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US 2008/0300693 A1Published application
Process Control System and Method
OwnerSahid Abu-bakarr Sesay, Martin John Peter Cebisinventors
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OwnerSahid Abu-bakarr Sesay, Martin John Peter Cebisinventors
Estimating the term…
An automated process control system (100) and method includes a controller (101) and a number of peripheral devices (104) that are controlled by the controller (101). The devices are located in a number of environments and sub-environments. The devices, environments, and sub-environments are organised in hierarchies and each device has an associated hierarchical identifier, which depends upon the environment in which the device is located. If the environment changes then so does the associated identifier. The controller is operable to determine when an environment changes and to implement any control actions that may be required by the change in the environment. The identifier for devices can also be linked to users of the system to define dependencies between the devices and users. Properties for the devices can therefore be linked to the users through the identifier, thus enabling multiple users to access the same devices.
A process control system comprising a controller and process control equipment coupled thereto, the process control equipment comprising one or more peripheral devices provided in one or more environments, the environments being arranged in a variable hierarchy, the process control equipment being operable in response to signals from the controller and to provide data to the controller such that the controller is operable to control, operate and respond to the peripheral devices to thereby provide an automated process control system, the peripheral devices having predetermined functions and trigger conditions associated therewith, and whereby the controller is operable to define dependencies between peripheral devices and trigger conditions to set up predetermined control sequences for the process control equipment, and wherein the peripheral devices have an associated hierarchical identifier dependent upon the environment, and the level of the hierarchy, in which it is located, an updated associated variable hierarchical identifier being generated and stored by the controller in response to a change in an environment, the controller being further operable to initiate a control sequence for one or more of the peripheral devices in response to the generation of an updated identifier.
A controller for a process control system, the process control system comprising process control equipment coupled to the controller, the process control equipment comprising one or more peripheral devices provided in one or more environments, the environments being arranged in a variable hierarchy, the process control equipment being operable in response to signals from the controller and to provide data to the controller such that the controller is operable to control, operate and respond to the peripheral devices to thereby provide an automated process control system, the peripheral devices having predetermined functions and trigger conditions associated therewith, and whereby the controller is operable to define dependencies between peripheral devices and trigger conditions to set up predetermined control sequences for the process control equipment, and wherein the peripheral devices have an associated hierarchical identifier dependent upon the environment, and the level of the hierarchy, in which it is located, an updated associated variable hierarchical identifier being generated and stored by the controller in response to a change in an environment, the controller being further operable to initiate a control sequence for one or more of the peripheral devices in response to the generation of an updated identifier.
A method for automation of a process control system, the process control system comprising a controller and process control equipment coupled to the controller, the process control equipment comprising one or more peripheral devices provided in one or more environments, the environments being arranged in a variable hierarchy, the process control equipment being operable in response to signals from the controller and to provide data to the controller such that the controller is operable to control, operate and respond to the peripheral devices to thereby provide an automated process control system, the peripheral devices having predetermined functions and trigger conditions associated therewith, the method comprising:
39-41. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.