an enterprise using a stand-alone software system and a process automation software system are provided. The stand-alone system is operable to generate a web page about a condition of the asset and to transmit data items for the condition in a single data string. The data items include a status of the condition and a URL of the web page. The process automation system includes a human system interface (HSI). An asset monitor in the process automation system is operable to monitor the status of the condition and the HSI is operable to display the data items and the web page from the stand-alone system.

Abstract: Method for plant monitoring with a fieldbus of process automation technology, wherein a plurality of field devices communicate with a process control unit and a plant monitoring unit The method steps are carried out as follows: the regular, process-control, data traffic on the fieldbus is monitored by the plant monitoring unit; an examination of the telegrams of the regular data traffic for information indicating a diagnostic event at one of the field devices is performed; and in case a telegram is detected having an indication of a diagnostic event, the plant monitoring unit requests further diagnostic information from the pertinent field device.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for on-line monitoring of operation of a process in connection with process measurements indicative of the operation of the process. In some cases, the operation of the process is simulated to generate model data indicative of a simulated representation of the operation of the process and based on the process measurements. A multivariate statistical analysis of the operation of the process is implemented based on the model data and the process measurements. The output data from the multivariate statistical analysis may then be evaluated during the operation of the process to enable the on-line monitoring of the process involving, for instance, fault detection via classification analysis of the output data.

Abstract: A system is provided herein for remotely controlling and monitoring machinery, the machinery having a control network for control thereof, one or more switches coupled to the control network for controlling the machinery via the control network. The system includes a controller hardwired coupled to the control network of the machinery. The controller is configured to control the machinery via the control network separately from the switches, and the controller is configured to monitor operation of the machinery. In addition, the system includes an arrangement for receiving signals for controlling the controller from a remote location and an arrangement for transmitting, to a remote location, information collected by the controller resulting from the controller monitoring operation of the machinery. Advantageously, with the subject invention, the system can control and monitor machinery from remote locations directly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing time series data are disclosed. A query including a machine variable identifier may be received. The machine variable identifier may include an identifier pertaining to one or more of a state, a condition and a performance measure for a printer. A first time series data entry may be determined based on the query. The first time series data entry may include a data value and a time entry for the machine variable identifier. One or more second time series data entries may be selected based on the data value associated with the first time series data entry. One or more maintenance operations may be performed based on the one or more second time series data entries.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system will generate the control logic for a control system application based on the process data input into the system in a series of easy to understand forms and steps.

Abstract: A method for minimizing risk of explosion using centralized communication with a decentralized hydrogen generation network to regulate hydrogen production by at least one hydrogen generating device, comprising the steps of: forming an administrator interface for centralized communication with dispatchable and/or non-dispatchable power sources and at least one hydrogen generating device, and forming a dynamic information database for collecting and storing identification and/or discretionary power consumption information of hydrogen generating devices and dispatchable and/or non-dispatchable power source information. Power is then selectively transferred from dispatchable and/or non-dispatchable power sources to hydrogen generating devices using the administrator interface to provide centralized management of hydrogen production.

Abstract: A method is presented for representing anomalies to a process. These anomalies are represented in an anti-pattern, which depicts non-productive emergent information that describes activities that are detrimental to the progress of the process. The anti-pattern includes visually-coded areas that describe how severe the detrimental activities are to the process when combined. After the anti-pattern is created for the process, new non-productive emergent information for a current process is mapped onto the anti-pattern in the form of data patterns represented as visual fences. Appropriate steps are then taken to address the new non-productive emergent information, depending on the visually-coded area to which the new non-productive emergent information is mapped.

Abstract: A failure alarm device includes: an operation instruction capturing unit; an operation status signal capturing unit; and a timing and alarming unit for starting timing when the operation instruction capturing unit captures a start-operation instruction and the operation status signal capturing unit captures an operation status signal indicative of that the CMP apparatus is in the preset operation status, and for alarming if a duration of the operation status signal indicative times out. During operation of the CMP apparatus, when there occurs an unexpected failure in a computer or control software or the CMP apparatus is powered off, an alarm can be initiated in a timely way so as to inform an apparatus engineer to obviate the failure, and wafer rejects in the CMP apparatus can be avoided. A failure alarm method is also provided.

Abstract: A control unit for a machine tool at least one vibration detection device attached to a main shaft portion of a machine tool or a movable body; a storage device for storing a vibration signal detected by the vibration detection device being related to operation information of the machine tool; a collision judgment device for judging that a collision has occurred; and an output device for outputting the vibration signal at the time of judging the occurring of the collision. By the above constitution, the control unit is capable of grasping a specific circumstance of collision and quickly determining a cause of collision.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a vehicle given to a third party. The system includes a system controller; a mode-indicating device coupled to the system controller; and an authenticator coupled to the system controller. Here, the system controller is adapted to communicate a driving restriction to the vehicle upon an activation of the mode-indicating device by an authorized driver and until a deactivation of the mode-indicating device by the authorized driver, the system controller is adapted to restrict the activation and the deactivation of the mode-indicating device unless the authorized driver has been authenticated by the authenticator, and the driving restriction includes a limit selected from the group consisting of a limit in number of starts, a limit in speed, a limit in acceleration, a limit in number of minutes, a limit in distance, a limit in gears, a limit in locations, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a semiconductor manufacturing process is disclosed. The system communicates with one or more process tools, and monitors each tool during a predetermined process window time. Errors and warnings are provided to users, allowing corrective action to be taken. Additionally, the system of the present invention can initiate automatic adjustment of the process tools to maintain an efficient manufacturing operation.

Abstract: A system for preserving process variable data relating to the operation of a process is provided. The system is adapted to preserve process variable data obtained before, during, and after the occurrence of an abnormal situation or event. The preserved process variable data maybe communicated from smart field devices or other intelligent equipment relating to the control of the process to a process controller or other higher level control device. The process controller or other higher level control device may then cause the preserved data to be displayed for an operator or other maintenance personnel. The preserved data may also be provided to other process control modules or abnormal situation prevention systems for further analysis to develop methods for preventing the abnormal situation from recurring in the future, or for taking additional steps based on the abnormal situation data to minimize or prevent a further deterioration of the process operation.

Abstract: A method is presented for representing anomalies to a process. These anomalies are represented in an anti-pattern, which depicts non-productive emergent information that describes activities that are detrimental to the progress of the process. The anti-pattern includes visually-coded areas that describe how severe the detrimental activities are to the process when combined. After the anti-pattern is created for the process, new non-productive emergent information for a current process is mapped onto the anti-pattern in the form of data patterns represented as visual fences. Appropriate steps are then taken to address the new non-productive emergent information, depending on the visually-coded area to which the new non-productive emergent information is mapped.

Abstract: A system and method for providing notification when a state of a monitored system persists for a specified period of time utilizing distributed monitoring devices is disclosed. It is first detected, utilizing a monitoring device, that a monitored system is in a specified state. A timer within the monitoring device is initiated in response to detecting that the monitored system is in the specified state. The monitored system is monitored, utilizing the monitoring device, to determine whether the monitored system remains in the specified state. If the monitored system remains in the specified state for a specified period of time, notification is transmitted from the monitoring device to a client device via a network.

Abstract: A visualization system integrated with an enterprise manufacturing intelligence (EMI) system utilizing preconfigured EMI data models, workflow reports and process event notifications to optimize a manufacturing process. The visualization system and the EMI system exchange data and information providing both systems with a broader process view than either system has independently. The visualization system can specifically target information and action requests to different classes of manufacturing personnel such as operators and engineers. Additionally, the visualization system maintains an audit log of all production identities, raw material usage, and requested corrective actions.

Abstract: An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for handling an error that occurs during processing of a job in a manufacturing system are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for determining a first location in the job where a first subsystem of the manufacturing system is currently processing, identifying a second location in the job where a second subsystem of the manufacturing system completed processing before the error occurred at the second subsystem, the second subsystem being connected in series to and downstream from the first subsystem, and providing a controller-generated repositioning instruction for the first subsystem based on the first location and the second location.

Abstract: Supervision of industrial plants can be improved by comparison and analysis of process information and network information. The comparison may be used to provide alarms and operator information for network-related or process device failures. The information may also be used to identify a cause of a failure. A method is described for supervising an industrial control system, including a plant network for supervision, a client/server network for server connection with workstations, and a control network connected to industrial controllers. The method comprises the steps of gathering process information, and gathering network information, and by comparing information provided by data communications network monitoring with process control information and using the result of the comparison to assist in determining a cause of a problem or possible problem in a process controlled of the industrial control system.

Abstract: A process control system element for use in a process plant includes a process module, which represents a logical unit in the process plant, integrated with an expert module capable of detecting and/or mitigating abnormal situations associated with the logical unit. The process module may include a plurality of process objects, each process object representing a corresponding physical entity in the process plant. At least some of the process objects may include simulation capabilities to simulate the corresponding physical entities. The expert module may be adapted to detect at least one abnormal situation associated with the logical unit, and may be communicatively coupled to the process module to receive data from the process module during operation of the process module. Because the expert module is integrated with the process module, a user can more easily configure the expert module to detect and/or mitigate abnormal situations associated with the logical unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for process control, wherein at least one process device to be controlled is controlled by at least one process module and at least one safety module in that process signals of the process module not relevant to safety and safety signals of the safety module relating to process safety are logically linked to one another and at least one local safety signal of a local safety sensor is supplied directly to at least one control output of a local control unit associated with the process device while bypassing this logical linking operation in order to effect a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled which is connected to the control output, wherein the fast switching path includes a fast switching function with which the result of the logical linking operation and the local safety signal are evaluated together and wherein a fast change in state at the process device to be controlled effected via the fast changing path is changed again, and is in partic

Abstract: A method for operating a process plant, in which at the process level a number of items of alarm information are generated to display improper operating procedures of the process plant, has a defined number of process states of the process plant, wherein each process state is correlated with the total of all items of alarm information that can be generated. A first value or a second value is allocated as the correlation value to each pair formed from a process state and an item of alarm information. A current operating state of the process plant is determined As a function of the determined process state, items of alarm information are not displayed to which the first value has been allocated as the correlation value.

Abstract: An alerting system is provided for proactively ensuring awareness of pending trouble tickets which have not been resolved for at least a predetermined time duration corresponding to an escalation level. A customer service center selects the time duration. The alerting system includes a manager module which periodically monitors the pending trouble tickets and determines whether each pending trouble ticket remains unresolved for the time duration corresponding to the escalation level. The alerting system also includes an alerting module which sends an alert to a recipient assigned to the escalation level when the manager module determines the pending trouble ticket has not been resolved for the time duration corresponding to the escalation level. The alerting system may also include a parsing module which parses the pending trouble tickets to remove extraneous and invalid information. The parsing module also organizes the pending trouble tickets into data records according to a predefined format.

Abstract: The present arrangement provides a method for monitoring the performance reliability of a control unit and/or at least one sensor of a safety device for the protection of vehicle occupants, comprising the steps that a negative acceleration or velocity caused by an impact, in particular, be recorded; a value for the impact severity be derived from the recorded acceleration or velocity; and the value for the impact severity be compared to a predefined threshold value. If the value for the impact severity exceeds the predefined threshold value, an error-function signal will be output, which indicates that the proper functioning can no longer be ensured for the control unit and/or for at least one sensor. The present arrangement also relates to a diagnostic device for such a method.

Abstract: Enhanced Fieldbus device alerts enable Fieldbus devices within a process control system to report alarm or alert conditions that are detected within the devices to a system user or operator using a plurality of independently reportable device alarm parameters, each of which corresponds to a different level of severity and each of which may require a different type of response by the system user or operator. The independently reportable device alarm parameters include a parameter associated with a failure of a Fieldbus device, a parameter associated with maintenance needed by a Fieldbus device and an advisable action in connection with a Fieldbus device.

Abstract: A system for real-time verification of protective device system configuration settings on a monitored system, is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a virtual system model database, a protective device system verification engine. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to real-time protective device configuration data output from a protective device that is part of the monitored system. The virtual system model database is configured to update a virtual mode of the system based on the status of the protective devices and to store a virtual system model of the monitored system, including preset protective device configuration settings for the protective device.

Abstract: A novel fail-safe temperature monitoring system that can distinguish excessive chemical adsorbent temperature from temperature sensing component failure is provided. This system prevents the gas purifier from shutting down as a result of temperature sensing component failure, and thereby prevents a false shutdown of a high-purity gas production plant.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the reliability and a remaining time before failure for a DC motor system is provided. The method and system may determine the reliability and a remaining time before failure with a statistical confidence. The method and system may includes acquiring historical motor data, obtaining operational data, performing failure analysis, developing a causal network, and performing an integrated causal network and reliability analysis of the DC motor system.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for gathering, processing, displaying, and manipulating data from building equipment using a dedicated HTML-driven, non-PLC controller having an integral web server. Authorized users who use microprocessor controlled devices to access the website are provided with displayed equipment data that can be selected, monitored, and adjusted based on a user profile controlled by software of the controller.

Abstract: An component mounter including a warning notification apparatus, which includes a warning generating unit which generates a warning for notifying that an action involving human resource is required, by referring to warning generation information, a warning level judging unit which judges a level of the warning indicating difficulty of an action to be taken in response to the warning by referring to warning level judgment information, and a warning notification unit which specifies an operator permitted to perform the action in response to the warning by referring to execution permission authentication information, and outputs the warning notifying the specified operator of the warning.

Abstract: A plant alarm apparatus has: plant data input means for periodically taking in plant data; a latest plant data value table for temporarily storing latest values of the plant data; plant data recording means for taking out the latest values of the data of the latest plant data value table and storing them in a plant history data table; alarm-triggering value alteration means for updating the points for detecting plant abnormality in an alarm-triggering value registration table in response to a request by an operator; alarm-triggering condition editing means for registering alarm-triggering conditions of points showing a foretoken of abnormality; deviation-from-limit-value determining means for reading the stored values of the alarm-triggering value registration table and the alarm-triggering condition table and comparing the limit values of the points for detecting abnormality; and alarm notification output means for outputting the outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method of monitoring assets of an enterprise using a stand-alone software system and a process automation software system. The stand-alone software system is operable to generate a web page about a condition of the asset and to transmit data items for the condition in a single data string. The data items include a status of the condition and a URL of the web page. The process automation software system includes a human system interface (HSI) and a generic asset monitor having a changeable condition table. The generic asset monitor may be modified to create a custom asset monitor specific to the asset. The custom asset monitor is operable to monitor the status of the condition and the HSI is operable to display the data items and the web page from the stand-alone software system.

Abstract: An NC device includes an accumulation portion for accumulating a report-item corresponding to a report-requiring situation that occurs in a machine. A voice generator control section of the device operates a voice generator to generate a voice for announcing a report-item accumulated by an accumulation portion if a determination portion determines that a operator-in-range information has been generated or in response to a request produced by a request portion. Contrastingly, the voice generator control section does not permit the voice generator to generate the voice if the determination portion determines that the operator-in-range information has not been generated. In this manner, the voice generation is performed efficiently and the operator is reliably informed of the report item.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the condition of a packaging machine during operation and diagnosing potential problems in the performance of the machine. The system comprises an input device, an output device and a processing unit that supports a user interface presented by the output device. The processing unit is arranged to permit a user, when in use, to input via the user interface a number of pre-determined parameters to measure one or more elements or assemblies in the machine, to receive information from one or more sensors measuring the element or assembly and to analyze the information with the parameter to render via the output device a signal.

Abstract: A method of using an APC system to perform a data pre-population function is described in which the APC system is coupled to a processing element. The APC system comprises an APC computer including operational software, a database coupled to the APC computer, and a GUI, and the processing element comprises at least one of a tool, a processing module, and a sensor. When the APC system operates, the APC system collects data from the processing element and stores the collected data in the database. When an APC malfunction occurs, a data recovery (data pre-population) can be performed. When some of the historical data is missing, a data recovery (data pre-population) can be performed. When an APC system is coupled to a new tool having some historical data, a data recovery (data pre-population) can be performed.