Context Control Mechanism For Data Executed in Workflows of Process, Factory-Floor, Environmental, Computer Aided Manufacturing-Based or Other Control System

Abstract

The invention provides improved methods and apparatus for workflow editing. Such methods and apparatus permit, for example, user-defined and/or other tasks to be combined in any combination or combinations to specify a workflow. The tasks can be linked for direct, serial processing and/or for conditional processing that includes branching and/or looping. The invention also improved methods and apparatus of workflow definition and processing with extensible actions. The invention provides, further, improved methods and apparatus for workflow definition and processing which utilize workflow variables for communication of data and control information among tasks within a workflow. The invention provides, still further, improved methods and apparatus of workflow definition and processing with enhanced messaging. The invention provides, still yet further, improved methods and apparatus for workflow definition and processing which permit definition of hierarchically enumerated data types and for definition of “plans” to collect, e.g., for storage, data such as the aforementioned hierarchical data types.

1 . A system for industrial control, comprising:
 a computer;   a memory coupled to the computer;   a workflow database coupled to the computer, wherein the workflow database stores a plurality of workflows, wherein each workflow comprises one or more of an event trigger and an event action; and   a workflow engine application stored in the memory that, when executed by the computer,
 collects operational data from each of plurality of control applications by reading from a dedicated database associated with the control application, wherein each control application monitors and controls at least one industrial device, 
 executes a plurality of workflows stored in the workflow database based at least in part on the operational data collected from the control applications, and 
 writes control data to the dedicated database of each of the control applications based at least in part on the executed workflows, whereby the workflow engine application coordinates an end-to-end industrial process. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the workflows comprise one or more of a material workflow, an equipment workflow, a supply chain workflow, and an information workflow. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the material workflow defines a process of manipulating raw materials to produce at least one finished good. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the equipment workflow defines at least one of an equipment calibration action, an equipment cleaning action, an equipment repair action, and an equipment maintenance action. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the supply chain workflow defines moving material between one of applications and areas in an enterprise. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the information workflow defines moving information between one of applications and areas in an enterprise. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control applications comprise a first control application and a second control application, and wherein the workflow engine application correlates between the first control application and the second control application and analyzes the effectiveness of the end-to-end industrial process. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control applications comprise a first control application and a second control application, wherein a first dedicated database associated with the first control application has a different structure of data from that of a second dedicated database associated with the second control application, and wherein the workflow engine application communicates with the first dedicated database through a first adapter and communicates with the second dedicated database through a second adapter. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the control applications execute on one of a workstation, a personal computer, a controller, an embedded processor, or a smart field device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the workflow engine application further provides an abstract view of the industrial process to one of a plant operator or other enterprise personnel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the workflow engine application provides the abstract view of the industrial process by transmitting one or more of notifications, status reports, data, email, and telephone calls to a higher layer. 
     
     
         12 . A method of industrial control, comprising:
 providing a workflow database comprising a plurality of workflows, each workflow comprising one or more of an event trigger and an event action;   providing a plurality of control applications, each control application associated with a dedicated database that provides an interface to the control application, wherein each control application monitors and controls at least one industrial device;   providing at least one adapter for accessing one of the dedicated databases;   reading data about the industrial devices from the dedicated databases, including reading from at least one of the dedicated databases using the adapter;   executing workflows defined in the workflow database based at least in part on the data read from the dedicated database;   writing control data to the dedicated databases, wherein the control applications are centrally controlled by a workflow engine application executing the workflows; and   presenting an abstract view of the end-to-end industrial process to a higher layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the workflows are defined at least in part as trigger events and event actions, wherein at least some trigger events are associated with data about the industrial devices and wherein at least some event actions are associated with control data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein some event actions are associated with notifications and status updates that are presented as the abstract view to the higher layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising defining one of the workflows at least in part by selecting a graphical representation of a trigger event from a catalog of trigger events displayed by an interface of a workflow builder application, selecting an action event from a catalog of action events displayed by the interface, and coupling the selected trigger event and the selected action event in a causal relationship defined by their positions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising scheduling workflows by the workflow engine application based at least in part on the data about the industrial devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining that one of the control applications has transitioned to a non-running state;
 determining a new schedule for other control applications that remain in a running state; and   transmitting the new schedule to at least some of the control applications.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transferring at least one job from the control application in the non-running state to one of the other control applications that remain in the running state. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein presenting the abstract view of the end-to-end industrial process to a higher layer promotes visualization of control and information resources. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein presenting the abstract view of the end-to-end industrial process to a higher layer comprises at least in part presenting selectable reports.