# US 10,503,160 B2 · Integrated testing mechanism for industrial process control and automation systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,160 B2 - Document ID: US10503160B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/487,714 - Filed: 2017-04-14 - Published: 2017-12-14 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-10 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Cathleen F. Kilpatrick; Antoine Guillot; Meenal Gharpure; Michael James Waynick; Yong Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503160B2 ## CPC - G05B 23/0272: {Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user} - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - G05B 23/0256: {injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system} - G05B 23/0264: {Control of logging system, e.g. decision on which data to store; time-stamping measurements} - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A method includes receiving information defining multiple functional configurations associated with an industrial process control and automation system. The functional configurations identify operations to be performed by the control and automation system. The method also includes receiving, at a test system integrated in the control and automation system, information defining multiple tests to be performed on the control and automation system. The method further includes executing the tests using the test system, where the test system accesses data from both the test system and the control and automation system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving information defining multiple functional configurations associated with an industrial process control and automation system, the functional configurations identifying operations to be performed by the control and automation system, wherein each functional configuration comprises one or more functional configuration objects; receiving, at a test system integrated in the control and automation system, information defining multiple tests to be performed on the control and automation system; executing the tests using the test system, the test system accessing data from both the test system and the control and automation system; detecting one or more changes to at least one functional configuration object of at least one of the functional configurations; re-executing any test referencing a changed functional configuration object; and maintaining as valid prior test results any test that does not reference a changed functional configuration object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information defining the multiple tests comprises information defining at least one of: one or more automated tests in which all test operations are performed automatically and all test results are recorded automatically; one or more manual tests in which all test operations are performed manually and all test results are recorded manually; and one or more assisted tests in which some test operations are performed automatically or some test results are recorded automatically. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the information defining the multiple tests comprises information defining at least two of the one or more automated tests, the one or more manual tests, and the one or more assisted tests. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: recording results of each of the tests in a user-defined format. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the information defining the multiple tests comprises: receiving information defining a test typical sheet; and generating at least two test sheets using the test typical sheet, the at least two test sheets defining at least two of the multiple tests and storing test results for the at least two tests. ### Claim 6 An apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to execute instructions for a test system integrated within an industrial process control and automation system, the at least one processor configured to: receive information defining multiple functional configurations associated with the control and automation system, the functional configurations identifying operations to be performed by the control and automation system, wherein each functional configuration comprises one or more functional configuration objects; receive information defining multiple tests to be performed on the control and automation system; and execute the tests while accessing data from both the test system and the control and automation system; detect one or more changes to at least one functional configuration object of at least one of the functional configurations; re-execute any test referencing a changed functional configuration object; and maintain as valid prior test results any test that does not reference a changed functional configuration object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the information defining the multiple tests comprises information defining at least one of: one or more automated tests in which all test operations are performed automatically and all test results are recorded automatically; one or more manual tests in which all test operations are performed manually and all test results are recorded manually; and one or more assisted tests in which some test operations are performed automatically or some test results are recorded automatically. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information defining the multiple tests comprises information defining at least two of the one or more automated tests, the one or more manual tests, and the one or more assisted tests. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to record results of each of the tests in a user-defined format. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein, to receive the information defining the multiple tests, the at least one processor is configured to: receive information defining a test typical sheet; and generate at least two test sheets using the test typical sheet, the at least two test sheets defining at least two of the multiple tests and storing test results for the at least two tests. ### Claim 11 A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive information defining multiple functional configurations associated with an industrial process control and automation system, the functional configurations identifying operations to be performed by the control and automation system, wherein each functional configuration comprises one or more functional configuration objects; receive, at a test system integrated in the control and automation system, information defining multiple tests to be performed on the control and automation system; and execute the tests using the test system, the test system accessing data from both the test system and the control and automation system; detect one or more changes to at least one functional configuration object of at least one of the functional configurations; re-execute any test referencing a changed functional configuration object; and maintain as valid prior test results any test that does not reference a changed functional configuration object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the information defining the multiple tests comprises information defining at least one of: one or more automated tests in which all test operations are performed automatically and all test results are recorded automatically; one or more manual tests in which all test operations are performed manually and all test results are recorded manually; and one or more assisted tests in which some test operations are performed automatically or some test results are recorded automatically. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to record results of each of the tests in a user-defined format. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further containing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive information defining a test typical sheet; and generate at least two test sheets using the test typical sheet, the at least two test sheets defining at least two of the multiple tests and storing test results for the at least two tests.