An I/O server service interacts with multiple containerized controller services each implementing the same control routine to control the same portion of the same plant. The I/O server service may provide the same controller inputs to each of the containerized controller services (e.g., representing measurements obtained by field devices and transmitted by the field devices to the I/O server service). Each containerized controller service executes the same control routine to generate a set of controller outputs. The I/O server service receives each set of controller outputs and forwards an “active” set to the appropriate field devices. The I/O server service and other services, such as an orchestrator service, may continuously evaluate performance and resource utilization in the control system, and may dynamically activate and deactivate controller services as appropriate. The I/O server service may interact with other containerized services, such as containerized historian services or workstation services, to facilitate control in the plant.

A control device includes a program execution module, a communication unit, and a collection module connected to the communication unit. The program execution module generates control instructions for a control target in accordance with a user program that is freely created. The communication unit transmits and/or receives communication data to and/or from an external device through a network. The collection module collects data satisfying a filtering condition from among the communication data that is transferred on the network. The collection module changes the filtering condition in accordance with an instruction included in the user program.

A robot control system according to the present invention includes a robot control device for controlling a robot, and a control CPU detachably provided on the robot control device, for generating an operation command to operate the robot. The robot control device includes a network controller for communicating with the outside of the robot control device, a servo controller for controlling the robot, and a connector for connecting the control CPU to the network controller.

A communication device and method for operating a communication system for transmitting time-critical data, wherein a respective individual time window within predefined time intervals is specified for data flows assigned to selected control applications running on terminals, where time windows each have an individual cycle time that is a multiple of a general cycle time or corresponds to the general cycle time, first and second communication devices each check, for the selected control applications, whether a specified time window is available for data transmission, where information about a beginning of the time window within the predefined time intervals is in each case transmitted to the terminal upon which the respective selected control application is executing in the event of an available time window, and where data flows that are assigned to selected control applications are each transmitted according to the information about the beginning of the individual time window.

A system for preventing inadvertent or untimely parameter changes to an active online field device from a secondary system different from a distributed control system application providing control instructions to the field device, where the parameter changes may cause detrimental effects to a plant process or activity. A request for a parameter change from the secondary system may be intercepted before the request is received by a field device or a controller for evaluation by an operator of the distributed control system. The validation process may provide a plant operator with override authority to approve or deny a set of critical parameter changes to an active field device or other active plant device.

There is provided an apparatus including a storage unit configured to store a display setting for each of a plurality of users, an identification unit configured to identify a current user currently facing a display screen among the plurality of users, a display control unit configured to cause the display screen to perform display by the display setting corresponding to the current user, a determination unit configured to determine presence or absence of stress of the user with respect to the display, and a change unit configured to change the display setting corresponding to the current user when it is determined that the stress is present.

A communication device and method for operating a communication system for transmitting time-critical data, wherein a respective individual time window within predefined time intervals is specified for data flows assigned to selected control applications running on terminals, where time windows each have an individual cycle time that is a multiple of a general cycle time or corresponds to the general cycle time, first and second communication devices each check, for the selected control applications, whether a specified time window is available for data transmission, where information about a beginning of the time window within the predefined time intervals is in each case transmitted to the terminal upon which the respective selected control application is executing in the event of an available time window, and where data flows that are assigned to selected control applications are each transmitted according to the information about the beginning of the individual time window.

A system for preventing inadvertent or untimely parameter changes to an active online field device from a secondary system different from a distributed control system application providing control instructions to the field device, where the parameter changes may cause detrimental effects to a plant process or activity. A request for a parameter change from the secondary system may be intercepted before the request is received by a field device or a controller for evaluation by an operator of the distributed control system. The validation process may provide a plant operator with override authority to approve or deny a set of critical parameter changes to an active field device or other active plant device.

The invention relates to a device for use in production, which offers at least one production service or is connectable to a device offering a production service comprising a physical interface across which data in relation to at least one physical property are exchanged with at least one other device; further comprising a cyber physical interface across which data in relation to production service properties are exchanged with at least one other device; and comprising a communication interface across which at least one communication link having defined communication properties can be established. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

An information collecting system collects information associated with (i) a controller connected to a control network and (ii) a host device connected to an information network located at a level higher than the control network, and includes a management device and an information collecting mediation device. The management device is connected to the information network, collects information associated with the host device, transmits an acquisition request for information associated with the controller to the information network, and manages the collected information associated with the host device and information associated with the controller. The information collecting mediation device is connected to the control network and the information network, collects information associated with the controller according to capability information indicating a capability of at least one of the control network and the controller based on the acquisition request, and sends said collected information to the management device.