Systems and Related Apparatus for Improving Process Data Integrity and Timeliness

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, and methods for improving the monitoring of processes. These systems comprise processors co-located with the (physical) processes and which accept certain metrics regarding the processes. These systems also include processors which are located remotely from the processes, but, which are in communication with the co-located processors. The remote processors receive the metrics from the co-located processors and transform these metrics to corresponding probability metrics. Based on the probability metrics, the remote processors determine whether the processes are predictable. They also output the predictability determinations regarding the processes. The processes can be associated with petrochemical wells, food/beverage processes, etc. Additionally, or in the alternative, some systems further comprise memories which store flowchart representations of the processes. In various embodiments, the remote processors associate the metrics with the operations represented in the flowcharts.

1 . A system for monitoring a physical process, the system comprising:
 a processor co-located with the physical process and being configured to accept a safety-related metric regarding the physical process;   a network in communication with the co-located processor;   a processor located remotely from the physical process and in communication with the network, the remote processor being configured to receive the safety-related metric regarding the physical process from the co-located processor, to transform the safety-related metric regarding the physical process to a probability metric, and to determine, based on the probability metric, whether the physical process is predictable; and   an output device in communication with the remote processor wherein the remote processor is further configured to output the safety-related predictability determination regarding the physical process via the output device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the physical process is associated with a petrochemical well. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the physical process is one of a food or beverage production process. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the physical process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the probability metric with the physical process. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the physical process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the safety-related metric with the physical process. 
     
     
         6 . A system for monitoring a physical process, the system comprising:
 a processor co-located with the physical process and being configured to accept a safety-related metric regarding the physical process;   a network in communication with the co-located processor;   a processor located remotely from the physical process and in communication with the network, the remote processor being configured to receive the safety-related metric from the co-located processor, to transform the safety-related metric to a probability metric, and to determine, based on the probability metric, whether the physical process is predictable; and   an output device in communication with the remote processor wherein the remote processor is further configured to output the safety-related predictability determination regarding the physical process via the output device.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the physical process is associated with a petrochemical well. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the physical process is one of a food or beverage production process. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the physical process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the probability metric with the physical process. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the physical process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the safety-related metric with the physical process. 
     
     
         11 . A system for monitoring a process, the system comprising:
 a processor co-located with the process and being configured to accept a metric regarding the process;   a network in communication with the co-located processor;   a processor located remotely from the process and in communication with the network, the remote processor being configured to receive the metric from the co-located processor, to transform the metric to a probability metric, and to determine, based on the probability metric, whether the process is predictable; and   an output device in communication with the remote processor wherein the remote processor is further configured to output the predictability determination regarding the process via the output device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the process is associated with a petrochemical well. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the process is one of a food or beverage production process. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the probability metric with an operation of the process. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a memory in communication with the remote processor, the memory being configured to store a flowchart representation of the process and wherein the co-located processor is further configured to associate the metric with the process. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the metric is a safety-related metric.