Systems and methods for queuing an action in industrial automation systems

Abstract

The subject invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automated manufacturing processes in a regulated industrial controller environment, wherein operator commands are tied to one or more signature requirements before the requested commands take effect in a batch system. In one aspect, a system is provided for signature processing in an industrial control environment. The system includes a queuing component to hold a pending request for an action. A signature component then determines when an electronic signature is completed for the action, wherein a batch processor executes the action from the queuing component after the electronic signature is completed. A policy component can be provided to define one or more conditions for completing the electronic signature.

1 . A system that facilitates regulation of an automated manufacturing process, comprising:
 a batch server configured to process a program, comprising a command, to facilitate execution of the automated manufacturing process;   a signature component configured to identify that the command is associated with a request for an electronic signature; and   a queuing component configured to prohibit execution of the command until the electronic signature is received.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes reception of at least one of a username, a password, or a comment via a user interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the batch server is further configured to send the request for the electronic signature via a user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising, a verification component configured to authenticate the electronic signature received via a user interface, wherein the batch server is configured to facilitate execution of the command in response to a successful authentication of the electronic signature. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the batch server is further configured to operate with one or more control systems and execute the command via the one or more control systems, in response to the successful authentication of the electronic signature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature component is further configured to identify that the command is associated with the request based on a predefined rule. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signature component is further configured to identify that the command is associated with the request based on a limit test of a parameter value, which is changed by execution of the command. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the request includes reception of at least two electronic signatures from disparate users. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising, one or more distributable signature components, residing at different locations and coupled to the batch server, that are configured to at least one of define, manage, modify, or delete the electronic signature by utilization of at least one of a signature template, an application programming interface (API), or a schema. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the command is initiated by at least one of a user or an automated event. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the queuing component comprises a queue that is configured to store the command until the electronic signature is received and verified. 
     
     
         12 . A method to facilitate regulation of an automated manufacturing process, comprising:
 displaying, via a graphical user interface, a list of one or more actions relating to the automated manufacturing process;   receiving a first input, via the graphical user interface, for selecting a set of the one or more actions for which an electronic signature is to be requested before processing;   receiving a second input, via the graphical user interface, for specifying data associated with the electronic signature associated with one of the set of the one or more actions; and   queuing a request for the one of the set of the one or more actions at run-time, pending receipt and verification of the data.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, defining one or more conditions that trigger a query for the data in response to receiving the one of the set of the one or more actions at a batch processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, receiving the data in response to the query. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 verifying the data; and   executing the one of the set of the one or more actions in response to the verifying being successful.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising logging a result of the verifying. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the receiving includes receiving at least one of a phrase indicative of a meaning of an electronic signature. 
     
     
         18 . A computer readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution by an industrial automation system, cause the industrial automation system to perform operations, comprising:
 identifying, within a program being processed by a batch processor, an action that requests verification of an electronic signature associated with the action, prior to execution;   retrieving and verifying data, associated with the electronic signature, that is predefined by a user; and   prohibiting execution of the action until the verifying is determined to be successful.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , the operations further comprising, displaying a signature completion dialog window that enables input of the data. 
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the verifying includes performing biometric authentication.