Change Detection System for Control Configuration Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process control systems lack effective methods for tracking changes to configurations, especially outside traditional configurators, and identifying responsible entities for these changes.
Innovation Solution
A system with a change detection mechanism that infers the identity of responsible individuals or devices by querying live user and device lists, asset management databases, and other information sources, logging changes and reasons for configuration modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional configurators are used for control system configuration, then configuration changes can be tracked, but changes made outside the configurator cannot be detected or attributed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a change detection mechanism that continuously monitors configuration elements and provides feedback about detected changes. The change tracking system compares current configuration states with previous states, identifies modifications, and attributes them to responsible entities by querying live user lists and device information, ensuring comprehensive tracking regardless of how changes were made
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary change detection system is introduced between the configuration elements and the change tracking system. This intermediary layer detects changes made outside traditional configurators, queries asset management databases and live user lists to identify responsible entities, and bridges the gap between unauthorized changes and the tracking system, enabling comprehensive change attribution
2Loss of information
If comprehensive change tracking is implemented by querying multiple information sources, then accurate attribution of changes is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The change detection system is designed as a universal platform that can query multiple information sources including asset management databases, live user lists, and device information through standardized interfaces. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate tracking systems for different information sources, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive change attribution capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service mechanisms where the change detection system automatically queries relevant information sources and processes change information without requiring manual intervention. By autonomously gathering data from multiple sources and attributing changes, the system reduces operational complexity while maintaining accurate change tracking
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides, in some aspects, a process, environmental, manufacturing, industrial or other such control system (hereinafter, “control system”) with enhanced, real-time change tracking. The system includes one or more configurable elements (e.g., field devices), a change tracking system that records of changes to those configurable elements (e.g., for compliance reporting, etc.) and a change detection system that responds to detected changes in configuration of those element(s) by inferring an identity of a person and/or device responsible for a change, the time of the change, and/or the reason for the change. This is unlike prior art systems, in which that such information must be specified, e.g., in a data entry form filled-in by the field engineer, operator or other who is making the change.