Systems and Related Apparatus for Improving Process Data Integrity and Timeliness

摘要

Systems, apparatus, and methods for improving the monitoring of processes. These systems comprise processors co-located with the (physical) processes and which accept certain metrics regarding the processes. These systems also include processors which are located remotely from the processes, but, which are in communication with the co-located processors. The remote processors receive the metrics from the co-located processors and transform these metrics to corresponding probability metrics. Based on the probability metrics, the remote processors determine whether the processes are predictable. They also output the predictability determinations regarding the processes. The processes can be associated with petrochemical wells, food/beverage processes, etc. Additionally, or in the alternative, some systems further comprise memories which store flowchart representations of the processes. In various embodiments, the remote processors associate the metrics with the operations represented in the flowcharts.

主权项

1. A system for monitoring a physical process, the system comprising:
a processor co-located with the physical process and being configured to accept a safety-related metric regarding the physical process; a network in communication with the co-located processor; a processor located remotely from the physical process and in communication with the network, the remote processor being configured to receive the safety-related metric regarding the physical process from the co-located processor, to transform the safety-related metric regarding the physical process to a probability metric, and to determine, based on the probability metric, whether the physical process is predictable; and an output device in communication with the remote processor wherein the remote processor is further configured to output the safety-related predictability determination regarding the physical process via the output device.