Process control system using standard protocol control of standard devices and nonstandard devices

A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising:

• a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices;
• and
• a plurality of control means selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.

A computer program product for use in a computer implemented process control system comprising:

• a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system including a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices, the computer program product further comprising:
• a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.

A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising:

• a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices;
• and
• a software system including a plurality of function blocks defined in a standard protocol, the function blocks being selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable as a control module that is operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers for selectively controlling a standard-protocol field device and a non-standard-protocol field device.

A process control system for controlling a plurality of field devices of multiple different field device types including standard-protocol field devices and non-standard-protocol field devices, the process control system comprising:

• a plurality of distributed controllers coupled to the field devices;
• and
• a plurality of control modules selectively definable, creatable, modifiable, and installable and operative on ones of the plurality of distributed controllers controlling, in combination, the standard-protocol field devices and the non-standard-protocol field devices.