Network centric process control

A network centric process control system comprising:

• a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is configured to run one or more control services being a separate executable running in a separate operating system process provided by a real time operating system thereof, wherein the plurality of nodes are configured to receive configuration data from an engineering node of the network centric process control system, wherein the configuration data defines a communication interface for exchanging process data between the plurality of nodes,
• a processor;
• and
• a computer program product storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the network centric process control system to:
• publish process data information in the network centric process control system via a middleware service of one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the publishing is made by one control service of said one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the process data information includes process data, a data type for the process data, and an identity unique in the network centric process control system, wherein the middleware service is configured to be a separate executable running in a separate operating system process provided by a real time operating system thereof, wherein a middleware service interface provided by the middleware service is configured to group publishing process data information in data sets, wherein each data set comprises signals and is assigned a multicast address;
• and
• subscribe to the process data information published in the network centric process control system via the middleware service, wherein the subscribing is made by another control service of said one or more of the plurality of nodes.

A computer program product for process control in a network centric process control system having a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is configured to run one or more control services being a separate executable running in a separate operating system process provided by a real time operating system thereof, wherein the plurality of nodes are configured to receive configuration data from an engineering node of the network centric process control system, wherein the configuration data defines a communication interface for exchanging process data between the plurality of nodes, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• a computer program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium and being configured to, when run in the network centric process control system, cause the network centric process control system to:
• publish process data information in the network centric process control system via a middleware service of one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the publishing is made by one control service of said one or more of the plurality of nodes, wherein the process data information includes process data, a data type for the process data, and an identity unique in the network centric process control system, wherein the middleware service is caused to be a separate executable running in a separate operating system process provided by a real time operating system thereof, wherein a middleware service interface provided by the middleware service is configured to group publishing process data information in data sets, wherein each data set comprises signals and is assigned a multicast address;
• and
• subscribe to process data information published in the network centric process control system via the middleware service, wherein the subscribing is made by another control service of said one or more of the plurality of nodes.