A state machine engine having a program buffer. The program buffer is configured to receive configuration data via a bus interface for configuring a state machine lattice. The state machine engine also includes a repair map buffer configured to provide repair map data to an external device via the bus interface. The state machine lattice includes multiple programmable elements. Each programmable element includes multiple memory cells configured to analyze data and to output a result of the analysis.

A method for process controlling of plants and plant control systems in an OPC UA based Machine-to-Machine (M2M) network is provided. A plant associated with the plant control system a plurality of interlocked elements of one or more operational units of the plant. The operation of an operational unit is controlled by the plant control system using the elements interlocked to the plant control system. The plant control system is accessible by an independent process control system in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) network via one or more network interfaces, and wherein messages containing signaling data and steering commands are transmitted between the process control system and the plant control system.

A method for process controlling of plants and plant control systems in an OPC UA based Machine-to-Machine (M2M) network is provided. A plant associated with the plant control system a plurality of interlocked elements of one or more operational units of the plant. The operation of an operational unit is controlled by the plant control system using the elements interlocked to the plant control system. The plant control system is accessible by an independent process control system in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) network via one or more network interfaces, and wherein messages containing signaling data and steering commands are transmitted between the process control system and the plant control system.

In certain embodiments, a control system includes a model-less controller configured to control operation of a plant or process. The control system also includes a model-based controller that includes a model of the plant or process being controlled by the model-less controller. The model-based controller is configured to modify parameters of the model-less controller.

In certain embodiments, a control system includes a model-less controller configured to control operation of a plant or process. The control system also includes a model-based controller that includes a model of the plant or process being controlled by the model-less controller. The model-based controller is configured to modify parameters of the model-less controller.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.

An example finite state machine may include a content-addressable memory. The content-addressable memory may include blocks that respectively store input-terms of the finite state machine. The finite state machine may be configured to, for each received input: select a subset of the blocks of the content addressable memory to enable for searching, the subset being selected based on a current state of the finite state machine, and determine a next state of the finite state machine by searching the currently enabled subset of blocks of the content addressable memory based on the input.

An example finite state machine may include a content-addressable memory. The content-addressable memory may include blocks that respectively store input-terms of the finite state machine. The finite state machine may be configured to, for each received input: select a subset of the blocks of the content addressable memory to enable for searching, the subset being selected based on a current state of the finite state machine, and determine a next state of the finite state machine by searching the currently enabled subset of blocks of the content addressable memory based on the input.

According to one embodiment, a data collection system includes an event data collector, a state machine generator, a state machine list, and a state machine driver. The event data collector collects sense signals respectively as a plurality of event data. The state machine generator generates a state machine as a model corresponding to the workpiece. One of the sense signals is acquired when the workpiece is fed into the processing system. The state machine generator generates the state machine and generates an ID for the state machine when the event data collector collects one of the plurality of event data corresponding to the one of the sense signals. The state machine driver drives the state machine retained in the state machine list by sending, to the state machine retained in the state machine list, an event corresponding to another one of the sense signals.