Process control apparatus and system, and method for determining normality thereof

A process control system comprising:

• a network provided in a plant;
• a field apparatus connected to the network, the field apparatus performing at least one of measurements and operations required for controlling an industrial process implemented in the plant;
• and
• a process control apparatus configured to control the industrial process and connected to the network, the process control apparatus comprising:
• a controller configured to run on hardware and a virtual device and to communicate with the field apparatus to control the industrial process;
• a storage storing normal operation information indicating operations in a normal state;
• a first collector configured to collect traces of interactive motions between the hardware and the controller;
• and
• a determiner configured to compare the normal operation information stored in the storage with information collected by the first collector to determine the normality of the operation.

A method for determining a normality of a process control apparatus, comprising:

• storing normal operation information indicating operations of the process control apparatus in a normal state, the process control apparatus comprising a controller configured to run on hardware and a virtual device and to communicate with a field apparatus to control an industrial process implemented in a plant, the field apparatus performing at least one of measurements and operations required for controlling the industrial process;
• collecting traces of interactive motions between the hardware and the controller;
• and
• comparing the normal operation information with the collected traces of interactive motions between the hardware and the controller to determine the normality of the operation.