Apparatus and method for using a distributed systems architecture (dsa) in an internet of things (iot) edge appliance

Abstract

An internet of things (IoT) edge appliance is configured to perform a method that includes receiving a configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of a first device on the cloud network or a second device on the industrial process control and automation system network. The method also includes configuring a communication link with a cloud network and an industrial process control and automation system network. The method further includes communicating data with the at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, via a cloud network, by an internet of things (IoT) edge appliance, a configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of a first device on the cloud network or a second device on an industrial process control and automation system network, wherein the IoT edge appliance includes a distributed systems architecture (DSA) and a global data access (GDA) data scheme that is configured for at least one of periodic or asynchronous data access;   configuring, by the IoT edge appliance, a communication link with the cloud network and the industrial process control and automation system network; and   communicating data, by the IoT edge appliance, with the at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to enable scale out of distributed control systems (DCSs) via the cloud network without requiring additional computers or server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to facilitate interconnectivity between plants. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a namespace and data format of the data presented to the first device on the cloud network is uniform and independent of a namespace and data format of the data presented to the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the IoT edge appliance, an input of a credential that enables the IoT edge appliance to activate the configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the GDA data scheme is further configured to maintain data coherency and to access data locally. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT edge appliance is configured with a partner appliance or elements to be aggregated. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving via a cloud network, by an internet of things (IoT) edge appliance, a configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of a first device on the cloud network or a second device on an industrial process control and automation system network;   configuring, by the IoT edge appliance, a communication link with the cloud network and the industrial process control and automation system network; and   communicating data, by the IoT edge appliance, with the at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network, wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to enable scale out of distributed control systems (DCSs) via the cloud network without requiring additional computers or server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to facilitate interconnectivity between plants. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a namespace and data format of the data presented to the first device on the cloud network is uniform and independent of a namespace and data format of the data presented to the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the IoT edge appliance, an input of a credential that enables the IoT edge appliance to activate the configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to permit communication between the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network and at least a third device on the industrial process control and automation system network. 
     
     
         13 . An internet of things (IoT) edge appliance comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:   receive, via a cloud network, a configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of a first device on the cloud network or a second device on an industrial process control and automation system network, wherein the IoT edge appliance includes a distributed systems architecture (DSA) and a global data access (GDA) data scheme that is configured for at least one of periodic or asynchronous data access;   configure a communication link with the cloud network and the industrial process control and automation system network; and   communicate data with the at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.   
     
     
         14 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to enable scale out of distributed control systems (DCSs) via the cloud network without requiring additional computers or server. 
     
     
         15 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to facilitate interconnectivity between plants. 
     
     
         16 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to present uniform data with a namespace and data format for the first device on the cloud network, wherein the uniform data with the namespace and data format for the first device on the cloud network is independent of a namespace and data format of the data presented to the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network. 
     
     
         17 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 receive an input of a user name and password that enables the IoT edge appliance to activate the configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.   
     
     
         18 . An internet of things (IoT) edge appliance comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to:   receive via a cloud network, a configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of a first device on the cloud network or a second device on an industrial process control and automation system network;   configure a communication link with the cloud network and the industrial process control and automation system network; and   communicate data with the at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network,   wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to enable scale out of distributed control systems (DCSs) via the cloud network without requiring additional computers or server.   
     
     
         19 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to facilitate interconnectivity between plants. 
     
     
         20 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the configuration signal configures the IoT edge appliance to present uniform data with a namespace and data format for the first device on the cloud network, wherein the uniform data with the namespace and data format for the first device on the cloud network is independent of a namespace and data format of the data presented to the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network. 
     
     
         21 . The IoT edge appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
 receive an input of a user name and password that enables the IoT edge appliance to activate the configuration signal to configure the IoT edge appliance to communicate with at least one of the first device on the cloud network or the second device on the industrial process control and automation system network.