Patent ID: 8463411

Claim:
In a model predictive process control system, implemented by hardware-based circuitry, for controlling two or more processes sharing a common process variable, a method comprising: determining, using the hardware-based circuitry, for each of the two or more processes a respective variable trajectory for a shared variable; prioritizing, using the hardware-based circuitry, values of the shared variable of the respective variable trajectories between the two or more processes based at least partially upon a tuning coefficient associated with at least one of the two or more processes; and determining, using the hardware-based circuitry, a set point for the shared variable based on the prioritization of the values of the shared variable of the respective variable trajectories, wherein determining the shared variable set point comprises: determining if a dominant process is able to achieve its control objectives using a subordinate process's shared variable trajectory; designating the subordinate process's shared variable trajectory as the shared variable set point if the dominant process is able to achieve its control objectives using the subordinate process's shared variable trajectory; if the dominant process is unable to achieve its control objectives using the subordinate process's shared variable trajectory, determining whether a compromised value for the shared variable is available; and if a compromised value is available, designating the compromised value as the shared variable set point; wherein the compromised value permits the dominant process to achieve its control objectives, and wherein the compromised value is not equal to a value defined by the subordinate process's shared variable trajectory or the dominant process's shared variable trajectory.