Methods and systems for management and control of an automation control module

• US 20030140133A1
• Filed: 01/23/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Inventors: Mercer, Ferrell, Collier, David, Bolfing, Brad, Chambers, Robert, Brownhill, Carrie, Huntley, William M. Jr., Kadingo, Jason, Chambers, Misty
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

An e-mail-enabled automation control module (ACM) includes an ACM and an e-mail subsystem electrically connected to the ACM. The e-mail subsystem is configured to perform at least one of sending e-mail messages from the ACM through a network and receiving e-mail messages from the network.

Claims

1. An e-mail-enabled automation control module (ACM) comprising:

an ACM; and

an e-mail system electrically connected to said ACM, said e-mail system configured to perform at least one of sending e-mail messages from said ACM through a network, and receiving e-mail messages from the network.

2. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages include ACM data.

3. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages include ACM notifications.

4. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein the e-mail messages include at least one of ACM data, and ACM notifications from at least one of another ACM and another device.

5. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said e-mail system comprises a network interface configured for connection to the network.

6. An ACM in accordance with claim 5 wherein said e-mail system comprises an e-mail client configured to send the e-mail messages through said network interface and the network.

7. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said e-mail system comprises an e-mail server configured to perform at least one of receive the e-mail messages from the network, transfer ACM data to and from said ACM, transfer ACM notifications to and from said ACM, and receive and respond to e-mail transfer requests from the network.

8. An ACM in accordance with claim 7 wherein said e-mail server comprises at least one mailbox configured to store at least one e-mail message, said e-mail server further configured to allow a user that is connected to said e-mail system through the network to perform at least one of read, modify, and delete the e-mail messages stored in said at least one mailbox.

9. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ACM comprises an ACM central processing unit (CPU) and a CPU system memory, said CPU configured to execute ACM functions.

10. An ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ACM comprises a backplane interface electrically connected to said ACM and a backplane electrically connected to said backplane interface, said backplane configured for connection with at least one of an input/output (I/O) module and an input module.

11. An ACM in accordance with claim 10 wherein said e-mail system electrically connected to said backplane.

12. A method for management and control of an automation control module (ACM), the ACM including an e-mail system electrically connected to the ACM and a network, said method comprising:

sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network using the e-mail system; and

receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail system.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the e-mail system comprises an e-mail client electrically connected to the ACM and the network, and sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network using the e-mail system comprising sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network using the e-mail client.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network using the e-mail client comprises sending ACM data from the ACM through the network using the e-mail client.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network using the e-mail client comprises sending ACM notifications from the ACM through the network using the e-mail client.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the e-mail system comprises an e-mail server electrically connected to the ACM and the network, receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail system comprising receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server comprising receiving ACM data from the network using the e-mail server.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server comprising receiving ACM notifications from the network using the e-mail server.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server comprising transferring ACM data to and from the ACM.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server comprising transferring ACM notifications to and from the ACM.

21. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the network using the e-mail server comprising receiving and responding to e-mail transfer requests from the network.

22. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising:

granting a user on the network access to the e-mail server; and

allowing the user to perform at least one of read, modify, and delete the e-mail messages.

23. A method for management and control of an automation control module (ACM) using an ACM system, the ACM system including an ACM, a network, a general purpose computer electrically connected to the network, and an e-mail subsystem electrically connected to the ACM and the network, said method comprising:

sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network to the general purpose computer using the e-mail subsystem; and

receiving e-mail messages from the general purpose computer through the network using the e-mail subsystem.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network to the general purpose computer using the e-mail subsystem comprises sending ACM data from the ACM through the network to the general purpose computer using the e-mail subsystem.

25. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein sending e-mail messages from the ACM through the network to the general purpose computer using the e-mail subsystem comprises sending ACM notifications from the ACM through the network to the general purpose computer using the e-mail subsystem.

26. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the general purpose computer through the network using the e-mail subsystem comprises receiving ACM data from the general purpose computer through the network using the e-mail subsystem.

27. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein receiving e-mail messages from the general purpose computer through the network using the e-mail subsystem comprises receiving ACM notifications from the general purpose computer through the network using the e-mail subsystem.

28. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising:

transferring ACM data to the ACM from the e-mail subsystem; and

transferring ACM data to the e-mail subsystem from the ACM.

29. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising:

transferring ACM notifications to the ACM from the e-mail subsystem; and

transferring ACM notifications to the e-mail subsystem from the ACM.

30. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the system further comprises at least one other ACM electrically connected to the network, said method further comprising:

sending ACM data to the at least one other ACM through the network using the e-mail subsystem; and

receiving ACM data from the at least one other ACM through the network using the e-mail subsystem.

31. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein the system further comprises at least one other ACM electrically connected to the network, said method further comprising:

sending ACM notifications to the at least one other ACM through the network using the e-mail subsystem; and

receiving ACM notifications from the at least one other ACM through the network using the e-mail subsystem.

32. An automation control module (ACM) system comprising:

an ACM;

a network;

a general purpose computer electrically connected to said network; and

an e-mail subsystem electrically connected to said ACM and said network, said e-mail subsystem configured to perform at least one of send e-mail messages from said ACM through said network to said general purpose computer and receive e-mail messages from said general purpose computer through said network.

33. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to send ACM data from said ACM through said network to said general purpose computer.

34. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to send ACM notifications from said ACM through said network to said general purpose computer.

35. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to receive e-mail messages from said network.

36. A system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to transfer ACM data to and from said ACM.

37. A system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to transfer ACM notifications to and from said ACM.

38. A system in accordance with claim 33 wherein said e-mail subsystem further configured to receive and respond to e-mail transfer requests.

39. A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said network is the Internet.

40. A system in accordance with claim 32 further comprising at least one other ACM electrically connected to the network, said e-mail subsystem further configured to:

send ACM data to said at least one other ACM through said network; and

receive ACM data from said at least one other ACM through said network.

41. A system in accordance with claim 32 further comprising at least one other ACM electrically connected to said network, said e-mail subsystem further configured to:

send ACM notifications to said at least one other ACM through said network; and

receive ACM notifications from said at least one other ACM through said network.

42. A system in accordance with claim 32 further comprising at least one other device electrically connected to said network, said e-mail subsystem further configured to:

send e-mail messages to said at least one other device through said network; and

receive e-mail messages from said at least one other device through said network.

43. An ACM system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said e-mail subsystem embedded within said ACM.

44. An ACM system in accordance with claim 32 further comprising a backplane interface electrically connected to said ACM and a backplane electrically connected to said backplane interface, said backplane configured for connection with at least one of an input/output (I/O) module and an input module.

45. An ACM system in accordance with claim 44 wherein said backplane interface embedded within said ACM.

46. An ACM system in accordance with claim 44 wherein said e-mail subsystem electrically connected to said backplane.