Method and apparatus for control using control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an ip network

Abstract

The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for control using field and control devices that provide a virtual machine environment and that communicate via an IP network. By way of non-limiting example, such field device can be an “intelligent” transmitter or actuator that includes a low power processor, along with a random access memory, a read-only memory, FlashRAM, and a sensor interface. The processor can execute a real-time operating system, as well as a Java virtual machine (JVM). Java byte code executes in the JVM to configure the field device to perform typical process control functions, e.g., for proportional integral derivative (PID) control and signal conditioning. Control networks can include a plurality of such field and control devices interconnected by an IP network, such as an Ethernet.

1 - 228 . (canceled) 
   
   
       229 . A control system, comprising:
 A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network,   B. at least a first control system component providing one or more services via the IP network to at least a second control system component, the one or more services including establishing communications between the second component and a third control system component,   C. wherein the one or more services include a publication/subscription service that enables the second component to publish any of data, messages, and objects over the IP network and/or to subscribe to any of data, messages, and objects, published by the third control system component over the IP network,   D. wherein the second component comprises a historian.   
   
   
       230 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein the historian provides data collection, reduction and/or archival services for one or more components within the control system. 
   
   
       231 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein the historian stores process values, messages, and/or alarm information from one or more components within the control system. 
   
   
       232 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein the third component comprises any of a workstation and a web-browser enabled device. 
   
   
       233 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein the second component further comprises a web server that facilitates any of configuration, monitoring, and/or maintenance one or more of the plurality of control system components. 
   
   
       234 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises a controller that includes a processor adapted to execute a control algorithm that at least one of (i) maintains the control system at a desired level, and (ii) drives it to that level as a function of one or more measured values and one or more setpoints. 
   
   
       235 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises a sensor adapted to sense any of (i) an environmental condition and (ii) a physical condition, the physical condition comprising any of temperature, pressure, flow, position. 
   
   
       236 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises an actuator adapted to control a mechanism affecting a physical condition of an environment. 
   
   
       237 . The control system of  claim 236 , wherein the mechanism comprises any of a valve, paddle, inlet, outlet. 
   
   
       238 . The control system of  claim 229 , wherein at least two of the control system components are coupled for communication via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, LonWorks. 
   
   
       239 . A control system, comprising,
 A. a plurality of control devices coupled via one or more IP networks, at least one control device comprising a historian that provides any of data collection, reduction, and archival services for the control system;   B. a said historian comprising a web server configured to serve web pages over the one or more IP networks in response to requests from other control devices.   
   
   
       240 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein the at least one control device comprises any of a workstation, controller, and field device. 
   
   
       241 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein the at least one of said other control devices issuing said requests comprises any of a workstation and a handheld computer 
   
   
       242 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein the web server any of collects process data from one or more devices in the control system, generates source data for operator displays, provides access to the control system, and hosts an application development environment. 
   
   
       243 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein the web server facilitates configuration, monitoring, and/or maintenance of the control system or one or more other control devices via a browser. 
   
   
       244 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein a said historian associated with a said control device comprises at least a portion of a system historian. 
   
   
       245 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein a said historian is associated with a plurality of configurable attributes including at least one of a change delta, a sample rate, archive characteristic, and data reduction characteristic. 
   
   
       246 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein at least one of the control devices comprises a controller that executes a control algorithm to at least one of (i) maintains the control system at a desired level, and (ii) drives it to that level as a function of one or more measured values and one or more setpoints. 
   
   
       247 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein at least one of the control devices comprises a sensor adapted to sense any of (i) an environmental condition and (ii) a physical condition, the physical condition comprising any of temperature, pressure, flow, position. 
   
   
       248 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein at least one of the control devices comprises an actuator adapted to control a mechanism affecting a physical condition of an environment. 
   
   
       249 . The control system of  claim 248 , wherein the mechanism comprises any of a valve, paddle, inlet, outlet. 
   
   
       250 . The control system of  claim 239 , wherein at least two of the control devices are coupled for communication via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, LonWorks. 
   
   
       251 . A control system, comprising:
 A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network,   B. a first control system component providing one or more services via the IP network to a second control system component,   C. the second control system component comprising a historian that includes a web server configured to serve web pages over the IP network,   D. the one or more services provided by the first control system component including:
 (i) establishing communications between the historian and a third control system component, and 
 (ii) a subscription service that enables the historian to subscribe to any of data, messages, and objects, published by the third control system component over the IP network. 
   
   
   
       252 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein the third component comprises any of a workstation, control device, field device. 
   
   
       253 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein the historian provides any of data collection, reduction, and archival services for the control system. 
   
   
       254 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises a controller that includes a processor adapted to execute a control algorithm that at least one of (i) maintains the control system at a desired level, and (ii) drives it to that level as a function of one or more measured values and one or more setpoints. 
   
   
       255 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises a sensor adapted to sense any of (i) an environmental condition and (ii) a physical condition, the physical condition comprising any of temperature, pressure, flow, position. 
   
   
       256 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein at least one of the control system components comprises an actuator adapted to control a mechanism affecting a physical condition of an environment. 
   
   
       257 . The control system of  claim 256 , wherein the mechanism comprises any of a valve, paddle, inlet, outlet. 
   
   
       258 . The control system of  claim 251 , wherein at least two of the control system components are coupled for communication via a bus operating in substantial accord with a protocol selected from the group consisting of: Foundation Fieldbus, Foxcomm, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus, Devicenet, HART, NodeBus, LonWorks. 
   
   
       259 . A control system, comprising:
 A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network,   B. a first control system component comprising a system monitor that monitors the health and/or operation of a second control system component,   C. a third control system component that provides one or more services via the IP network to at least the system monitor and the second control system component, the one or more services including establishing communications between the system monitor and the second control system component, and the one or more services further including at least one of (a) recording a state of operation of the second control system component, and (b) enabling the system monitor to access the recorded state of the second control system component,   D. wherein the system monitor further comprises a web server configured to serve web pages over the IP network to enable the system monitor to any of
 (i) display information about the current state of the second control system component, and 
 (ii) allow a user to access and/or operate diagnostic displays regarding the second control system component. 
   
   
   
       260 .- 266 . (canceled) 
   
   
       267 . A control system, comprising:
 A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network,   B. a first control system component comprising a system monitor that monitors the health and/or operation of at least one other control system component,   C. at least a second control component providing one or more services via the IP network to the system monitor, the one or more services including establishing communications between the system monitor and the at least one other control system component.   D. wherein the one or more services include a publication service that enables the system monitor to publish to one or more subscribers any of data, messages, and objects over the IP network, the published data includes information about the current state of the at least one other control system component.   
   
   
       268 .- 275 . (canceled) 
   
   
       276 . A control system, comprising:
 A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network, the plurality of control system components having one or more attributes reflective of any of (i) a parameter, (ii) a control scheme, and (iii) a variable associated with a control system component,   B. a web server communicatively coupled to the plurality of control system components that provides extra-system access to a user operating a station coupled to the web server via an IP network, the extra-system access including read and/or write access to the one or more attributes,   C. a security system to control said extra-system user access, the security system comprising:
 (i) a lock associated with each of the one or more attributes, 
 (ii) a key associated with a user and/or station type desiring read and/or write access to the one or more attributes, 
   wherein the security system compares the lock and the key to allow or deny read and/or write access to the one or more attributes by the user via the station.   
   
   
       277 .- 284 . (canceled)