Schneider Electric Systems Usa, Inc.

Schneider Electric Industries Sas

Andrew Lee David Kling

Nestor Jesus Camino, Jr

James Gerard Luth

Raja Ramana Macha

James P McIntyre

Frans Middeldorp

Antonio Chauvet

Philippe Wilhelm

Merrill Harriman

Richard Linwood Linscott

Alen Mehmedagic

Vijay Vallala

Eric Alfano

David Doggett

Philippe Nappey

Harriman Merrill

James P Mcintyre

Embodiments of system and methods for providing centralized management of a software defined automation ('SDA') system are disclosed. The SDA system comprises of a collection of controller nodes and logically centralized and yet physically distributed collection of compute nodes by monitoring activities of the compute nodes. In accordance with some embodiments, one or more components of the system monitor execution, network and security environments of the system to detect an event in a first environment. In response to the detected event, at least one component in the first environment is remediated, the remediation of the first environment creating a trigger to cause remediation of at least one component in each of a second and third environments.

Centralized management of a software defined automation system

In a Boundaryless Control High Availability ('BCHA') system (e.g., industrial control system) comprising multiple computing resources (or computational engines) running on multiple machines, technology for computing in real time the overall system availability based upon the capabilities/characteristics of the available computing resources, applications to execute and the distribution of the applications across those resources is disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology can dynamically manage, coordinate recommend certain actions to system operators to maintain availability of the overall system at a desired level. High Availability features may be implemented across a variety of different computing resources distributed across various aspects of a BCHA system and/or computing resources. Two example implementations of BCHA systems described involve an M:N working configuration and M:N+R working configuration.

Methods, systems and apparatus to dynamically facilitate boundaryless, high availability system management

Embodiments of a software defined automation system that provides a reference architecture for designing, managing and maintaining a highly available, scalable and flexible automation system. In some embodiments, an SDA system can include a localized subsystem including a system controller node and multiple compute nodes. The multiple compute nodes can be communicatively coupled to the system controller node via a first communication network. The system controller node can manage the multiple compute nodes and virtualization of a control system on a compute node via the first communication network. The virtualized control system includes virtualized control system elements connected to a virtual network that is connected to a second communication network to enable the virtualized control system elements to control a physical control system element via the second communication network connected to the virtual network.

Software defined automation system and architecture

A system for dynamically load-balancing at least one redistribution element across a group of computing resources that facilitates at least an aspect of an Industrial Execution Process in an M:N working configuration is illustrated. The system is configured to: access from a central or distributed data store, a configuration component operational data and capabilities or characteristics associated with the M:N working configuration; identify a load-balancing opportunity to trigger redistribution of a redistribution element to a redistribution target selected from a redistribution target pool defined by remaining computing resource components associated with the M:N computing resource working configuration; select at least one redistribution target for redeployment; redeploy the at least one redistribution element to the redistribution target; determine redeployment to the at least one selected redistribution target to be a viable redeployment; and execute the Industrial Execution Process utilizing the at least one redistribution element at the selected redistribution target.

Methods, systems and apparatus to dynamically facilitate boundaryless, high availability M:N working configuration system management

High availability and data migration in a distributed process control computing environment. Allocation algorithms distribute data and applications among available compute nodes, such as controllers in a process control system. In the process control system, an input/output device, such as a fieldbus module, can be used by any controller. Databases store critical execution information for immediate takeover by a backup compute element. The compute nodes are configured to execute algorithms for mitigating dead time in the distributed computing environment.

Distributed computing in a process control environment

A system for dynamically load-balancing at least one redistribution element across a group of computing resources that facilitates at least an aspect of an Industrial Execution Process in an M:N working configuration is illustrated. Such a system may be configured to: access from a central data store, a configuration component operational data and capabilities or characteristics associated with the M:N working configuration; identify a load-balancing opportunity to trigger redistribution of a redistribution element to a redistribution target selected from a redistribution target pool defined by remaining computing resource components associated with the M:N computing resource working configuration; select at least one redistribution target for redeployment; redeploy the at least one redistribution element to the redistribution target; determine redeployment to the at least one selected redistribution target to be a viable redeployment; and execute the Industrial Execution Process utilizing the at least one redistribution element at the selected redistribution target.

Embodiments of a software defined automation (SDA) system that provides a reference architecture for designing, managing and maintaining a highly available, scalable and flexible automation system. A method is disclosed for arranging workloads in an SDA system including determining tasks of predetermined device functions, assessing industrial operational parameters for each task of the device functions; and ranking the tasks by the industrial operational parameters. The method continues by distributing tasks over automation devices based on the industrial operational parameters.

Method for arranging workloads in a software defined automation system

Methods, systems and apparatus to dynamically facilitate boundaryless, high availability M..N working configuration management with supplemental resource

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Salem, MA, United States of America

Andrew Lee David Kling