Embodiments described herein relate to a system for processing manufacturing data, comprising: an edge device; a cloud platform; a sensing device configured to collect manufacturing data and to provide the collected data to the edge device; wherein the edge device and the cloud platform are each configured to carry out a plurality of data processing functions on the manufacturing data; the system further comprising a resource manager configured to communicate with the edge device and with the cloud platform, wherein the resource manager is further configured to: determine whether each of the plurality of data processing functions is to be carried out at the edge device or at the cloud platform; if it is determined that the plurality of data processing functions is to be carried out at the edge device, instruct the edge device to carry out the plurality of data processing functions; if it is determined that the plurality of data processing functions is to be carried out at the cloud platform, instruct the cloud platform to carry out the plurality of data processing functions; and if it is determined that at least one of the plurality of data processing functions is to be carried out at the edge device and at least one other data processing function is to be carried out at the cloud platform, instruct the edge device to carry out the at least one of the plurality of data processing functions and instruct the cloud platform to carry out the at least one other data processing function.

A layered industrial analytics architecture enables the flow of information from intelligent assets into tools and engines that perform analytics and enable decision-making in substantially real-time. The analytics architecture comprises analytic nodes that are distributed across multiple layers of an industrial enterprise, and includes system features that optimize movement of data across this layered architecture. Each analytic node includes base architectural constructs that host various analytic, data acquisition, and storage elements. These base constructs can operate autonomously, or in conjunction with other instances of base constructs or other elements of the control system. The system design uses a multi-platform compatible implementation that allows the base elements to be deployed on various different computing platforms.

A device for controlling a user input device to prevent inadvertent activation of the user input device includes a user input device for receiving user commands and an activation trigger associated with the input device. The activation trigger includes a mechanism that prevents incidental actuation. When the activation trigger is actuated, the input device is enabled to receive user commands for an amount of time dictated by a timer, and disabled when the timer has exhausted the amount of time.

A computing system may be configured to obtain operating data for a manufacturing network that comprises a plurality of edge nodes, a plurality of intermediate nodes, and a root node. Based on the operating data, the computing system may determine a respective critical state indicator for each node in at least a given segment of the manufacturing network. Based on the respective critical state indicator for each node in the given segment, the computing system may recursively determine a respective health score for each node in the given segment of the manufacturing network. Based on the respective health score for each node in the given segment of the manufacturing network, the computing system may identify one or more nodes in the given segment that are anomalous and cause a client station to present a report of the one or more nodes that are identified to be anomalous.

A method for controlling an operation of an industrial machine that includes authenticating control commands remotely issued by command issuers through a network. The control commands each describe a modifying action to the operation of the industrial machine. The method includes: providing a jump host as a communication buffer between a unit controller of the industrial machine and the network; maintaining within a memory of the jump host whitelisted commands, the whitelisted commands including a list of the approved control commands; receiving, at the jump host, a first control command via the network; determining, at the jump host, whether the first control command is contained within the whitelisted commands; in response to an affirmative determination that the first control command is contained within the whitelisted commands, deeming the first control command as being authenticated; and transmitting the first control command to the unit controller of the industrial machine.

A layered industrial analytics architecture enables the flow of information from intelligent assets into tools and engines that perform analytics and enable decision-making in substantially real-time. The analytics architecture comprises analytic nodes that are distributed across multiple layers of an industrial enterprise, and includes system features that optimize movement of data across this layered architecture. Each analytic node includes base architectural constructs that host various analytic, data acquisition, and storage elements. These base constructs can operate autonomously, or in conjunction with other instances of base constructs or other elements of the control system. The system design uses a multi-platform compatible implementation that allows the base elements to be deployed on various different computing platforms.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for remotely executing a robotic process automation (RPA) bot as a function. An embodiment operates by generating an RPA bot function in a first network environment and transmitting the RPA bot function to an application located in a second network environment. The embodiment further operates by receiving results data from the application based on an execution of the RPA bot function in the second network environment. Subsequently, the embodiment operates by generating results user interface (UI) data based on the results data and transmitting the results UI data to a user input/output (I/O) device located in the first network environment.

To provide a trusted, secure, and immutable record of transactions within a process plant, techniques are described for utilizing a distributed ledger in process control systems. The distributed ledger may be maintained by nodes which receive transactions broadcasted from field devices, controllers, operator workstations, or other devices operating within the process plant. The transactions may include process plant data, such as process parameter data, product parameter data, configuration data, user interaction data, maintenance data, commissioning data, plant network data, and product tracking data. The distributed ledgers may also be utilized to execute smart contracts to allow machines such as field devices to transact by themselves without human intervention. In this manner, recorded process parameter values and product parameter values may be retrieved to verify the quality of products. Moreover, regulatory data may be recorded in response to triggering events so that regulatory agencies can review the data.

This disclosure provides an apparatus and method for virtual wireless devices for industrial wireless sensor networks, including but not limited to, in industrial control systems and other systems. A method includes initializing, by a physical wireless device, a plurality of virtual wireless devices executing on the physical wireless device. The method includes registering with a control network by the physical wireless device. The method includes emulating a plurality of wireless sensors, by the physical wireless device and in the control network, by using the virtual wireless devices.

Provided is a plant equipment state gathering system which simplifies the work relating to attaching and/or replacing a detection device that detects the state of plant equipment. A plant equipment state gathering system is provided with a detection device, a mobile terminal, a network construction device and a data storage device. The detection device includes a tag unit that can store, in a non-contact manner, at least some setting information that at least includes network information for connecting to the network from the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a tag control unit that allows the tag unit of the detection device to automatically store, in a non-contact manner, at least some of the setting information. When network information is stored in the tag unit of the detection device by the mobile terminal the network construction device uses this network information to determine whether to allow the connection of the detection device to the network.