Patent ID: 9256219
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: G05B

Claim Text:
1. A process control configuration method in a computer system for developing a process control strategy of a process plant, comprising: providing a shared module template from among a plurality of shared module templates, the shared module template having a plurality of at least partially interconnected function blocks that may be executed by a processor to implement the process control strategy by facilitating one or more physical functions within a process control system of the process plant and, wherein one or more of the plurality of at least partially interconnected function blocks includes a multiplicity of parameters associated therewith for carrying out a process control operation in the process plant, receiving a plurality of attribute selections for one or more of the plurality of at least partially interconnected function blocks via a user interface to define (i) a mandatory set of function blocks having a mandatory attribute, and (ii) an optional set of function blocks having an optional attribute; receiving a plurality of selections indicating which of the optional set of function blocks are to be instantiated in a plurality of respective module instances; generating the plurality of module instances based on the shared module template by instantiating the mandatory set of function blocks and the optional set of function blocks as designated by the plurality of selections received for each respective module instance; and associating each of the plurality of generated module instances with respective process control strategies by generating a set of instructions executable on a processor for use in a physical device operating in the process plant in accordance with the plurality of generated module instances, wherein the plurality of generated module instances are structurally distinct from one another based upon differences between their respective optional sets of function blocks, wherein the plurality of at least partially interconnected function blocks belong to a hierarchical control element structure lower than (i) a module instance, and (ii) the physical device within the process control system for which the plurality of at least partially interconnected function blocks facilitate control.