Secure data write apparatus and methods for use in safety instrumented process control systems

Abstract

Secure data write apparatus and methods for use in safety instrumented process control systems select a parameter associated with a process control element within the process control system and send first data associated with the parameter to the process control element. A confirmation associated with a request to write the first data to the process control element is received from a user and the second data is sent to the process control element in response to receiving the confirmation. The first and second data are compared at the process control element and the first or second data are written to a location in the process control element associated with the parameter if the first and second data are at least substantially identical.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to process control systems, and more particularly, to a safe data writing apparatus and method for a safety instrumented process control system. Background technique [0002] Process control systems, such as those used in chemical, petroleum, or other processes, typically include one or more centralized process controllers communicatively linked via an analog, digital, or combined analog / digital bus to at least one host or operator workstation and is connected to one or more field devices. Field devices, which can be such as valves, position controllers, switches, and transmitters (eg, temperature, pressure, and flow rate sensors), perform various functions within the process, such as opening or closing valves, and measuring process parameters. Process controllers receive signals from field devices indicative of process measurements, and / or other information about the field device, use this information to execut...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, especially for process control systems with a large number of safety-related process control components, subsystems, devices, etc., the creation of these graphical objects, sessions and executable scripts is a time-consuming and tedious process

Also, once the graphical dialogs and scripts are created, modifying them is a time-consuming and error-prone process

Dialog and script errors are especially difficult where security-equipped functionality must be implemented in a coherent manner such that, for example, underlying scripts, code, etc. perform data write operations in a manner that complies with security-certified procedures, standards, etc. solve

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