# US 12,093,009 B2 · Onboarding distributed control node using secondary channel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,093,009 B2 - Document ID: US12093009B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/211,445 - Filed: 2021-03-24 - Published: 2022-09-29 - Granted: 2024-09-17 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-24 - Assignees: Yokogawa Electric Corporation - Applicants: Yokogawa Electric Corporation - Inventors: Patrick Clay; Vien Nguyen; David Emerson; Hidenori Sawahara; Andrew Keller; Joseph Malm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12093009B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/0421: {Multiprocessor system} - G05B 19/0423: {Input/output} - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - H04L 41/084: Configuration by using pre-existing information, e.g. using templates or copying from other elements - H04L 41/344: Out-of-band transfers - G05B 2219/25174: Ethernet - G05B 2219/25186: Bluetooth® - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04W 76/10: Connection setup - 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) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Implementations are described herein for provisioning a device such as a DCN with configuration data for operation on a process automation network using an “out-of-band” communication channel. In various implementations, a temporary out-of-band communication channel may be established between a first and second DCNs. The out-of-band communication channel may be distinct from a process automation network through which the first DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of a process automation system. Provisioning data may be transmitted from the second DCN to the first DCN over the temporary out-of-band communication channel. The provisioning data may include: information technology (IT) configuration data and operational technology (OT) configuration data. Subsequent to the transmitting, the temporary out-of-band communication channel may be closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for provisioning a first distributed control node (DCN) for operation as part of a process automation system, the method implemented using one or more processors and comprising: establishing a temporary out-of-band communication channel between the first DCN and a second DCN, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel is distinct from a process automation network through which the first DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system; transmitting provisioning data from the second DCN to the first DCN over the temporary out-of-band communication channel, wherein the provisioning data includes: information technology (IT) configuration data that is usable by the first DCN to join the process automation network, and operational technology (OT) configuration data that is usable by the first DCN to cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes of the process automation system to implement an at least partially automated process; and subsequent to the transmitting, closing the temporary out-of-band communication channel, wherein the transmitting includes cloning one or both of the IT and OT configuration data from the second DCN to the first DCN, and in response to the cloning, transitioning the second DCN into a disabled state in which the second DCN is prevented from cloning IT or OT configuration data to any additional DCNs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the IT configuration data includes one or more networking parameters used by the second DCN previously. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, subsequent to the cloning, transitioning the first DCN into a locked state in which the first DCN will reject at least some subsequent provisioning data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second DCN is simulated by a computing device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering a provisioning routine on the first DCN in response to the transmitting, wherein the provisioning routine automatically configures the first DCN based on the IT and OT configuration data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the provisioning routine restarts one or more networking services executed by the first DCN after the first DCN is configured based on the IT configuration data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel comprises a universal serial bus (USB) channel and the process automation network comprises an Ethernet network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel comprises a near field communication (NFC) or Bluetooth channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second DCN refrains from transmitting data on the process automation network until the other of the first or second DCN is assigned a new Internet Protocol (IP) address. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising exchanging, between the first and second DCNs via the temporary out-of-band communication channel, confirmatory data that the other of the first or second DCN has received the new IP address. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel is closed in response to the assignment of the new IP address. ### Claim 12 A distributed control node (DCN) comprising circuitry to: establish a temporary out-of-band communication channel with a provisioning DCN, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel is distinct from a process automation network through which the DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of a process automation system; receive, from the provisioning DCN via the temporary out-of-band communication channel, information technology (IT) configuration data and operational technology (OT) configuration data; clone one or both of the IT and OT configuration data received from the provisioning DCN; in response to the cloning, transition the DCN into a locked state in which the DCN will reject at least some subsequent provisioning data; based on the IT configuration data, join the process automation network; and based on the OT configuration data, cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes of the process automation system to implement an at least partially automated process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The DCN of claim 12, wherein the IT configuration data includes one or more networking parameters used by the provisioning DCN previously. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The DCN of claim 12, further comprising instructions to trigger a provisioning routine on the DCN in response to receipt the IT and OT configuration data, wherein the provisioning routine automatically configures the DCN based on the IT and OT configuration data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The DCN of claim 14, wherein the provisioning routine restarts one or more networking services executed by the DCN after the DCN is configured based on the IT configuration data. ### Claim 16 At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium for provisioning a first distributed control node (DCN) for operation as part of a process automation system, the medium comprising instructions that, on execution by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: establish a temporary out-of-band communication channel between the first DCN and a second DCN, wherein the temporary out-of-band communication channel is distinct from a process automation network through which the first DCN is to be communicatively coupled with other process automation nodes of the process automation system; transmit provisioning data from the second DCN to the first DCN over the temporary out-of-band communication channel, wherein the provisioning data includes: information technology (IT) configuration data that is usable by the first DCN to join the process automation network, and operational technology (OT) configuration data that is usable by the first DCN to cooperate with one or more of the other process automation nodes of the process automation system to implement an at least partially automated process; and subsequent to the transmission of the provisioning data, close the temporary out-of-band communication channel, wherein transmission of the provisioning data includes cloning one or both of the IT and OT configuration data from the second DCN to the first DCN, and in response to the cloning, transition the second DCN into a new state in which the second DCN is prevented from cloning IT or OT configuration data to any additional DCNs.