Remote operation of process control equipment over customer supplied network

1. A method of operating a tunneling device, the method comprising:

receiving a distributed control system (DCS) protocol message from a local DCS station, the DCS protocol message comprising a command configured to cause an interaction with a remote DCS station;

packaging the DCS protocol message into a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) protocol message;

identifying the remote DCS station; and

transmitting the packaged SCADA protocol message toward the identified remote DCS station.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a return SCADA protocol message from the remote station, the return SCADA protocol message comprising data configured to cause an interaction with a local DCS station;

unpacking the return message into a DCS protocol message;

identifying a local DCS station; and

transmitting the DCS protocol message to the identified local DCS station.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing data that identifies the remote DCS station.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

storing data that identifies the local DCS station; and

storing data that identifies the remote DCS station.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing data received from the local DCS station; and

accessing the stored data for monitoring by an operator of the tunneling device.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

storing data received from the local DCS station;

storing data received from the remote DCS station; and

accessing the stored data for monitoring by an operator of the tunneling device.

7. The method claim 1 , wherein the DCS protocol message comprises an instruction that causes determination of a status of the identified remote DCS station, and further comprising receiving data representing the status of the identified remote DCS station.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DCS protocol message comprises an instruction that causes operation of the identified remote DCS station.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the DCS protocol message comprises an instruction that controls the identified remote DCS station.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the remote DCS comprises identifying multiple remote DCSs, and wherein the packaged SCADA protocol message is transmitted toward the multiple remote DCS stations.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SCADA protocol comprises a Distributed Network Protocol (DNP).

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the SCADA protocol comprises an IEC 60870-5-101 (IEC 101) protocol.

13. A tunneling device comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive and transmit distributed control system (DCS) protocol messages and to receive and transmit SCADA protocol messages; and

a processor coupled to a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the medium storing instructions, that, when read by a machine operate to cause the processor to:

receive a DCS protocol message from a local station, the DCS protocol message comprising a command configured to cause an interaction with a remote station,

package the DCS protocol message into a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) protocol message,

identify the remote station, and

transmit the packaged SCADA protocol message toward the remote station.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the medium further stores instructions that, when read by a machine, cause the processor to:

receive a return SCADA protocol message from the remote station, the return SCADA protocol message comprising data configured to cause an interaction with a local station;

unpack the return message into a DCS protocol message;

identify a local station; and

transmit the DCS protocol message to the identified local station.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the medium further stores instructions that, when read by a machine, cause the processor to store data that identifies the remote station.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the medium further stores instructions that, when read by a machine, cause the processor to:

store data that identifies the local station; and

store data that identifies the remote station.

17. The device of claim 13 , wherein the medium further stores instructions that, when read by a machine, cause the processor to:

store data received from the local station; and

access the stored data for monitoring by an operator of the tunneling device.

18. The device of claim 14 , wherein the medium further stores instructions that, when read by a machine, cause the processor to:

store data received from the local station;

store data received from the remote station; and

access the stored data for monitoring by an operator of the tunneling device.

19. A system comprising:

a local station configured to receive and transmit distributed control system (DCS) protocol messages; and

a tunneling device configured to communicate with the local station, the tunneling device comprising:

a communications interface configured to receive and transmit DCS protocol messages and to receive and transmit SCADA protocol messages; and

a processor coupled to a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the medium storing instructions, that, when read by a machine operate to cause the processor to:

receive a DCS protocol message from the local station, the DCS protocol message comprising a command configured to cause an interaction with a remote station,

package the DCS protocol message into a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) protocol message,

identify the remote station, and

transmit the packaged SCADA protocol message toward the remote station.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the local station comprises a field device.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the tunneling device is configured to receive DCS protocol messages from and transmit DCS protocol messages to more than one local station.

22. The system claim 19 , wherein the remote station comprises a field control processor.