Integrated electronic signatures for approval of process control system software objects
AssigneeFisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Deitz, Grant Wilson, Herschel O. Koska, Stephen G. Hammack, DeeAnn G. Delguzzi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A software object authorization system includes the ability to select signers who must approve a software object before it is downloaded to a process control system. The signers are presented with a form allowing them to authenticate their identity with a username and a password. Signers that have authenticated their identity may approve or reject the software object. A software object is authorized when all approvals needed for that software object have been received. Authorized software objects may then be downloaded to the process control system.
Claims45
A software object approval method for use in a process control system, the method comprising:
- electronically generating identification information representing a group of entities whose approval is needed prior to implementing a software object within the process control system;
- receiving from each entity represented within the identification information an electronic indication regarding approval of the software object;
- using a first software routine to prevent the process control system from implementing the software object until each entity represented within the identification information approves the software object;
- and
- using a second software routine to selectively enable the process control system to implement the software object based on the electronic indications
A software object approval method for use in a process control system, the method comprising:
- determining whether a software object is approved by a group of entities;
- and
- implementing the software object within the process control system if the software object is approved by the group of entities.
A software object approval method for use in a process control system, the method comprising:
- determining that a software object is not approved in response to receiving an electronic indication that at least one of a plurality of entities has not approved the software object;
- determining that the software object is approved in response to receiving another electronic indication that each one of the plurality of entities has approved the software object;
- and
- enabling downloading of the software object to the process control system if the software object is approved.
A method of downloading a software object to a process control system, the method comprising:
- receiving a command to download a software object;
- determining if the software object is checked out;
- determining if the software object is authorized for download;
- and
- downloading the software object to the process control system if the software object is not checked out and is authorized for download.
A software object approval system for use in a process control system including a processor, the software object approval system comprising:
- a computer readable medium;
- and
- software stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor to:
- generate identification information representing a group of entities whose approval is needed prior to implementing a software object within the process control system;
- receive from each entity represented within the identification information an electronic indication regarding approval of the software object;
- and
- prevent the process control system from implementing the software object until each entity represented within the identification information approves the software object;
- selectively enable the process control system to implement the software object based on the electronic indications.
A software object approval system for use in a process control system including a processor, the software object approval system comprising:
- a computer readable medium;
- and
- software stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to be executed by the processor to:
- determine whether a software object is approved by a group of entities;
- and
- implement the software object within the process control system if the software object is approved by the group of entities.
A software object approval system for use in a process control system having a processor, the software object approval system comprising:
- a computer readable medium;
- and
- software adapted to be executed by the processor to:
- determine that a software object is not approved in response to receiving an electronic indication that at least one of a plurality of entities has not approved the software object;
- determine that the software object is approved in response to receiving another electronic indication that each one of the plurality of entities has approved the software object;
- and
- enable downloading of the software object to the process control system if the software object is approved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.