Methods and apparatus for control configuration with enhanced change-tracking
First Claim
1. A system for process, environmental, manufacturing or industrial control, comprising:
- one or more configurable elements that are coupled to a control network,a device that is coupled to the control network and that is capable of effecting a change to one or more of the configurable elements,a change tracking system that records changes to the one or more configurable elements, anda change detection system that is in communications coupling with the one or more configurable elements and with the change tracking system, the change detection system responding to detected changes in one or more of those elements by inferring at least one of an identity of a person, a device, and combination thereof that is responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change.
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Abstract
The invention provides, in some aspects, a process, environmental, manufacturing, industrial or other such control system (hereinafter, “control system”) with enhanced, real-time change tracking. The system includes one or more configurable elements (e.g., field devices), a change tracking system that records of changes to those configurable elements (e.g., for compliance reporting, etc.) and a change detection system that responds to detected changes in configuration of those element(s) by inferring an identity of a person and/or device responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change. This is unlike prior art systems, in which that such information must be specified, e.g., in a data entry form filled-in by the field engineer, operator or other who is making the change.
829 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for process, environmental, manufacturing or industrial control, comprising:
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one or more configurable elements that are coupled to a control network, a device that is coupled to the control network and that is capable of effecting a change to one or more of the configurable elements, a change tracking system that records changes to the one or more configurable elements, and a change detection system that is in communications coupling with the one or more configurable elements and with the change tracking system, the change detection system responding to detected changes in one or more of those elements by inferring at least one of an identity of a person, a device, and combination thereof that is responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for process, environmental, manufacturing or industrial control, comprising:
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one or more configurable elements, a change tracking system that records changes to the one or more configurable elements, and a change detection system that is in communications coupling with the one or more configurable elements and with the change tracking system, the change detection system responding to detected changes in one or more of those elements by inferring at least one of an identity of a person, a device, and a combination thereof that is responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change, wherein the change detection system responds to a change alert signaling indicating that the configuration of a configurable element has been changed by querying a control network to which that element is coupled for a list of users that are logged-in or active on the network. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for process, environmental, manufacturing or industrial control, the method comprising:
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effecting a configuration change in one or more elements of a control system, detecting the change, with a change detection system, inferring at least one of an identity of a person, a device, and a combination thereof that is responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change, and with the change detection system, responding to a change alert signaling indicating that the configuration of a configurable element has been changed by querying a control network to which that element is coupled for a list of users that are any of logged-in or active on that network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification