Coupling a specialty system, such as metering system, to multiple control systems
A metering system configured to couple to multiple specialty systems, such as a control system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are processing units comprising a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communication port configured to coupled to a backbone communication network of a control system. The memory stores a program that causes 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 to 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 the processing units).
1. 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 within a control system of a first manufacturer, the control system implements a first proprietary communication protocol between processing units;
participate, over the communication port, as a processing unit within 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; and
conform to metrological audit requirements.
2. 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 within a control system of a first manufacturer, the control system implements a first proprietary communication protocol between processing units;
participate, over the communication port, as a processing unit within 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;
communicate with one or more flow computers, and
conform to metrological audit requirements.