Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Andrew Keller

David Emerson

Patrick Clay

Vien Nguyen

Joseph Malm

Hidenori Sawahara

Akio Umezawa

Implementations are described herein for leveraging an 'out-of-band' communication channel between nodes of a process automation system. In various implementations, an out-of-band communication channel may be established between two or more process automation nodes of a process automation system. The out-of-band communication channel may be outside of a process automation network through which the two or more process automation nodes are communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system. The two or more process automation nodes may cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes to implement an at least partially automated process. One or more characteristics of the process automation system may be monitored, and based on the monitoring, traffic may be selectively diverted from the process automation network to the out-of-band communication channel.

Leveraging out-of-band communication channels between process automation nodes

Implementations are described herein for commissioning a device such as a distributed control node (DCN) for operation with a process automation system (PAS) using a portable setup device (PSD) and an 'out-of-band' communication channel. In various implementations, static information conveyed by a passive data store of the DCN may be used to establish an out-of-band communication channel between the DCN and PSD. The out-of-band communication channel may be distinct from a process automation network through which the DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the PAS. The DCN may be commissioned to the process automation system by exchanging operational technology (OT) data between the DCN and the PSD via the out-of-band communication channel to enable the DCN to cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes on the process automation network to implement an at least partially automated process.

Commissioning devices to process automation systems using portable setup devices

Implementations are described herein for provisioning a device such as a DCN with configuration data for operation on a process automation network using an 'out-of-band' communication channel. In various implementations, a temporary out-of-band communication channel may be established between a first and second DCNs. The out-of-band communication channel may be distinct from a process automation network through which the first DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of a process automation system. Provisioning data may be transmitted from the second DCN to the first DCN over the temporary out-of-band communication channel. The provisioning data may include: information technology (IT) configuration data and operational technology (OT) configuration data. Subsequent to the transmitting, the temporary out-of-band communication channel may be closed.

Onboarding distributed control node using secondary channel

Implementations are described herein for commissioning a distributed control node (DCN) to a process automation network. In various implementations, one or more messages transmitted on the process automation network by the DCN announcing that the DCN has joined the process automation network may be detected. Based on the one or more messages, one or more operational technology (OT) capabilities of the DCN may be determined. Based on the one or more OT capabilities, the DCN may be commissioned to the process automation network, e.g., by configuring the DCN to cooperate with one or more other process automation nodes on the process automation network to implement an at least partially automated process.

Commissioning distributed control nodes

There is provided a virtual machine control with the ability to configure a virtual machine's behavior when certain conditions are met. The conditions include configuring a virtual machine based on an amount of time of inactivity. The conditions include configuring a virtual machine based on exceeding a cost for a given time frame. The virtual machine control removes the need to have a user manually monitor and shut down unused virtual machines. Accordingly, the virtual machine is automatically commanded to shut down if it exceeds a threshold operational cost or is inactive beyond a threshold amount of time. The virtual machine control also provides a calculation of the projected cost of running a virtual machine.

Configuring virtual machines in a cloud computing platform

A management system for a plant facility is disclosed. The system includes a server, a mobile terminal, and beacon transmitters. The beacon transmitter is attached to or embedded into a field device in the plant facility and broadcasts a beacon signal including an identifier of the field device. The server includes a display, a storage that stores process data corresponding to the identifiers, and a controller that receives wireless signals including the identifiers from the mobile terminal and identifies the process data corresponding to the identifiers received with the wireless signals. The mobile terminal includes a display, a beacon receiver that receives the beacon signals, and a controller that transmits the wireless signals to the server with the identifiers received with the beacon signals. At least one of the displays of the server and the mobile terminal displays the process data identified by the controller of the server.

Growing community of inventors

Lewisville, TX, United States of America

Andrew Keller