A method includes installing new communication interfaces in first process controllers of an industrial process control and automation system. The first process controllers are configured to communicate over a first supervisory network, and the communication interfaces are configured to communicate over a second supervisory network of a different type. The method also includes migrating the first process controllers to second process controllers of a different type while maintaining control over an industrial process being controlled by the first process controllers. The second process controllers are configured to communicate over the second supervisory network.

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying objects comprising a plurality of conveyor segments, each conveyor segment having a control unit for controlling the conveyor drive, and a bus communication, wherein each control unit is connected to the bus communication. Each control unit has a microprocessor for processing control signals, a first electronic memory connected to the microprocessor, in which a first control configuration is stored, and a second electronic memory in which a second control configuration is stored. The microprocessor is adapted to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory, to load the second control configuration from the second memory into the first memory when a configuration change command is received, and to control the conveyor drive in a first operating mode with the control configuration stored in the first memory.

An example apparatus includes a first sensor tag to retrieve operational data, via a modem and a data bus, from a process control field device, wherein the first sensor tag includes a memory to store the operational data; a first antenna arranged to communicate with the first sensor tag when the first sensor tag receives operational data, the first antenna to communicate with the first sensor tag via a first frequency band; and a first identification device to retrieve the operational data from the first sensor tag, via the first antenna and the first frequency band, while the process control field device is unpowered.

Provided is a process, including: receiving, via the network interface, from a remote user device, a command to change a state of the fluid-handling device to a target state; translating the received command into a translated command operative to cause a local controller of the fluid-handling device to drive the fluid-handling equipment to the target state, the local controller being responsive to the command and feedback from the fluid-handling device indicative of whether the fluid-handling device is in the target state; and sending the translated command to the local controller.

Methods and apparatus for multimode RFST communications in process control systems is disclosed herein. A disclosed example apparatus includes an example RFST module associated with a process control device of a process control system. The example RFST module includes a plurality of RFSTs configured to communicate by different communication protocols. The example RFST module also includes a power module to power the RFST module to enable communications with a processor or memory associated with the process control device.

A device control apparatus periodically transmits a status confirmation signal to a control source device described in a cooperation control table and receives a response signal with respect to the status confirmation signal. Device control apparatus determines whether or not a status included in the response signal matches a status described in the cooperation control table. If they match, a control destination device, an operation and a control command corresponding to the operation are specified using the cooperation control table. A configuration for transmitting a control command with respect to the control destination device is provided. Therefore, even in a case where a communication protocol and the control command are different from one another in makers of devices, it is possible to realize cooperation control.

The present application discloses a method of handling a transaction request, including: performing an information exchange between a manufacturing execution system and a machine control system by an agent module; the information exchange including: sending a first transaction request by the machine control system to the agent module, and then sending the first transaction request by the agent module to the manufacturing execution system.

A device is easily exchanged without changing a program of a controller. A device communication management unit generates digital input data that stores only ON/OFF information of a device in accordance with a copy setting information table set by a user.

Provided is a process, including: receiving, via the network interface, from a remote user device, a command to change a state of the fluid-handling device to a target state; translating the received command into a translated command operative to cause a local controller of the fluid-handling device to drive the fluid-handling equipment to the target state, the local controller being responsive to the command and feedback from the fluid-handling device indicative of whether the fluid-handling device is in the target state; and sending the translated command to the local controller

The invention relates to an installation method for setting up a control unit in a conveying device, wherein a first control unit controls an upstream first conveyor segment and a second control unit controls a downstream second conveyor segment. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: placing an object on a first conveyor segment; activating a learning mode in a first and second control unit; activating a first and second conveyor drive by means of the respective first and second control unit; automatically conveying the object in the direction of the second conveyor segment; and storing an installation parameter in the second control unit depending on the triggering of the first or second sensor signal.