US 12,001,833 B2
Method and apparatus for maintaining software of a control unit for an industrial control system
Udhaya Kumar Dayalan, Lino Lakes, MN (US); and James K. McKeever, Blaine, MN (US)
Assigned to Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/342,348.
Application 18/342,348 is a continuation of application No. 17/456,784, filed on Nov. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,726,766.
Prior Publication US 2023/0342139 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 8/65 (2018.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 8/65 (2013.01) [G05B 19/042 (2013.01); G05B 2219/25339 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors;
a network adapter, wherein
the network adapter is coupled to the one or more processors; and
a computer-readable storage medium, coupled to the one or more processors and comprising program instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, perform a method comprising
maintaining computer software of a control unit of equipment, wherein
the apparatus communicates with the control unit via the network adapter,
the control unit is configured to control the equipment, and
the maintaining comprises
initiating a patch of the computer software of the control unit,
in response to the initiating, patching the computer software, the patching comprising
 capturing status information for the control unit and/or the equipment,
 applying the patch to the computer software, and
 after the application of the patch, capturing corresponding status information for the control unit and/or the equipment,
performing an audit of the equipment, wherein
 the audit identifies any deviations between the status information and the corresponding status information resulting from the application of the patch, and
generating an audit report for the equipment, wherein
 the audit report is based, at least in part, on the audit, and
 the audit report indicates any of the deviations that satisfy a reporting threshold.