Secure wireless industrial applications strategy

In line with the comprehensive asset performance management focus announced two weeks ago, Invensys Process Systems presents its unique strategy for wireless communications

Following closely on the recent announcement of the company comprehensive asset performance management focus two weeks ago, Invensys Process Systems has announced its unique strategy for wireless communications.

Utilising what the company claims to be a unique, comprehensive managed network approach, the Invensys wireless strategy centres around shared access point technology and common data and security models for all wireless devices - regardless of vendor or application.

Unlike the point solutions recently introduced by other automation companies, the comprehensive Invensys approach provides the foundation to ensure appropriate levels of integration, robustness, and security for all industrial and enterprise wireless applications.

"Wireless communications will provide a powerful new enabling technology for asset performance management," said Chris Lyden, vice president of marketing at Invensys Process Systems.

"Wireless technology makes it possible to incorporate new strategic measurements and other data within our solutions that simply were either not practical or even possible to implement in a wired communications environment.

This includes solutions for process optimisation, device management, real-time equipment condition monitoring, energy management, personnel tracking, asset tracking, security, and enterprise asset management that can all work in unison to address both industrial asset utilisation and availability".

Hesh Kagan, wireless programme manager at Invensys Process Systems and President of the Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance, commented: "The good news in the emerging world of wireless technology is that more and more ingenious wireless devices are being introduced all the time.

The bad news is that most of these devices utilise different, vendor-specific wireless protocols, technologies, and access points to communicate with the wired communications infrastructure.

This can make it very difficult to effectively utilise the data coming from these devices and virtually impossible to ensure appropriate levels of security.

That is why we worked closely with our partners and several large customers to develop a unique managed wireless network approach that uses shared access point technology for all devices and a common data and security model for all wireless frequencies and protocols (WiFi, WiMax, 802.15.4, RFID, ZigBee, VoIP, proprietary protocols, etc).

The shared access points provide significant upfront and ongoing cost-savings for our customers.

The common data model makes it much easier to incorporate the wireless data into our asset performance management applications.

And with a standardised security model, we can now effectively manage the wireless infrastructure to help ensure appropriate levels of security and performance".

The Invensys wireless network strategy is designed to overlay existing plant control and information infrastructures (Invensys or third-party).

It includes.

* Hardware and software as needed.

* Site survey and analysis services.

* Engineering and systems integration services.

* Implementation services.

* Ongoing maintenance, support, and optimisation services.

Site surveys are already in progress at several large North American chemical manufacturing complexes.

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