Systems and methods for evaluating configuration changes on a machine in a manufacturing line are provided. The machine is controlled by a PLC that stores a plurality of parameters associated with the machine. The method involves operating one or more processors to: obtain, from the PLC, a plurality of first parameter values corresponding to the plurality of parameters stored at the PLC at a first time and a plurality of second parameter values corresponding to the plurality of parameters stored at the PLC at a second time; determine a plurality of parameter value differences; identify a plurality of configuration parameters from the plurality of parameters based on the plurality of parameter value differences, each configuration parameter corresponding to a user-manipulatable parameter associated with controlling the machine; and store a plurality of first configuration parameter values in association with a first timestamp corresponding to the first time.

A method of detecting and tracking changes in engineering configuration data (ECD) for control and instrumentation (C&I) systems an industrial facility. First ECD in a first data format used in a first C&I system and second ECD in a second data format used in a second C&I system are converted into a common format. The first and second ECD are stored together as reference snapshot data with a timestamp in a single information source. At a second time, after the first time reflected in the timestamp, the first and second ECD are obtained. The first ECD and the second ECD obtained at the second time are converted into the common format that collectively provides updated snapshot data. Changes are detected between the first ECD and the second ECD by comparing the reference snapshot data to the updated snapshot data.

A maintenance support system include includes: a first storage unit which stores first specification information indicating a specification of a process control system which performs control of an industrial process implemented in a plant; an actual condition information extraction unit configured to extract actual condition information indicating an actual condition for the process control system; and a first comparison unit configured to output first information indicating a result of comparing the first specification information stored in the first storage unit with the actual condition information extracted by the extraction unit.

The IO-Link master (1) includes a determination element (103), for determining whether the setting information (20) acquired from the IO-Link device (2) is consistent with the backup data stored in the storage element (11); and a notification element (104), for executing a specified processing for eliminating inconsistency when the determination result is the inconsistency.

An information collecting device controls a plant based on process data acquired from controllers and field devices connected to the controllers. The information collecting device includes an arithmetic controller and an update controller. The arithmetic controller collects first information which is engineering information of the plant and second information which is device information from a controller, a field device or a combination of both selected from the controllers and the field devices. The update controller generates third information based on a definition in which the first information and the second information are set in advance, and updates the third information in a storage based on a preset update cycle.

A configuration manager is associated with a Networked Control System (NCS) comprising a plurality of sensors and actuators. The configuration manager automatically discovers the hardware and/or software configurations of the sensors and actuators, and analyzes that information in order to detect whether any of the sensors and actuators have been tampered with. Provided the configuration manager detects such tampering, the configuration manager indicates the tampering to a control manager of the NCS, which then functions to minimize potential damage to the NCS.

The invention relates to a method for operating a processing device (2) that comprises a control unit (4) and at least one field device (8, 10, 12) connected to said control unit (4) for the purpose of exchanging data via a data exchange connection (6), in which a field device (10) to be exchanged is replaced by another field device (12) to be inserted, and which comprises the steps of: generating an exchange signal (AS) using an exchange signal generator (14), and transmitting said exchange signal (AS) to the control unit (4). The invention also relates to a corresponding processing device and a control unit, field device, and exchange signal generator, as well as a computer program.

Described are systems, methods and computer-program product for replacing a prior input/output (I/O) module and terminal board with a universal I/O device by providing software based instructions and configuration settings for the installer. The method includes provisions for new wiring changes or harnesses as well as preset adapters, converting prior device configuration settings from an I/O module, pack, and/or terminal board to new configuration settings for a programmable I/O device, generating a wiring chart for any wiring changes based on the settings, and displaying the information for the installer and/or programmer's use. This allows a universal I/O device capable of each channel having different operating modes to replace one or more of a mixture of several types of dedicated I/O modules. The installation documentation and configurations are automatically generated, reducing the chance of errors due to misinterpretation of multiple product documents while allowing the automatic transfer of product settings.

A configuration manager is associated with a Networked Control System (NCS) comprising a plurality of sensors and actuators. The configuration manager automatically discovers the hardware and/or software configurations of the sensors and actuators, and analyzes that information in order to detect whether any of the sensors and actuators have been tampered with. Provided the configuration manager detects such tampering, the configuration manager indicates the tampering to a control manager of the NCS, which then functions to minimize potential damage to the NCS.

A method of detecting and tracking changes in engineering configuration data (ECD) for control and instrumentation (C&I) systems an industrial facility. First ECD in a first data format used in a first C&I system and second ECD in a second data format used in a second C&I system are converted into a common format. The first and second ECD are stored together as reference snapshot data with a timestamp in a single information source. At a second time, after the first time reflected in the timestamp, the first and second ECD are obtained. The first ECD and the second ECD obtained at the second time are converted into the common format that collectively provides updated snapshot data. Changes are detected between the first ECD and the second ECD by comparing the reference snapshot data to the updated snapshot data.