Patent ID: 8276186

Claim:
A method for communicating data between a first control system and a second control system, said first control system operable for controlling a first process having first security data in a first data security format for limiting access to said first process, comprising the steps of: modifying, by a computing device, said first security data retrieved from a memory device associated with said first control system from being in said first data security format into modified security data in a modified security format, said modified security format compatible with said second control system; subsequent to said modifying step, receiving a request from a user of said second control system, said request including a user type and for permission to change a value of a process parameter associated with said first process; retrieving a custom security settings data file from said first control system, wherein said custom security settings data file contains said first security data operable for identifying a plurality of said process parameters that a plurality of said user types are allowed or not allowed to change; referencing said user type and said process parameter to said modified security data and determining whether said value of said process parameter is allowed to be changed by said user type; based on results of said referencing, blocking or allowing said request for permission to change said value of said process parameter, wherein if it is determined that said value of said process parameter is allowed to be changed by said user type, communicating with said first control system utilizing an impersonated access level that raises an access level for said user beyond an access level based on said user type of said user to enable changing said value of said process parameter; and wherein if it is determined that said value of said process parameter is allowed to be changed by said user type, providing said user of said second control system with a limited access right, said limited access right to enable only said changing said value of said process parameter.