Process control apparatus and system and updating method therefor

A process control system that controls an industrial process implemented in a plant, the process control system comprising:

• a first process control apparatus that has one or more processors configured to execute:
• a first virtualization unit configured to run in first hardware;
• a first operating system configured to run in the first virtualization unit;
• an application configured to run in the first operating system, and configured to control the industrial process by communicating with field devices performing at least one of measurement and actuation required for control of the industrial process;
• and
• a recording unit configured to record a first information required for restoration of the application and a second information passed between the first operating system and the application;
• and
• a second process control apparatus that has one or more processors configured to execute:
• a second virtualization unit configured to run in second hardware and logically integrated with the first virtualization unit;
• a second operating system configured to run in the second virtualization unit;
• and
• a restoration unit configured to use a history of the second information recorded in the recording unit to set the second operating system to be the same in internal state as the first operating system, and configured to use the first information to restore the application running in the first operating system into running in the second operating system which has been set to be the same in the internal state as the first operating system wherein the second operating system is different in version from the first operating system,
• wherein the same internal state includes:
• a) a state of each process making up the application, including management information of each process and information of a parent-child relationship thereof;
• b) a state of inter process communication between processes making up the application, including message communications between the processes;
• and
• c) a state of the application communicating outside, including a state of a network connection used by the application.

An updating method for a process control apparatus that controls an industrial process implemented in a plant, the method comprising:

• a first step of recording a first information required for restoration of an application and a second information passed between a first operating system that runs in a virtualization unit running in hardware to cause the application to run and the application;
• and
• a second step of using a history of the second information recorded by the first step to set a second operating system that runs in the virtualization unit to be the same in internal state as the first operating system, and using the first information to restore the application that runs in the first operating system into running in the second operating system which has been set to be the same in internal state as the first operating system, wherein the second operating system is different in version from the first operating system,
• wherein the same internal state includes:
• a) a state of each process making up the application, including management information of each process and information of a parent-child relationship thereof;
• b) a state of inter process communication between processes making up the application, including message communications between the processes;
• and
• c) a state of the application communicating outside, including a state of a network connection used by the application.

An updating method for a process control system having first and second process control apparatuses that control an industrial process implemented in a plant, the method comprising:

• a first step of recording a first information required for restoration of an application running in the first process control apparatus and a second information passed between a first operating system that runs the application and the application;
• and
• a second step of using a history of the second information recorded by the first step to set a second operating system running in the second process control apparatus to be the same in internal state as the first operating system running in the first process control apparatus and using the first information to restore the application running in the first operating system into running in the second operating system which has been set to be the same in the internal state as the first operating system, wherein the second operating system is different in version from the first operating system,
• wherein the same internal state includes:
• a) a state of each process making up the application, including management information of each process and information of a parent-child relationship thereof;
• b) a state of inter process communication between processes making up the application, including message communications between the processes;
• and
• c) a state of the application communicating outside, including a state of a network connection used by the application.