METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MANAGE DATA UPLOADING IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110082569A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Bellville, Keith R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,164,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23302 Load program in data blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24168 Identify connected programmer to allow control, program entry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to manage data uploading in a process control environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system and retrieving an upload rule profile associated with the process control system. The example method also includes identifying an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification, and determining whether to upload the parameter value based on the upload action.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to upload a parameter value in a process control environment, comprising:

receiving a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system;

retrieving an upload rule profile associated with the process control system;

identifying an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification; and

determining whether to upload the parameter value based on the upload action.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the upload rule profile comprises a plurality of matched pairs between the upload action and the personnel classification.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the upload action comprises an always allow privilege to permit uploading of the parameter value.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the parameter value is associated with the personnel classification.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the upload action comprises a never allow privilege to deny uploading of the parameter value.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the upload action comprises a prompt request to invoke an indication of authorization prior to uploading the parameter value.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the upload action comprises a conditional allow privilege to compare a change of the parameter value with a threshold prior to uploading the parameter value.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein the threshold comprises at least one of an upper threshold, a lower threshold, or an intermediate threshold.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising preventing the upload of the parameter value when a change of the parameter value is above the upper threshold.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising preventing the upload of the parameter value when a change of the parameter value is below the lower threshold.

2. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. An apparatus to upload a parameter value in a process control environment, comprising:

an upload manager to receive a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system;

a database change monitor to identify a change in the parameter value; and

a profile manager to retrieve an upload rule profile associated with the process control system and to select an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a condition manager to allow an upload of the parameter value based on a comparison between a change value of the parameter value and a threshold value.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising a condition database to provide the threshold value.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the selected upload action comprises an always allow privilege to permit uploading of the parameter value.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the selected upload action comprises a never allow privilege to deny uploading of the parameter value.

21. An article of manufacture storing machine accessible instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a request to upload a parameter value associated with a process control system;

retrieve an upload rule profile associated with the process control system;

identify an upload action from the upload rule profile based on the parameter value and a personnel classification; and

determine whether to upload the parameter value based on the upload action.

22. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 21, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to permit uploading of the parameter value via an always allow privilege.

24. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 21, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to deny uploading of the parameter value via a never allow privilege.

27. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 21, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to compare a change of the parameter value with a threshold prior to uploading the parameter value.

28. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 27, wherein the machine accessible instructions, when executed, cause the machine to prevent the upload of the parameter value when a change of the parameter value is above an upper threshold.

23. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)