Patent Document ID: 8046089
Application ID: 12143354
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method comprising: obtaining a process model that models a nonlinear process to be controlled, the nonlinear process comprising industrial production or processing equipment; obtaining an objective function that defines how the nonlinear process is controlled; obtaining a control model that defines a dynamic feasible region associated with a controlled variable, the controlled variable associated with a physical characteristic of the process; solving a control problem that includes the process model, the control model, and the objective function; and controlling the nonlinear process based on the solved control problem, wherein controlling the nonlinear process comprises generating and outputting a control signal to alter one or more manipulated variables associated with the process to thereby change the controlled variable; wherein the dynamic feasible region defined by the control model comprises a funnel region, the funnel region comprising a larger first portion and a smaller second portion following the first portion; and wherein greater flexibility is provided in meeting one or more control objectives for controlling the controlled variable in the first portion of the funnel region than in the second portion of the funnel region.