Backup/standby Patents (Class 700/82)
  • Patent number: 9594612
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that uses a hardware shadow for a central processing unit failover is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device receives a signal that the active central processing unit has failed, where the active central processing unit controls the processing functions of the network element and the network element includes a hardware forwarding engine and a hardware shadow. The hardware shadow additionally includes multiple shadow tables. For each shadow table, the device copies data from that shadow table to a corresponding table in the hardware forwarding engine, where the hardware shadow is a copy of the data stored in hardware tables for the hardware forwarding engine. In response to the copying, the device further switches control of the network element processing functions from the active central processing unit to a standby central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Arista Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh W. Holbrook, Sriram Sellappa
  • Patent number: 9569279
    Abstract: A technique for managing processor cores within a multi-core central processing unit (CPU) provides efficient power and resource utilization over a wide workload range. The CPU comprises at least one core designed for low power operation and at least one core designed for high performance operation. For low workloads, the low power core executes the workload. For certain higher workloads, the high performance core executes the workload. For certain other workloads, the low power core and the high performance core both share execution of the workload. This technique advantageously enables efficient processing over a wider range of workloads than conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Gary D. Hicok, Matthew Raymond Longnecker, Rahul Gautam Patel
  • Patent number: 9521613
    Abstract: A wireless base station (1) includes a wakeup device (13) and a main device (14). When the main device (14) is in a sleep mode, the wakeup device (13) is connected to the antenna (11). Then, when the wakeup device (13) receives a wakeup signal for activating the wireless base station (1) from a terminal device assigned to the wireless base station (1) in a communication band used for wireless communication with the terminal device and when the information for identifying a wireless base station to be activated contained in the received wakeup signal is identical with the identification information of the wireless base station (1), the wakeup device (13) outputs a driving signal to the main device (14). The main device (14) transitions from the sleep mode to an operating mode in response to the driving signal from the wakeup device (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, NEC Communication Systems, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yomo, Yoshihisa Kondo, Suhua Tang, Sadao Obana, Tetsuya Ito, Akira Matsumoto, Koichi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9493159
    Abstract: A lane centering fusion system including a primary controller determining whether a vehicle is centered within a lane of travel. The primary controller includes a primary lane fusion unit for fusing lane sensed data for identifying a lane center position. A secondary controller determines whether a vehicle is centered within a lane of travel. The secondary controller includes a secondary lane fusion unit for fusing lane sensed data for identifying the lane center position. The primary controller and secondary controller are asynchronous controllers. A lane centering control unit maintains the vehicle centered within the lane of travel. The lane centering control unit utilizes fusion data output from the primary controller for maintaining lane centering control. The lane centering control unit utilizes fusion data output from the secondary controller in response to a detection of a fault with respect to the primary controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shige Wang, Shuqing Zeng, Xiaofeng Song
  • Patent number: 9395785
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling a terminal and a terminal. The method includes: checking the hardware of a terminal to obtain corresponding hardware information; and controlling the terminal according to the hardware information obtained thereby, where the hardware includes at least one of a CPU and a GPU, and the hardware information includes at least one of the voltage information and the frequency information about the hardware. The device includes: a checking module and a control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Cancai Yuan
  • Patent number: 9327400
    Abstract: The present invention applies to a mobile robot which can have a human appearance and sophisticated functions enabling it to execute missions. To enable communications internal to the robot to be optimized and allow for a versatility that is both physical (possible substitution of parts of the robot) and software (replacement of programs to adapt it to new missions), an architecture with three computer levels is provided. The highest level comprises the intelligence of the robot which generates commands which are transmitted by an intermediate computer to low-level cards which control the sensors and actuators. Communication between the intermediate computer and the low-level cards is managed by at least one specific secure communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Aldebaran Robotics
    Inventors: Julien Serre, Brice Marnier, Jerome Matard
  • Patent number: 9323571
    Abstract: A state of an application running in a system is monitored. The monitoring of the application states includes monitoring one or more buffers associated with the application. Dispatch of one or more threads in the system is controlled. At least one thread in the system is associated with the application. Resources in the system are managed based at least on the state of the application and the state of the one or more threads in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Minerva M. Yeung, Yen-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 9298249
    Abstract: A partition that is executed by multiple processing nodes. Each node includes multiple cores and each of the cores has a frequency that can be set. A first frequency range is provided to the cores. Each core, when executing the identified partition, sets its frequency within the first frequency range. Frequency metrics are gathered from the cores running the partition by the nodes. The gathered frequency metrics are received and analyzed by a hypervisor that determines a second frequency range to use for the partition, with the second frequency range being different from the first frequency range. The second frequency range is provided to the cores at the nodes executing the identified partition. When the cores execute the identified partition, they use a frequencies within the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Geissler, Raymond J. Harrington, Hye-Young McCreary, Freeman Leigh Rawson, III, Malcolm Scott Ware
  • Patent number: 9298472
    Abstract: Process information saving unit 131 and process restoration unit 132 are provided. A process table 201 and other information required for restoring a process present in an OS 130 are copied in a save area 124 on a main memory area 120 during execution of an application. At the restart, only the OS is initialized while leaving the main memory area used by the application as it is. After the initialization, the saved process information (the process table and other information managed by the OS) is rewritten on the OS data area 12. By employing this configuration, provided is an environment allowing the process before the restart to be continuously operated after the restart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihito Kohiga
  • Patent number: 9278447
    Abstract: A control apparatus detects a control signal that controls a movable portion of a device, and selects, from a plurality of transmitter stations, a transmitter station that transmits data a plurality of times to a movable station moving in accordance with movement of the movable portion, based on the detected control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru Tachiwa
  • Patent number: 9274592
    Abstract: A technique to retain cached information during a low power mode, according to at least one embodiment. In one embodiment, information stored in a processor's local cache is saved to a shared cache before the processor is placed into a low power mode, such that other processors may access information from the shared cache instead of causing the low power mode processor to return from the low power mode to service an access to its local cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Sanjeev Jahagirdar, Varghese George, Jose Allarey
  • Patent number: 9256426
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling processor instruction execution. In one example, a method for controlling a total number of instructions executed by a processor includes instructing the processor to iteratively execute instructions via multiple iterations until a predetermined time period has elapsed. A number of instructions executed in each iteration of the iterations is less than a number of instructions executed in a prior iteration of the iterations. The method also includes determining the total number of instructions executed during the predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William David Smith, II, Jon Marc Diekema, Joshua Nathaniel Edmison, Safayet Nizam Uddin Ahmed
  • Patent number: 9110848
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for detecting failure-risk events at devices and facilitating local and/or remote data back-up and/or device operations. In some instances, a device characterizes a stimulus sensed at the device or an operation of a component of the device. A determination is made that a failure-risk condition is satisfied based on the characterization. In response to determining that the failure-risk condition is satisfied, the device initiates a data backing up of data in a non-volatile reserved memory or facilitates transmission of an alert communication from the device to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Belkin International, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9110838
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first data at a first I/O module from a second I/O module, where the first data defines a programmable device configuration. The method also includes configuring a programmable device in the first I/O module based on the first data, where the programmable device is associated with a first I/O channel of the first I/O module. The method further includes receiving second data at the first I/O module from the second I/O module, where the second data is associated with a second I/O channel of the second I/O module. In addition, the method includes synchronizing the first I/O channel with the second I/O channel based on the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Martin, Daniel R. Shakarjian, Igor Chebruch
  • Patent number: 9098257
    Abstract: An information handling system server chassis manages plural server resources disposed on sleds in chassis slots with a power supply control board that allocates power from one or more power supplies to the slots. The power supply control board interfaces with an external network and includes one or more network interface cards that provide an Ethernet interface with power distribution boards disposed on sleds in the slots. The power distribution boards manage application of power to server resources and communication by the power supply control board through the Ethernet interface to manage functions at the server resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Aurelian Dumitru, Jimmy D. Pike
  • Patent number: 9058173
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile terminal device that includes a multi-core CPU and a display that displays an execution result of an application program executed by the multi-core CPU includes detecting an application program of which an execution result is displayed, calculating a CPU load per thread in the application program detected in the detecting, and increasing the number of cores operating in the multi-core CPU when the number of threads, each of the threads causing the CPU load to be equal to or higher than a first value, is equal to or higher than a second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Takeo Murakami
  • Patent number: 9008809
    Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems are directed to a process control system having a main control device for controlling a primary equipment of the primary system and a backup control device for controlling the primary equipment in case of a failure of the first control device. A command redirection device for the process control system, is adapted to receive a control command destined to the main control device, and to redirect, in the event of a failure of the main control device, said control command to the backup control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Tournier, Thomas Werner
  • Patent number: 8996139
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing a first control device and a second control device of a redundantly structured automation device that controls a technical process is provided. The first control device and the second control device are connected to each other. The first and second devices include functional components which implement the functions that control the technical process. The first control device performs the functions in the functional components for controlling the technical process in cycles, thus creating internal states of the functional components. During control of the technical process by the first control device, information about the internal states of the functional components is transferred, distributed over several cycles, to the second control device. The second control device assigns the transmitted information about the internal states to the functional components. In addition, a corresponding redundantly structured automation device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Carsten Jordan, Michael Unkelbach
  • Publication number: 20150073570
    Abstract: It is described a method for transition of control from a first controller (101) to a second controller (103), the method comprising: communicatively coupling (143, 145) the first controller and the second controller, such that at least one static digital input signal (110) received by one controller (101) is mutually provided to the respective other controller (103) and such that at least one static digital output signal (118) generated by one controller (101) is mutually provided to the respective other controller (103); disconnecting at least one output line (124) from the first controller (101); connecting the at least one output line (126) to the second controller (103); supplying at least one output signal (147) to the at least one output line (126), wherein the at least one output signal (147) is obtained by performing a logical OR, in particular using an OR-gate, to at least one first output signal (118) generated by the first controller (101) and at least one second output signal (136) generated by t
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Dagoberto Gonzalez-Mendoza, Arnt Olav Sveen
  • Publication number: 20150018983
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that facilitates employing safety within an industrial environment. An enhancing component can implement at least one of a security level, authentication, authorization, or an access right to a validated action to at least one of the controller or the controller engine instance. The enhancing component can further separate two or more entities within the industrial environment, the first entity related to process control and the second entity related to process safety. Additionally, the enhancing component can employ at least one of a backup controller or a backup controller engine instance in the event of at least one of a software error or a hardware error within the industrial environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Grgic, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood H. Hall, Robert J. Kretschmann, Charles M. Rischar, Raymond J. Staron, David A. Vasko
  • Patent number: 8923992
    Abstract: A safety-extension base connected to a main base and a control method thereof are disclosed, the base includes a communication unit, a system state monitoring unit, a module control unit, a memory unit, a state conversion unit and a safety-processing unit. The communication unit performs data communication with the main base. The system state monitoring unit monitors a state of the PLC system. The module control unit controls a general operation of the safety-extension base and outputs different cases of control signals. The memory unit stores the data transmitted from the main base and a program and information. The state conversion unit converts the state of the safety-extension base into the normal state or safety state. The safety-processing unit performs a control of the safety-extension base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung jae Baek
  • Publication number: 20140330403
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preventing system invalidation including the microcontroller transferring the specific packet to the primary electronic device which operates according to the operation commands sent from the upstream device to provide the specific service, the primary electronic device returning the return packet, the microcontroller receiving the return packet, the microcontroller determining if the return packet is returned within a preset rang, if yes, repeating the above steps, if not, activating the spare electronic device to take over the primary electronic device to provide the specific service, and shutting down power supply of the primary electronic device. Therefore, the present invention ensures the spare electronic device smoothly takes over the task of the primary electronic device which accidentally fails, thereby preventing the whole system from being invalidated and improving the stability and reliability of the system operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Jackson Mao
  • Patent number: 8880198
    Abstract: A system for automatically monitoring and controlling an infrastructure or process includes a plurality of remote clients installed along various portions of an industrial infrastructure or an infrastructure performing a process. Each of the remote clients collects data. A plurality of server replicas is in communication with the plurality of remote clients. The server replicas receive the collected data from the remote clients and process the received data. The plurality of remote clients and the plurality of server replicas communicate across an electronic network. The plurality of server replicas includes a state machine replication system that is tolerant of a failure of one or more of the server replicas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stuart Goose, Jonathan Kirsch
  • Patent number: 8843218
    Abstract: A method of controlling an actuator includes developing a sequence of actuation commands S(tx)=C(tx, tx), C(tx, tx+1), . . . , C(tx, tx+n) obtained from data sensed before time tx for controlling the actuator at different time intervals (tx, tx+1), (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n). The sequence of actuation commands is transmitted to and stored in memory of an actuation ECU, which then applies the actuation command for time interval (tx, tx+1). If a fault affects a sensor, a control ECU or data communication therebetween, the actuation ECU will not receive an updated sequence of actuation commands S(tx+1) at time tx+1. If the updated actuation command sequence, the actuation ECU applies the actuation command for the time intervals (tx+1, tx+2), . . . , (tx+n?1, tx+n) from the sequence of actuation commands S(tx) that is stored in the memory of the actuation ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Markus Jochim, Lawrence E. Peruski, Barbara J. Czerny, Joseph G. D'Ambrosio, Rami I. Debouk
  • Patent number: 8824342
    Abstract: A field communication apparatus may include a first communication unit and a second communication unit each of which performs communication between a plurality of field devices and a host device, the first communication unit and the second communication unit constituting a duplex unit, a first explosion-proof housing that accommodates the first communication unit, and a second explosion-proof housing that accommodates the second communication unit. The first communication unit may be capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the first housing, and the second communication unit may be capable of being removed from the field communication apparatus while being accommodated in the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Kase
  • Patent number: 8817280
    Abstract: A printing device includes a plurality of data transfer control units which store image data transferred from an upper level device in a storage unit; a plurality of output control units which are provided correspondingly to the data transfer control units and each of which controls printing of the image data stored by a specified one of the data transfer control units; and a print control unit that, when abnormality has occurred in any of the data transfer control units, transmits a transfer instruction on the image data that is to be transferred originally by the data transfer control unit being at fault, to an alternate data transfer control unit among the data transfer control units in which no abnormality has occurred, and instructs an output control unit corresponding to the data transfer control unit being at fault to print image data stored by the alternate data transfer control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shigeru Toyazaki
  • Patent number: 8762666
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an a system and method of backing up operating control data about a device connected to a controller in a network. In an embodiment, the network includes a storage system for the data about the device is in the controller; a first subsystem for determining that the data should be transferred to the device; and a second subsystem for transferring the data to the device for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Wojciech Grohman, Darko Hadzidedic
  • Patent number: 8744634
    Abstract: A retrofit kit for a turbine system is provided that includes a safety instrumented system (SIS) controller having a first plurality of functions and the SIS controller is configured to be coupled to a turbine-generator controller, wherein the SIS controller permits a startup function of the turbine-generator controller based on a plurality of inputs from a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hardik Ashok Purani, Randall John Kleen, Tabrez Shakeel, Shahriar Tymus
  • Patent number: 8725302
    Abstract: A control system is for completion installation, intervention and testing activities at a subsea location. The control system has a first control circuit at a surface location; a subsea test tree located in a blowout preventer at the subsea location, the second control circuit located within a riser extending from the blowout preventer towards the surface location; and a plurality of sensors monitoring characteristics of the subsea location. The second control circuit communicates with the first control circuit and receives the characteristics of the subsea location. The second control circuit also controls electrically powered subsea valves based upon commands from the first control circuit and based upon the characteristics of the subsea location to complete a completion installation, intervention, and/or testing activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matt W. Niemeyer, John Yarnold, Jason Gandolfi, Javier Cascudo, Larry W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 8708054
    Abstract: A technique enables protection of subsea wells. The technique employs a subsea test tree and associated control system to ensure control over the well in a variety of situations. The subsea test tree may be formed with an upper portion releasably coupled to a lower portion. The upper portion employs at least one upper shut-off valve, and the lower portion employs at least one lower shut-off valve to protect against unwanted release of fluids from either above or below the subsea test tree. The subsea test tree also is coupled with the control system in a manner which allows control to be exercised over the at least one upper shut-often valve and the at least one lower shut-off valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Terrell Eugene Dailey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8676390
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Berry, Jr., Robert Joseph Berry, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8667116
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to supervise a network, in which a first device supervises a network node element, and a second device partially supervises the network node element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Arati Manjeshwar, Falk Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8649888
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring and control of a plurality of field devices separately provided in a safety subsystem and a process control subsystem. The field devices include conventional safety subsystem field devices associated with one or more processes or subprocesses and conventional process control subsystem field devices associated with one or more of the processes or subprocesses. The integrated and coordinated system uses complementary field device data including mappings of safety subsystem field devices and process control subsystem field devices corresponding to the same process or subprocess Signals are received from a compromised field device and its functions are delegated to its complementary field device as indicated by the complementary field device data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdelghani Daraiseh, Patrick S. Flanders
  • Patent number: 8587402
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus comprising a sensor and a context engine module. The sensor is configured to generate a sensor output signal representative of a value for one or more context aspects of the data processing apparatus and a confidence factor associated with each of the values for the one or more context aspects. The context engine module is configured to process the sensor output signal to generate and make available a final value for one or more context aspects of the data processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Michael O'Shaughnessy, Ivo Ruben Willem Jager
  • Patent number: 8588987
    Abstract: A wind farm includes a plurality of wind energy installations, a transfer point at which electrical energy produced by the wind energy installations is transferred to a public electricity grid system and for which nominal values are preset, and a measurement sensor configured to measure electrical actual values at the transfer point. The wind farm also includes a master regulator associated with an upper control level and configured to use upper nominal values and upper actual values at the upper control level to determine a preset for a lower control level, and a plurality of submaster regulators associated with the lower control level and configured to use the preset as a lower nominal value and, on the basis of the lower nominal value and a lower actual value, determine presets for the wind energy installations. A high level of control accuracy can thus be achieved even in large wind farms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: REpower Systems SE
    Inventors: André Riesberg, Henning Rademacher, Hennig Harden, Guntram Kunft
  • Publication number: 20130274900
    Abstract: The invention relates to a redundant control system comprising an automation network with a first control device and a second control device. For data exchange, the first and the second control devices are in each case connected to the automation network via a network interface. For direct communication between each other, the first and the second control devices are connected to each other via a point-to-point connecting device. Furthermore, the first and the second control devices are designed to establish an alternative communication between each other via the automation network if the direct communication via the point-to-point connecting device is not available. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a redundant control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
  • Publication number: 20130274901
    Abstract: One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having program instructions stored thereon for enhancing an automation environment is provided. When executed by a processor, the program instructions direct the processor to at least identify at least a primary data verification value generated by a primary control process that provides control in an industrial automation environment, and to identify at least a secondary data verification value generated by a secondary control process associated with the primary control process. The program instructions also direct the processor to compare the primary data verification value with at least the secondary data verification value to determine if an error has occurred with respect to the primary control process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Julien Chouinard
  • Patent number: 8555042
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for resetting and bypassing microcontroller stations. A command module asserts and de-asserts a reset line in response to a command. A reset module resets a microcontroller station if the command module asserts and de-asserts the reset line within a time interval. In addition, the reset module bypasses the microcontroller station if the command module asserts and holds the reset line for a time period exceeding the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Enrique Q. Garcia
  • Publication number: 20130253671
    Abstract: A process control system performing control of an industrial process implemented in a plant, may include: a network provided in the plant; a plurality of field devices connected to the network, each of the plurality of field devices is configured to perform at least one of measurement and actuation required for control of the industrial process; and a controller, connected to the network, having a virtual part configured to operate in hardware in place of hardware, and a control unit configured to operate in the virtual part and to control operations of the field devices via the network, the controller being configured to enable replacement of hardware without changing the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Torigoe
  • Patent number: 8538558
    Abstract: A multi-chip module includes a first die having a control processor to generate a signal to control an industrial process and an input/output interface. The multi-chip module also includes a second die having a supervisory processor and an input/output interface. A processor failure of one of the control processor and the supervisory processor is detected by the other of the control processor and the supervisory processor, and the processor that detects the failure is configured to assert a signal through its input/output interface to cause the industrial process to transition to a safe state in response to the failure. Additionally, the first and second dies are created using different process technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Sam Gnana Sabapathy, Alexander Tessarolo
  • Patent number: 8489243
    Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an HVAC system is described, the thermostat having a user interface that is visually pleasing, approachable, and easy to use while also providing ready access to, and intuitive navigation within, a menuing system capable of receiving a variety of different types of user settings and/or control parameters. For some embodiments, the thermostat comprises a housing, a ring-shaped user-interface component configured to track a rotational input motion of a user, a processing system configured to identify a setpoint temperature value based on the tracked rotational input motion, and an electronic display coupled to the processing system. An interactive thermostat menuing system is accessible to the user by an inward pressing of the ring-shaped user interface component. User navigation within the interactive thermostat menuing system is achievable by virtue of respective rotational input motions and inward pressings of the ring-shaped user interface component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nest Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Fadell, Matthew L. Rogers, David Sloo, Michael J. Matas, Michael Plitkins
  • Publication number: 20130116804
    Abstract: A method for automatically adopting a configuration of a first automation device on a second automation device includes storing on a removable storage medium a configuration and a unique identifier identifying the first automation device, comparing in the second automation device the stored unique identifier of the first automation device with a corresponding identifier of the second automation device, determining based on the difference between the stored unique identifier and the corresponding identifier of the second automation device whether the storage medium was previously used in a different automation device, and adopting the configuration of the first automation device on the second automation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: Johannes Extra
  • Patent number: 8437877
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and method of retrieving data for an active subnet controller of a subnet in an HVAC network. In an embodiment, a device on said subnet reports a loss of internal memory settings to said active subnet controller. The device is recognized by the active subnet controller. At least one list of parameters is requested from the device by the active subnet controller. An order of said at least one list of parameters is employed to convey corresponding stored values of these parameters from the active subnet controller to the coupled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Wojciech Grohman, Darko Hadzidedic
  • Publication number: 20130079902
    Abstract: A multi-channel control system includes at least a first primary control microprocessor and a second primary control microprocessor operable to control a device, and at least a first secondary control microprocessor and a second secondary control microprocessor operable to control the device. Each of the first and second primary control microprocessors and the first and second secondary control microprocessors are arranged as an independent control channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffry K. Kamenetz, Mark A. Johnston, Edward John Marotta, Cathleen R. Bleier, John M. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8374731
    Abstract: A cooling system includes at least three fan units. A control unit operates each one of the at least three fan units, The control unit (a) operates only a selected two of the fan units, one of the at least three fan units being unselected and being inhibited from operation; (b) monitors operation of said selected two of fan units for a failure; and (c) upon detection of a failure in one of said selected two fan units, inhibits operation of the failed one of fan units and operating the unselected one of the at least three fan units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Richard Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8369968
    Abstract: A system includes a first database, a second database, a third database, and an application server. The first database server includes a database instance. The second database server is in communication with the first database server. The second database server includes a mirror of the database instance. The third database server is in communication with the second database server. The third database server is configured to store a copy of a database within the database instance. The application server is configured to be placed in communication with the first, second, and third database servers, configured to fail over between the first and second database servers, and further configured to fail over between the second and third database servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Cory D. Brown, Anthony Fernandez
  • Patent number: 8369969
    Abstract: Provided is a control system capable of reducing cost while securing reliability of original processing of a microcomputer. An engine control device and a meter control device each store a control amount calculating procedure for calculating a control amount regarding a significant control to be performed on the control target of the engine control device. The engine control device compares a control amount regarding the significant control calculated by the engine control device, and a control amount regarding the significant control calculated by the meter control device, to thereby control the control target of the engine control device based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshinori Matsui, Kiyohiro Morita, Madoka Baba, Toru Morita
  • Patent number: 8364291
    Abstract: An industrial control system implementing a multi-tasking operating system employs a primary and secondary controller each having a processor and an I/O data table. The processors are configured to execute one or more priority ranked programs. A tracking of changes in the I/O data table of the primary processor is used to independently track changes to controller specific data that has been changed and program specific data that has been changed and to transmit controller specific data that has been changed by any program and program specific data that has been changed only for completed programs to the secondary processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Cook, David A. Karpuszka
  • Patent number: 8363240
    Abstract: A method an apparatus for responding to an access request, the method and apparatus including storing ordinary display data and simplified display data used to respond to an access request, storing the simplified display data, accepting an access request, determining whether a power consumption state is in a power saving or ordinary power consumption state when receiving the access request, and responding to the access request using either the ordinary display data or the simplified display data depending on the power consumptions state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Koike
  • Patent number: 8364292
    Abstract: A method for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant, wherein at least one safety measure is implemented on the plant device in order for work to be done safely on the plant device is provided. Isolation information is communicated to a control and protection system using a data communication unit having a data input that receives data from the plant device. An interface between the data communication unit and a control and protection system of the industrial plant is used to transmit the isolation information from the data communication unit to the control and protection unit. A device for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant to carry out work on the plant device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günther Ebner