Methods and apparatus for communicating alert notifications using discrete input channels are described. An apparatus includes a field device to control a process of a process plant. The field device has a digital valve controller including a process parameter monitor to monitor a process parameter of the field device and an alarm determiner to detect an error condition associated with the process parameter. The alarm determiner generates an alarm notification associated with the error condition of the process parameter. The digital valve controller includes an alarm status assignor to assign a status notification for equipment associated with the process parameter detected by the alarm determiner to be in the error condition and a discrete output channel. The apparatus includes a host device having a discrete input channel directly coupled to the discrete output channel to receive the alarm notification and the status notification from the digital valve controller. The host device is to be communicatively coupled to a control room of a process plant.

The present disclosure resides in a method for monitoring an automated plant, which has a fieldbus access unit connected with a first communication network, wherein the first communication network has a plurality of field devices and network nodes, wherein a communication driver, which runs in a first frame application, which is implemented in a client computer connected with the fieldbus access unit via a second communication network, queries structure data of network nodes and field devices present in the first communication network, wherein the structure data are generated by the fieldbus access unit in the context of the query by scanning the address space of the network level and determining the network nodes and field devices present in the address space. The present disclosure further resides in a fieldbus access unit and an arrangement, comprising a client computer and a fieldbus access unit.

A measurement transducer, comprising: a sensor module having a sensor element, sensor electronics and a main electronics module. The sensor element emits sensor signals, and the sensor electronics processes the digitized sensor signals with a transmission function and provides processed sensor measurement values on a digital interface. The main electronics module is functionally connected to the sensor electronics and a logic unit, and a communications interface. The logic unit is configured to receive the sensor measurement values provided on the digital interface and to cause the output of a measurement signal corresponding to the sensor measurement values through the communications interface. The logic unit is configured to carry out a monitoring function. The monitoring comprises, in addition to a currently provided sensor measurement value, the reception of the associated digitized sensor signals, with the aid of a test function which comprises the transmission function. The logic unit is also configured to provide the control measurement value to the sensor electronics, wherein the sensor electronics is configured to carry out a comparison between the control measurement value and the sensor measurement value and to cause the communications interface, via an alarm output, to directly emit an error signal in the event of deviations.

Methods for data collection in an industrial environment having self-organization functionality are disclosed. A method may include analyzing a plurality of sensor inputs and sampling data received from the plurality of sensor inputs. The method may also include self-organizing at least one of: (i) a storage operation of the data; (ii) a collection operation of sensors that provide the plurality of sensor inputs, and (iii) a selection operation of the plurality of sensor inputs. The storage operation includes storing the data in a local database, and summarizing the data over a given time period to reduce a size of the data.

Systems for self-organizing collection and storage in a distribution environment are disclosed. A system may include a data collector for handling a plurality of sensor inputs from sensors in the distribution environment, wherein the sensor inputs sense at least one of an operational mode, a fault mode and a health status of at least one target system selected from a group consisting of a power system, a conveyor system, a robotic transport system, a robotic handling system, a packing system, a cold storage system, a hot storage system, a refrigeration system, a vacuum system, a hauling system, a lifting system, an inspection system, and a suspension system. A system may further include a self-organizing system for: a storage operation of the data, a data collection operation, or a selection operation.

Systems for data collection in an industrial environment are disclosed. A system may include a sensor communication circuit to interpret a plurality of sensor data values, a sensor data storage profile circuit to determine a data storage profile, the data storage profile comprising a data storage plan for the plurality of sensor data values. A system may also include a network coding circuit to provide a network coding value in response to the plurality of sensor data values and the data storage profile, and a sensor data storage implementation circuit to store at least a portion of the plurality of sensor data values in response to the data storage profile and the network coding value.

Systems for data collection and self-organizing storage including enhanced resolution are disclosed. An example system includes an industrial system with a plurality of components, a subset of which is operatively coupled to a plurality of sensors which provide sensor values. An example system may further include self-organizing storage for at least a portion of the plurality of sensor values and a means for enhancing resolution of the sensor values in response to an enhanced data request value or an alert value. Enhanced resolution may include an enhanced spatial resolution, an enhanced time domain resolution, a greater number of the plurality of sensor values than a standard resolution of the plurality of sensor values, or a greater precision of at least one of the plurality of sensor values than the standard resolution of the plurality of sensor values.

Systems for self-organizing data collection and storage in an energy source extraction environment are disclosed. A system may include a data collector for handling sensor inputs where the plurality of sensor inputs are configured to sense at least one of an operational mode, a fault mode, and a health status of a target system. The target system may be a hauling system, a lifting system, a drilling system, a mining system, a digging system, a boring system, a material handling system, a conveyor system, a pipeline system, a wastewater treatment system, or a fluid pumping system. A system may include a self-organizing system for self-organizing a storage operation of the data, a data collection operation of the sensors, or a selection operation of the plurality of sensor inputs. The self-organizing system may organize a swarm of mobile data collectors to collect data from the target system.

Systems for self-organizing data collection and storage in a power generation environment are disclosed. A system may include a data collector for handling sensor inputs from sensors in the power generation environment, the sensors configured to sense at least one of an operational mode, a fault mode, and a health status of a target system. The target system may include a fuel handling system, a power source, a turbine, a generator, a gear system, an electrical transmission system, or a transformer. The system may also include a self-organizing system for self-organizing a storage operation of the data, a data collection operation of the sensors, or a selection operation of the plurality of sensor inputs. The self-organizing system may organize a swarm of mobile data collectors to collect data from a plurality of target systems.

Systems for self-organizing data collection and storage in a refining environment are disclosed. An example system may include a data collector for a plurality of sensor inputs from sensors in a refining environment, the sensors configured to sense an operational mode, a fault mode or a health status of a target system. The system may include a self-organizing system for self-organizing a storage operation of the data, a data collection operation of the sensors, or a sensor input selection operation. The self-organizing system organizes a swarm of mobile data collectors to collect data from the target system. Target systems include a power system, a pumping system, a mixing system, a reaction system, a distillation system, a fluid handling system, a heating system, a cooling system, an evaporation system, a catalytic system, a moving system, and a container system.