Automation system with address generation

• US 10,326,732 B1
• Filed: 10/08/2018
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Automated Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quest Automated Services, LLC
• Inventors: Martell, Ed, Da Silva, Hanz, Cooper, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US16/154,382
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 700 24, 700 97
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4186 by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/1113 Address setting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21029 Address of module determined by function of module
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An automation system can generate a unique address for a newly connected device to optimize automated capabilities of the system. An automation system can have a first device connected to a host via a network where the first device has a processor. Connection of a second device to the host as part of the automation system prompts factory information from the second device to be imported with the processor r. A unique address is then generated for the second device with an address module of the processor based on the factory information. A first communication may be sent from the host to the second device using the unique address to allow at least one automated activity to be conducted with the second device in response to the first communication.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating an automation system with a first device connected to a host via a network, the first device comprising a processor;

connecting a second device to the host as part of the automation system;

importing factory information from the second device with the processor;

generating a unique address for the second device with an address module of the processor based on the factory information;

generating a functionality strategy in response to the connection of the second device;

sending a first communication from the host to the second device using the unique address; and

conducting at least one automated activity with the second device in response to the first communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the factory information comprises a serial number of the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the factory information comprises an operational parameter of the second device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the factory information is stored in a local memory of the second device programmed during manufacture of the second device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device conducts at least one automated activity as directed by the host prior to connecting the second device to the automation system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique address is hierarchical and contains multiple identifiers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one address identifier is supplied by the host and at least one address identifier is supplied by the factory information of the second device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication is conducted with open platform communications-unified architecture (OPC-UA).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a security module that generates a security strategy for the first and second devices in response to the connection of the second device to the automation system.

10. A method comprising:

activating an automation system with a first device connected to a host via a network, the first device comprising a processor;

connecting a second device to the host as part of the automation system;

importing factory information from the second device with the processor;

generating a unique address for the second device with an address module of the processor based on the factory information;

deploying the second device into operation as directed by the processor without resetting the host, the second device deployed by updating at least one database of the automation system during a time selected by the processor;

sending a first communication from the host to the second device using the unique address; and

conducting at least one automated activity with the second device in response to the first communication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second device is deployed without reconfiguring the host or processor.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second device is deployed autonomously by the processor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a second communication is sent from the second device to the first device in response to the at least one automated activity being conducted.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the processor generates a functionality strategy in response to the connection of the second device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the functionality strategy is based on at least one algorithm stored in the processor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the functionality strategy provides a uniform communication protocol and operating software for the first and second devices.

17. A method comprising:

activating an automation system with a first device connected to a host via a network, the first device comprising a processor;

connecting a second device to the host as part of the automation system;

importing factory information from the second device with the processor;

generating a unique address for the second device with an address module of the processor based on the factory information;

sending a first communication from the host to the second device using the unique address;

conducting at least one automated activity with the second device in response to the first communication;

sending a second communication from the second device to the first device in response to the at least one automated activity being conducted; and

removing the unique address in response to the second device being disconnected from the automation system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the unique address is stored in local memory of the processor.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one automated activity is directed by the host.