Configurable, connectorized server-augmented control system
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- (a) electrically configuring a configurable, connectorized input/output module (“
module”
) comprising a microprocessor, memory and a network interface adapted for electronic communications via one or more computer networks, the module including a control interface configurable for communicating with one or more different types and arrangements of sensors and actuators under control of a control system,wherein the module is configured using a software configuration method,wherein the module further comprises one or more configurable input/output pins for altering one or more electrical configurations of the module for performing one or more electrical functions using one or more control signals, wherein pathways of the control signals are configurable for providing point-to-point, controller-to-sensor or controller-to-actuator connections;
(b) electrically connecting one or more sensors or actuators to the module using the configurable input/output pins;
(c) communicating with a server computer via the network interface of the module using standard server queries via a secure connection initiated by the module for periodically transmitting control state information of the module to the server computer, wherein a response from the server computer is solicited, andwherein communications with the server computer are initiated by the module without the module receiving polling from the server computer wherein the module is adapted to reject unsolicited messages from the server computer for communications between the server computer and the module, separate from and in addition to message rejection functions of one or more firewalls disposed in the one or more computer networks;
(d) receiving reply information transmitted from the server computer to the module, wherein the reply information includes one or more set points and controller parameters for the module; and
(e) updating the module with the one or more set points in the reply information received from the server computer only if the received reply information is responsive to the solicitation by the module, and if a configurable predetermined period of time of expiration of the one or more set points received from the server computer has not passed.
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Abstract
A configurable, connectorized system for providing supervisory and distributed control dramatically reduces the number of wire connections that must be made to connect sensors and actuators to a control system, reducing the number of different control hardware components required to connect one or more sensors and actuators through use of a configurable I/O module.
26 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) electrically configuring a configurable, connectorized input/output module (“
module”
) comprising a microprocessor, memory and a network interface adapted for electronic communications via one or more computer networks, the module including a control interface configurable for communicating with one or more different types and arrangements of sensors and actuators under control of a control system,wherein the module is configured using a software configuration method, wherein the module further comprises one or more configurable input/output pins for altering one or more electrical configurations of the module for performing one or more electrical functions using one or more control signals, wherein pathways of the control signals are configurable for providing point-to-point, controller-to-sensor or controller-to-actuator connections; (b) electrically connecting one or more sensors or actuators to the module using the configurable input/output pins; (c) communicating with a server computer via the network interface of the module using standard server queries via a secure connection initiated by the module for periodically transmitting control state information of the module to the server computer, wherein a response from the server computer is solicited, and wherein communications with the server computer are initiated by the module without the module receiving polling from the server computer wherein the module is adapted to reject unsolicited messages from the server computer for communications between the server computer and the module, separate from and in addition to message rejection functions of one or more firewalls disposed in the one or more computer networks; (d) receiving reply information transmitted from the server computer to the module, wherein the reply information includes one or more set points and controller parameters for the module; and (e) updating the module with the one or more set points in the reply information received from the server computer only if the received reply information is responsive to the solicitation by the module, and if a configurable predetermined period of time of expiration of the one or more set points received from the server computer has not passed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 26, 27)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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(a) a configurable, connectorized input/output module (“
module”
) that comprises a microprocessor, memory and a network interface adapted for electronic communications via one or more computer networks, the module including a control interface configurable for communicating with one or more different types and arrangements of sensors and actuators under control of a control system,wherein the module is configured with software, wherein the module further comprises one or more configurable input/output pins for altering one or more electrical configurations of the module for performing one or more electrical functions using one or more control signals, wherein pathways of the control signals are configurable for providing point-to-point, controller-to-sensor or controller-to-actuator connections; (b) one or more sensors or actuators electrically connected to the module, using the programmable input/output pins; and (c) a server computer, in communication with the module via the network interface, the server computer adapted to communicate one or more set points and control parameters, including actuator state information, to the module via one or more solicited responses to requests from the module acting as a client of the server computer, wherein control state information of the module is periodically transmitted to the server computer with a solicitation of a response from the server computer using standard server queries via a secure connection initiated by the module, wherein communications with the server computer are initiated by the module without the module receiving polling from the server computer wherein the module is adapted to reject unsolicited messages from the server computer for communications between the server computer and the module, separate from and in addition to message rejection functions of one or more firewalls disposed in the one or more computer networks, and the module receives reply information transmitted from the server computer to the module, the reply information including one or more set points and controller parameters for the module, and wherein the module is updated using the one or more set points in the reply information received from the server computer only if the received reply information is responsive to the solicitation by the module, and a configurable predetermined time of expiration of the one or more set points received from the server computer has not passed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification