Systems and methods for automated access to relevant information in a mobile computing environment

• US 10,348,561 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
• Inventors: Caine, Tim, Cannady, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn D
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCoy, Richard A
• Application Number:
  US14/549,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

A system for configuring and providing automated access to content based on the access rights of a mobile computing device, the location of a mobile computing device, and the user operating the mobile computing device. The system uses a centralized database and management system to configure and manage access to content. The system determines the information that is relevant when a device and user are physically present at a specific location. The system then facilitates access to content on the mobile computing device for user interaction. Access to information is controlled by the system based on a combination of permissions shared by the mobile computing device, the user, and the current location. In one embodiment, access to content is governed by the spatial proximity of the device to some physical asset. In one embodiment, multiple location checks are performed before content is delivered.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of content to mobile devices within a system for controlling a plurality of manufacturing machines, comprising the steps of:

receiving policy configuration data at a central server,

the policy configuration data defining one or more policies for delivery of the content to one or more mobile devices within the system,

wherein the policy configuration data includes

asset data defining at least one physical asset within the system

and user role data and second user role data, each corresponding to a role of a group of users of the one or more mobile devices;

receiving mobile device location data at the central server indicating a specific physical location of a particular mobile device within the system;

comparing the received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of a specific physical asset of the at least one physical asset, the specific physical asset comprising a machine of the plurality of manufacturing machines;

receiving user profile data at the central server indicating a particular user operating the particular mobile device;

comparing the received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies a preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data;

and upon determination that

the particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset

and that the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data,

initiating instructions via the central server for the delivery of particular content associated with the specific physical asset to the particular mobile device;

wherein the content comprises different content specific to different physical assets, and further comprising an application for creating a session between the particular mobile device and the machine to allow the particular user to control the machine using the particular mobile device via the session;

and wherein based upon

the specific physical location of the particular mobile device

and its proximity to the specific physical asset,

and the user profile data,

content is selectively delivered to the particular mobile device indicative of operation of the specific physical asset based upon

the specific physical location

and the user role data when the user is one of the group of users;

receiving second mobile device location data at the central server indicating a second specific physical location of a second particular mobile device within the system;

comparing the second received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset;

receiving second user profile data at the central server indicating a second particular user operating the second particular mobile device;

comparing the second received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second particular user operating the second particular mobile device satisfies a second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data;

and upon determination that

the second particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset

and that the second particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data,

initiating instructions by the central server for transferring control of the specific physical asset from the first particular mobile device to the second particular mobile device to allow the second particular user to take control of the machine using a second session between the second particular mobile device and the machine;

wherein the transferring control comprises

sending, by the central server, a command to the first particular device to remove access to the session and to the application whereby, in response, the first particular device does not subsequently control the machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the policy configuration data is predefined by a system operator via a management dashboard operatively connected to the central server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the policy configuration data includes device configuration data defining one or more mobile device types capable of operating content.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

receiving mobile device data at the central server defining a particular mobile device type of the particular mobile device being used by the particular user;

comparing the received mobile device data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the particular mobile device type satisfies the one or more mobile device types capable of operating content; and

upon determination that the particular mobile device type satisfies the one or more mobile device types capable of operating content, retrieving the particular content for delivery to the particular mobile device as a function of the particular mobile device type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular content comprises a software application.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the software application comprises functionality related to operation of the specific physical asset.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular content comprises information about the specific physical asset.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular content comprises access to a terminal server session between the particular mobile device and a remote server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data comprises a permission for the particular user to access the particular content.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of initiating instructions via the central server for delivery of the particular content associated with the specific physical asset to the particular mobile device further comprises the step of:

transmitting a request to the particular mobile device from the central server to establish a terminal server session between the particular mobile device and the central server;

receiving an acceptance of the request from the particular mobile device at the central server; and

initiating the terminal server session between the particular mobile device and the central server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions for delivery of the particular content to the particular mobile device are selected from a group comprising:

instructions to transfer the particular content from a preexisting device to the particular mobile device, instructions to initiate a shadow instance of the particular content, and instructions to initiate a clone of the particular content as represented on a preexisting device on the particular mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the instructions to transfer the particular content from a preexisting device to the particular mobile device further comprise the steps of:

removing access to the particular content from the preexisting device; and

delivering access to the particular content on the particular mobile device.

13. A system for delivery of content to mobile devices within a system for controlling a plurality of manufacturing machines, comprising:

an electronic database that stores policy configuration data defining one or more policies for delivery of content to one or more mobile devices within the system,

wherein the policy configuration data includes asset data defining at least one physical asset within the system and user role data corresponding to a role of a group of users of the one or more mobile devices; and

a processor operatively coupled to the electronic database and configured to;

receive mobile device location data indicating a specific physical location of a particular mobile device within the system;

retrieve the policy configuration data from the electronic database;

wherein the policy configuration data includes

asset data defining at least one physical asset within the system

and user role data and second user role data, each corresponding to a role of a group of users of the one or more mobile devices;

compare the received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of a specific physical asset of the at least one physical asset, the specific physical asset comprising a machine of the plurality of manufacturing machines;

receive user profile data at the central server indicating a particular user operating the particular mobile device;

compare the received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies a preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data;

and upon determination that the particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset and that the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data,

initiate instructions for delivery of particular content associated with the specific physical asset to the particular mobile device;

wherein the content comprises different content specific to different physical assets, and further comprising an application for creating a session between the particular mobile device and the machine to allow the particular user to control the machine using the particular mobile device via the session;

and wherein based upon

the specific physical location of the particular mobile device

and its proximity to the specific physical asset,

and the user profile data,

content is selectively delivered to the particular mobile device indicative of operation of the specific physical asset based upon the specific physical location and the user role data when the user is one of the group of users;

receive second mobile device location data at the central server indicating a second specific physical location of a second particular mobile device within the system;

compare the second received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset;

receive second user profile data at the central server indicating a second particular user operating the second particular mobile device;

compare the second received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second particular user operating the second particular mobile device satisfies a second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data;

and upon determination that

the second particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset

and that the second particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data,

initiate instructions by the central server for transferring control of the specific physical asset from the first particular mobile device to the second particular mobile device to allow the second particular user to take control of the machine using a second session between the second particular mobile device and the machine;

wherein the transferring control comprises

sending, by the central server, a command to the first particular device to remove access to the session and to the application whereby, in response, the first particular device does not subsequently control the machine.

14. A method for delivery of content to mobile devices within a system for controlling a plurality of manufacturing machines, comprising the steps of:

receiving policy configuration data at a central server, the policy configuration data defining one or more policies for delivery of content to one or more mobile devices within the system,

wherein the policy configuration data includes

asset data defining at least one physical asset within the system

and user role data and second user role data, each, corresponding to a role of a group of users of the one or more mobile devices;

receiving mobile device location data at the central server indicating a specific physical location of a particular mobile device within the system;

comparing the received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of the a specific physical asset of the at least one physical asset, the specific physical asset comprising a machine of the plurality of manufacturing machines;

receiving user profile data at the central server indicating a particular user operating the particular mobile device;

comparing the received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies a preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data;

and upon determination that

the particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the physical asset

and that the particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the preexisting criteria corresponding to the user role data,

initiating instructions via the central server for delivery of a screen of content associated with the specific physical asset to the particular mobile device;

wherein the content comprises different content specific to different physical assets, and further comprising an application for creating a session between the particular mobile device and the machine to allow the particular user to control the machine using the particular mobile device via the session;

and wherein based upon

the specific physical location of the particular mobile device

and its proximity to the specific physical asset,

and the user profile data,

content is selectively delivered to the particular mobile device indicative of operation of the specific physical asset based upon the specific physical location and the user role data when the user is one of the group of users;

receiving second mobile device location data at the central server indicating a second specific physical location of a second particular mobile device within the system;

comparing the second received mobile device location data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second specific physical location of the particular mobile device is within a predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset;

receiving second user profile data at the central server indicating a second particular user operating the second particular mobile device;

comparing the second received user profile data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the second particular user operating the second particular mobile device satisfies a second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data;

and upon determination that

the second particular mobile device is within the predefined spatial proximity of the specific physical asset

and that the second particular user operating the particular mobile device satisfies the second preexisting criteria corresponding to the second user role data,

initiating instructions by the central server for transferring control of the specific physical asset from the first particular mobile device to the second particular mobile device to allow the second particular user to take control of the machine using a second session between the second particular mobile device and the machine;

wherein the transferring control comprises

sending, by the central server, a command to the first particular device to remove access to the session and to the application whereby, in response, the first particular device does not subsequently control the machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the screen comprises a copy of a session of an application.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the session of the application is on another device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the screen comprises a shadow instance of the content.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the session comprises a clone of the particular content.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the policy configuration data is predefined by a system operator via a management dashboard operatively connected to the central server.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the policy configuration data includes device configuration data defining one or more mobile device types capable of operating content.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving mobile device data at the central server defining a particular mobile device type of the particular mobile device being used by the particular user;

comparing the received mobile device data to the policy configuration data to determine whether the particular mobile device type satisfies the one or more mobile device types capable of operating content; and

upon determination that the particular mobile device type satisfies the one or more mobile device types capable of operating content, retrieving the particular content for delivery to the particular mobile device as a function of the particular mobile device type.