Controller and controlling method thereof

• US 20020193145A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Original Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Inventors: Vaskiyuo, Teemu, Latvakoski, Juhani, Tikkala, Aki
• Granted Patent: US 7,200,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21021 Intelligent I-O, executes tasks independently from main cpu
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/452 Remote windowing, e.g. X-Window System, desktop virtualisation protocols for virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A controller, a system, and a method of controlling the operation of the controller of an electric device. The method comprises: sending a user interface software packet stored in the controller'"'"'s memory to a first external device; disassembling the user interface software packet in the first external device into executable user interface server software and user interface client software; sending the user interface client software from the first external device to a second portable external device; the user interface client software communicating with the user interface server software via a wireless radio connection between the first external device and the second portable external device; the user interface server software converting the commands issued by the user interface client software and transferring the commands to the controller'"'"'s interface; and the controller executing an operation according to the converted command received via its interface.

Claims

1. A controller comprising control means for controlling the operation of an electric device, connected or connectable to the controller, data transfer means for transferring data between the controller and a first external device external to the controller, an interface communicating with the control means, and a memory, and a user interface software packet is stored in the memory, the user interface software packet being transmissible using the data transfer means for disassembly in the first external device, the user interface software packet, when disassembled, comprising user interface server software and user interface client software, when executed, the user interface client software communicating with the user interface server software, and the user interface server software converting commands issued by the user interface client software to be transmitted to the controller interface via the data transfer means, and the first external device is connectable to a second portable external device via a wireless radio connection, and the user interface server software is executable in the first external device, and the user interface client software is executable in the second portable external device.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first external device comprises a processing program for the received user interface software packet, the processing program checking the received user interface software packet and disassembling the user interface server software from the user interface software packet.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external device comprises a service mechanism that dynamically keeps a record of the controllers.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller'"'"'s user interface server software registers in the service mechanism.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein the user interface server software registers in the service mechanism by transmitting a user interface client software instance it created to the service mechanism.

6. A controller as claimed in claim 5, wherein the user interface client software instance comprises identifier data on the controller.

7. A controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller comprises means for setting the identifier data to a default value.

8. A controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein if the identifier data stored in the controller memory are default values, then the processing program generates identifier data for the controller, the identifier data are sent to the controller using a data transfer connection as an acknowledgement of the user interface software packet, and the controller stores the identifier data in its memory.

9. A controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

the service mechanism is executed in a third external device, or the service mechanism is executed in the first external device.

10. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data transfer means is a radio transceiver.

11. A method of controlling the operation of a controller of an electric device, the method comprising:

sending a user interface software packet stored in the controller'"'"'s memory to a first external device;

disassembling the user interface software packet in the first external device into executable user interface server software and user interface client software;

sending the user interface client software from the first external device to a second portable external device;

the user interface client software communicating with the user interface server software via a wireless radio connection between the first external device and the second portable external device;

the user interface server software converting the commands issued by the user interface client software and transferring the commands to the controller'"'"'s interface; and

the controller executing an operation according to the converted command received via its interface.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, the method further comprising:

the first external device checking the received user interface software packet and disassembling the user interface server software from the user interface software packet.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11, the method further comprising:

a service mechanism in an external device keeping dynamically a record of the controllers.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

the user interface server software disassembled from the user interface software packet registering in the service mechanism.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, the method further comprising:

the user interface server software registering in the service mechanism by transmitting a user interface client software instance it created to the service mechanism.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the user interface client software instance comprises the controller'"'"'s identifier data.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, the method further comprising:

the person installing the controller setting the identifier data to default values, when necessary.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, the method further comprising:

if the controller identifier data are default values, then identifier data is generated for the controller in an external device, the identifier data being transmitted to the controller as an acknowledgement of the user interface software packet, and the controller stores the identifier data in its memory.

19. A method as claimed in claim 11, the method further comprising:

the controller transmits its identifier data to an external device, and if, based on the controller identifier data, the external device identifies that the necessary user interface software packet is stored in a data storage external to the controller, then the external device retrieves the necessary user interface software packet from the data storage, and notifies the controller that there is no need to transmit the user interface software packet.

20. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the service mechanism is executed in a third external device, or the service mechanism is executed in the first external device.

21. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the user interface software packet stored in the controller'"'"'s memory is sent to the first external device using a wireless radio connection.

22. A system for controlling the operation of an electric device, the system comprising a controller connected or connectable to the electric device, the controller comprising control means for controlling the operation of the electric device, data transfer means for transferring data between the controller and a first external device external to the controller, an interface communicating with the control means, and a memory, and a user interface software packet is stored in the memory, the user interface software packet being transmissible using the data transfer means for disassembly in the first external device, the user interface software packet, when disassembled, comprising user interface server software and user interface client software, when executed, the user interface client software communicating with the user interface server software, and the user interface server software converting commands issued by the user interface client software to be transmitted to the controller interface via the data transfer means, and the system further comprises the first external device and a second portable external device that is connected to the first external device via a wireless radio connection, and the user interface server software is executed in the first external device, and the user interface client software is executed in the second portable external device.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first external device comprises a processing program for the received user interface software packet, the processing program checking the received user interface software packet and disassembling the user interface server software from the user interface software packet.

24. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein an external device comprises a service mechanism that dynamically keeps a record of the controllers.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the controller'"'"'s user interface server software registers in the service mechanism.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the user interface server software registers in the service mechanism by transmitting a user interface client software instance it created to the service mechanism.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the user interface client software instance comprises identifier data on the controller.

28. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the controller comprises means for setting the identifier data to a default value.

29. A system as claimed in claim 27, wherein if the identifier data stored in the controller memory are default values, then the processing program generates identifier data for the controller, the identifier data are sent to the controller using a data transfer connection as an acknowledgement of the user interface software packet, and the controller stores the identifier data in its memory.

30. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the service mechanism is executed in a third external device, or the service mechanism is executed in the first external device.

31. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the data transfer means is a radio transceiver.