Patent ID: 8046519

Claim:
A processing unit comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and a communication port coupled to the processor, the communication port configured to couple to a backbone communication network of a control system; wherein the memory stores programs that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to selectively: participate, over the communication port, as a processing unit of a control system of a first manufacturer, the control system implements a first proprietary communication protocol between processing units; and participate, over the communication port, as a processing unit of a control system of a second manufacturer, different than the first manufacturer, the control system of the second manufacturer implements a second proprietary communication protocol between processing units, and the second proprietary communication protocol is different than the first proprietary communication protocol; conform to metrological audit requirements by at least one selected from the group consisting of: perform a prover alignment, perform a prover de-alignment; regulate flow to achieve flow through two or more flow meters to be with a predetermined range; record all changes to parameters related to hydrocarbon metering.