System and method for enhancing computer network reliability by countering disruptions in network communications

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a processor configured to perform operations including: place the monitoring system into a training mode to generate a model of an industrial process or other operation; receive indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information among multiple monitored devices of a monitored system, wherein at least one of the multiple monitored devices is configured to control the industrial process or other operation; and from received indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation, generate the model of the industrial process or other operation, wherein the model comprises indications of expected spans of time during which transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process are expected to occur.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A monitoring system comprising a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
 place the monitoring system into a training mode to generate a model of an industrial process or other operation;   receive indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information among multiple monitored devices of a monitored system, wherein at least one of the multiple monitored devices is configured to control the industrial process or other operation; and   from received indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation, generate the model of the industrial process or other operation, wherein the model comprises indications of expected spans of time during which transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process are expected to occur.   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the multiple monitored devices are incorporated into a monitored system;   the monitored system includes at least one interchange device to which each monitored device of the multiple monitored devices is separately coupled;   the transmissions of operational commands among the multiple monitored devices are conveyed through the one or more interchange devices; and   the monitoring system is coupled to the at least one interchange device to receive the indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information among the multiple monitored devices.   
     
     
         3 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the model comprises a finite state model that includes indications of multiple states of the industrial process or other operation and indications of valid transitions among the multiple states. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the model comprises an indication of when a particular operational command or operational information is expected to be transmitted in response to a valid transition between two states of the multiple states. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein the model comprises an indication of when a particular operational command or operational information is expected to be transmitted in response to a specified set of conditions being met to cause a valid transition between two states of the multiple states. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to perform operations comprising:
 employ a statistical analysis to generate a span of time during which a transmission of a particular operational command or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation is expected to occur based on observations of prior instances of exchanging of the particular operational command or operational information in prior iterations of performing the industrial process or other operation; and   add an indication of the span of time to the model.   
     
     
         7 . A monitoring system comprising a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
 place the monitoring system into an operating mode to use a model of an industrial process or other operation to analyze observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation;   receive, from one or more interchange devices, indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information among multiple monitored devices of a monitored system, wherein at least one of the monitored devices is configured to control the industrial process or other operation; and   compare received indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation to indications in the model of expected transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation to identify an instance of a failure of a transmission of a particular operational command or particular operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation to occur within a span of time specified in the model.   
     
     
         8 . The monitoring system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the multiple monitored devices are incorporated into a monitored system;   the monitored system includes at least one interchange device to which each monitored device of the multiple monitored device is separately coupled;   the transmissions of operational commands among the multiple monitored devices are conveyed through the one or more interchange devices; and   the monitoring system is coupled to the at least one interchange device to receive the indications of observed transmissions of operational commands among the multiple monitored devices.   
     
     
         9 . The monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to respond to the instance of failure of the transmission of the particular operational command or particular operational information within the specified span of time by transmitting the particular operational command or particular operational information from the monitoring system, and through the one or more interchange devices. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring system of  claim 7 , wherein the model comprises a finite state model that includes indications of multiple states of the industrial process and indications of valid transitions among the multiple states. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the model is generated from data descriptive of logic employed in performing the industrial process or other operation, wherein the generation of the model comprises deriving the multiple states from the logic. 
     
     
         12 . A method of generating a model of an industrial process or other operation comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a monitoring system, and from an interchange device of a monitored system, indications of observed transmissions, through the interchange device, of operational commands or operational information among multiple monitored devices of the monitored system, wherein at least one of the monitored devices is configured to control the industrial process or other operation; and   from received indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation, generating, by the processor, the model of the industrial process or other operation, wherein the model comprises indications of expected spans of time during which transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation are expected to occur.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 employing, by the processor, a statistical analysis to generate a span of time during which a transmission of a particular operational command or particular operational information associated with the industrial process is expected to occur based on observations of prior instances of exchanging of the particular operational command or particular operational information in prior iterations of performing the industrial process; and   adding an indication of the span of time to the model.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the model comprises a finite state model that includes indications of multiple states of the industrial process and indications of valid transitions among the multiple states. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the model comprises an indication of when a particular operational command or particular operational information is expected to be transmitted in response to a valid transition between two states of the multiple states. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the model comprises an indication of when a particular operational command or particular operational information is expected to be transmitted in response to a specified set of conditions being met to cause a valid transition between two states of the multiple states. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a model of an industrial process or other operation to analyze observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor of a monitoring system, and from an interchange device of a monitored system, indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information among multiple monitored devices of the monitored system, wherein at least one of the monitored devices is configured to control the industrial process or other operation; and   comparing, by the processor, received indications of observed transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process to indications in the model of expected transmissions of operational commands or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation to identify an instance of a failure of a transmission of a particular operational command or operational information associated with the industrial process or other operation to occur within a span of time specified in the model.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising responding to the instance of failure of the transmission of the particular operational command or operational information within the specified span of time by transmitting the particular operational command or particular set of operational information, by the processor, from the monitoring system, and through the interchange device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the model comprises a finite state model that includes indications of multiple states of the industrial process and indications of valid transitions among the multiple states. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the model is generated from data descriptive of logic employed in performing the industrial process or other operation, wherein the generation of the model comprises deriving the multiple states from the logic.