Interoperability between iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Devices and Industrial Control Systems

ProSoft Technology's ProSoft i-View is a mobile phone applicationfor the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch platforms. ProSoft i-View transforms thesedevices into mobile human machine interfaces to enables real-time remoteprocess control for engineers, plant floor operators and maintenancetechnicians.

With ProSoft i-View, control engineers can remotelymonitor and modify live data from programmable automation controllers (PAC) onan EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP/IP network, including flow measurements, valvecontrol, process data and status data. The app creates a secure cellular or802.11 interface between the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch devices and the control system.For 802.11 plant-floor network access, the WiFi function of the phone can beutilized in conjunction with ProSoft Technology 802.11 Industrial Hotspotsolutions.For applications with wide geographic disparity such as pipeline and well-headmonitoring, or where engineers require access from long distances, the ProSoftTechnology Intelligent Cellular series can be utilized to broaden the range ofaccess to virtually anywhere in the world.

ProSoft i-View displays live process controlvalues in stylized lists and includes user-established variance allowances withreal-time alarms, including local notifications. Controls and data displays arecolor coded based on the value. Engineers are able to monitor these variablesin real time and make adjustments on the fly from an iPhone device.

Upon configuration, ProSoft i-View provides a feature whichrequires the user to assign a matching security code as both a password fornetwork access and as a Security Tag in the Central Processing Unit (CPU) ofthe PAC. When ProSoft i-View launches, the Security Code must match that on theCPU in order to create a connection. ProSoft i-View also supports the RetinaDisplay feature of the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th generation.

ProSoft i-View works in conjunction with theIndustrial Hotspot series of radios or industrial cellular series. Cumulativesecurity features are offered by these industrial grade wireless solutions, aswell as the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch devices themselves, to prevent unauthorizedaccess to the network. ProSoft Technology's Industrial Hotspot radios featureWPA2-PSK and 802.11i RADIUS security, which prevent unauthorized access andmodification to the network.

ProSoft i-View is the first in what will be a series of mobileapplications from ProSoft Technology, designed to improve the flexibility andconvenience of process management for control engineers.