Network accessible interface for a process control network

A software program system adapted to be used with a processor to implement an interface between a communications network that uses a first communication protocol and a process control system having a bus that uses a second communication protocol, the processor being coupled to a storage and including a communication software stack operating in the process control system, the software program comprising:

• a computer readable medium;
• an interface routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to monitor message traffic on the communication software stack;
• a copying routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to copy the message traffic to the storage;
• and
• a media interface routine stored on the computer readable medium and adapted to allow remote access to the storage via the communications network using the first communication protocol.

An interface adapted to be used between a communications network that uses a first communication protocol and a process control system having a bus that uses a second communication protocol, the interface comprising:

• a processor;
• a data storage coupled to the processor;
• a communication software stack adapted to be coupled to the bus and to operate in the process control system using the second communication protocol;
• an interface routine adapted to execute on the processor to monitor message traffic on the communication software stack;
• a copying routine adapted to execute on the processor to copy the message traffic to the data storage;
• and
• a media interface routine adapted to execute on the processor to enable remote access to the data storage via the communications network using the first communication protocol.