Systems and methods for managing alerts associated with devices of a process control system
AssigneeFisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
InventorScott Nels Hokeness
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques for managing alerts associated with devices of a process control system in a process plant are described. According to certain aspects, a set of devices may generate and communicate a set of alerts to an asset management system, which can examine the set of alerts and determine whether a rule(s) is applicable. In embodiments, the rule may specify how the set of alerts should be stored as well as an action(s) to initiate in response to storing the set of alerts. The asset management system may further automatically generate new rules to be applied to alerts of the devices, to further refine the management of the alerts.
Claims36
A computer-implemented method of managing alerts associated with a set of devices in a process plant, where at least some of the set of devices are communicatively connected to operate in the process plant during run-time to enable a process control system of the process plant to control a set of processes, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a computing device from a device of the set of devices, an alert associated with operation of the device in the process plant;
- accessing, from memory, a set of rules for managing alerts, wherein a rule of the set of rules (i) is applicable to the alert, and (ii) specifies a storage location;
- associating the alert with the storage location, wherein one or more of the rule and the storage location specifies an action to initiate;
- and
- in response to associating the rule with the storage location, initiating the action.
A management system for managing alerts associated with a set of devices in a process plant, the system communicatively connected to the set of devices, where at least some of the set of devices are communicatively connected to operate in the process plant during run-time to enable a process control system of the process plant to control a set of processes, comprising:
- a memory (i) at least partially segmented into a set of storage locations, and (ii) storing a set of rules for managing alerts;
- and
- a processor interfacing with the memory, and configured to:
- receive, from a device of the set of devices, an alert associated with operation of the device in the process plant,
- access the set of rules from the memory, wherein a rule of the set of rules (i) is applicable to the alert, and (ii) specifies a storage location of the set of storage locations,
- associate, in the memory, the alert with the storage location, wherein one or more of the rule and the storage location specifies an action to initiate, and
- in response to associating the rule with the storage location, initiate the action.
A computer-implemented method of generating rules for managing alerts associated with a set of devices in a process plant, where at least some of the set of devices are communicatively connected to operate in the process plant during run-time to enable a process control system of the process plant to control a set of processes, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a computing device from a device of the set of devices, an alert associated with operation of the device in the process plant;
- determining, from the alert, that a new rule should be established for the device;
- establishing the new rule for the device, wherein the new rule specifies a storage location for alerts associated with operation of the device;
- receiving, at the computing device from the device, a subsequent alert associated with operation of the device;
- and
- after receiving the subsequent alert, associating the subsequent alert with the storage location specified by the new rule.
A management system for managing alerts associated with a set of devices in a process plant, the system communicatively connected to the set of devices, where at least some of the set of devices are communicatively connected to operate in the process plant during run-time to enable a process control system of the process plant to control a set of processes, comprising:
- a memory (i) at least partially segmented into a set of storage locations, and (ii) storing a set of rules for managing alerts;
- and
- a processor interfaced with the memory, and configured to:
- receive, from a device of the set of devices, an alert associated with operation of the device in the process plant,
- determine, from the alert, that a new rule should be established for the device,
- establish the new rule for the device, wherein the new rule specifies a storage location for alerts associated with operation of the device,
- receive, from the device, a subsequent alert associated with operation of the device, and
- after receiving the subsequent alert, associate, in the memory, the subsequent alert with the storage location specified by the new rule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.