MACHINES, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS, AND COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHODS PROVIDING AN INTEGRATED NODE FOR DATA ACQUISITION AND CONTROL

Embodiments of an integrated node, such as a programmable logic controller, are provided for process automation and seamless, flexible subsystem communications, allowing a remote host to interface with a plurality of remote and in-plant subsystems and services using a wired or wireless network interface and having a database server and a protocol translator or translation server to convert and manipulate various industrial interfaces and protocols. Embodiments of the integrated node time-synchronize the plurality of remote subsystems, acquire and archive time- stamped process data, report exceptions therein to the remote host, and extract and transmit time- stamped process data to the remote host. Embodiments of computer program products and computer implemented methods also are provided to detect a time of communication failure and a time of a corresponding recovery between a node and either a remote subsystem or a remote host.