Honeywell International Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Brian Reynolds

Jethro F Steinman

Paul Francis McLaughlin

Charles H Martin

Norman Raymond Swanson

Raj L Bandekar

Sudhir Thalore

Senthilkumar Dhanagopalan

Sunil M Ingawale

Kamel Zerdoum

William R Walls

Pekka M Salpakari

Ritwik Ganguly

Markku K Vaat&auml;inen

Frank D Rugienius

Jethro Francis Steinman

A system and method for securing a device of an industrial process control and automation system comprises setting a lock code in a device index of the device and executing a monitoring software program that reads the lock code and sets the device in a locked state. An enforcement software program prevents changes to the configuration and firmware of the device when the device is in the locked state. The device is further arranged to be released from the lock state by setting an unlock code in the device index and executing the monitoring software program to read the unlock code and set the device in an unlocked state.

System and method for providing security to legacy devices

This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for use in industrial control systems and other systems. A method includes detecting, by a primary node, that a backup node is available and unconfigured. The method includes automatically replicating, by the primary node, the primary node to the backup node, including replicating a personality of the primary node to the backup node.

Automatic firmware upgrade of an embedded node

A method includes establishing, using a connection policy at a first device, a security association with a second device of an industrial process control and automation system. The method also includes, once the security association is established, activating a process data policy at the first device. The security association is established during first and second types of negotiations. The process data policy is activated during the second type of negotiation without the first type of negotiation. The second type of negotiation is faster than the first type of negotiation. The connection policy defines a communication channel between the devices using a non-process communication port of the first device. The process data policy defines a communication channel between the devices for real-time industrial process data. The first type of negotiation could include an IKE main mode negotiation, and the second type of negotiation could include an IKE quick mode negotiation.

Apparatus and method for establishing seamless secure communications between components in an industrial control and automation system

A current generator that provides a first current level to read a configuration parameter of a field device. The current generator also provides a second current level. The first current level is lower in amperage than the second current level. The first current level does not operate the field device. The second current level operates the field device. A current sensor is connected in circuit with the field device. The current sensor reads the configuration parameter associated with the first current level. A method is provided that creates a current that reads a configuration parameter. The current has less than a minimum amplitude to operate necessary to operate a field device. The configuration parameter is read from the field device through employment of the current. The field device is configured through employment of the configuration parameter.

System and method for the safe automatic detection of a field device communicating with current modulated signal

A system that employs a chosen one of a plurality of presentation selections to present information from a field device. The system has a field device interface that configures the field device in accordance with the chosen presentation selection. A control configurator programs the field device interface in accordance with the chosen presentation selection.

System and method for communicating device descriptions between a control system and a plurality of controlled devices

A system for, and method of, validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, such that one dynamically linkable component can assess its interface compatibility with another. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a check code generator that transforms the interface of the dynamically linkable component into an interface identifier representing the interface and couples the interface identifier to the dynamically linkable component and (2) a interface verifier that employs the interface identifier to determine a compatibility of the dynamically linkable component.

System and method for validating interfaces of dynamically linkable components and real-time process control system incorporating the same

A system for, and method of, disseminating a functional block to a redundant controller for a real-time process control system and a real-time process control system incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a dynamically linkable library object associable with the functional block and (2) a shared memory, associated with at least two nodes of the redundant controller, that receives the dynamically linkable library object and the functional block and provides concurrent access thereto by both the at least two nodes to ensure consistent memory images therefore without requiring one of the at least two nodes to be taken off-line.

Growing community of inventors

Philadelphia, PA, United States of America

Brian Reynolds