Method and system for communicating information and controlling equipment according to a standard protocol between two computers

A networked computerized communication and control system, comprising;

• a) a primary controlling machine of the system;
• b) a plurality of interconnected computers, each computer connected via a network to the primary controlling machine, at least some of the computers each communicating with at least one of piece of process control equipment;
• c) a first module that pennits communication of information according to OLE (“Object Linking and Embedding”) for Process Control (“OPC”) between a first computer of the plurality of computers and a second computer of the plurality of computers;
• d) a second module that;
• permits the primary controlling machine;
• (i) to communicate according to OPC wit the first computer;
• and
• (ii) to communicate according to OPC with the second computer;
• and
• permits a secondary controlling machine of the system to communicate according to OPC with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine;
• and
• e) a third module that:
• (i) aggregates all requests for the same information directed to one of the plurality of interconnected computers, the one computer communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment, the requests transmitted according to OPC;
• (ii) communicates with the one computer according to OPC and obtains the information;
• (iii) delivers according to OPC the requested information.

A method of communicating between and controlling equipment connected via a computerized communication and control network, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a primary controlling machine;
• b) providing a plurality of interconnected computers, each computer connected via the network to the controlling machine, at least some of the computers each communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment;
• c) providing a first module that permits communication of information according to OLE (“Object Linking and Embedding”) for Process Control (“OPC”) between a first computer of the plurality of computers and a second computer of the plurality of computers;
• d) providing a second module that:
• permits the primary controlling machine:
• (i) to communicate according to OPC with the first computer;
• and
• (ii) to communicate according to OPC with the second computer;
• and
• permits a secondary controlling machine to communicate according to OPC with the first and second computers in place of the primary controlling machine;
• e) providing a third module that:
• (i) aggregates all requests for the same information directed to one of the plurality of interconnected computers, the one computer communicating with at least one piece of process control equipment, the requests transmitted according to OPC;
• (ii) communicates with the one computer according to OPC and obtains the information;
• (iii) delivers according to OPC the requested information;
• f) operating the first module, the second module and the third module to communicate information according to OPC between at least some of the plurality of computers that are communicating with pieces of process control equipment so as to control a process.