Control server, control terminal, control system, and recording medium storing control communication program

• US 20030177440A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Japan Holdings Ltd. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Digital Electronics Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Minoru, Kegoya, Kentaro, Tanigawa, Shunu, Yamada, Masaaki, Saito, Masao, Kato, Satoshi, Yagi, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,467,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24084 Remote and local monitoring, local result to remote, remote takes action
• 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 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

Screen data is generated by a screen generating processor (74) of a control host computer (7) and transmitted to a programmable display apparatus (5). In accordance with the screen data, the programmable display apparatus (5) inquires a PLC (3) or the like about a state of a device (21), so as to update the display or transmit a control instruction depending on an input result. On the other hand, a control host computer (7) has a public server section (77) to transmit to a client apparatus (9) via the Internet an applet, which is generated by a compiler (76) compiling the screen data. The client apparatus (9) executes the applet to transmit to the public server section (77) an or the control instruction inquiry similar to those the programmable display apparatus (5) makes. In this way, the display is updated in accordance with a response. This realizes a control system, which allows a display content of the programmable display apparatus (5) to be remotely checked from a remote area remote from the programmable display apparatus (5), without newly generating a display screen.

Claims

1. A control server apparatus, comprising:

a display apparatus-end communication means, connected to a programmable display apparatus, for receiving data indicating a screen of the programmable display apparatus;

a converting means for converting the thus received data into a format that is displayable for a terminal apparatus; and

a terminal-end communication means for communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network so as to transmit the data thus converted into the format by the converting means.

2. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the terminal-end communication means communicates with the terminal apparatus via the Internet.

3. A control server apparatus,

being used in a control system including programmable display apparatuses (i) for acquiring contents of addresses of devices in accordance with screen data composed of a combination of (a) the addresses of the devices corresponding to displays displayed on regions on a screen, and (b) processing instruction words for indicating corresponding relationship between the addresses of the devices and the regions on the screen, and (ii) for displaying the states of the devices on the regions on the screen in accordance with the contents, and

comprising:

a terminal-end communication means capable of communicating with a terminal apparatus; and

a converting means for converting the screen data so as to generate a program for inquiring about the contents of the addresses to the terminal-end communication means, and for displaying the states of the devices according to how the terminal-end communication means responds, on one of screen regions of the terminal apparatus that corresponds to a screen region indicated by the screen data,

the terminal-end communication means transmitting the program thus generated by the converting means, and acquiring the content of the address that the program is to inquire about, and transmitting to the terminal apparatus the content of the address.

4. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the terminal-end communication means communicates with the terminal apparatus via the Internet.

5. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

each programmable display apparatus includes (a) a designated protocol communication means for communicating with a control apparatus for controlling a device in a designated protocol that is designated to the control apparatus, (b) a common protocol communication means for communicating, regardless of which type the control apparatus is of, in a common protocol that is preset, and (c) a relay means for relaying communication in the designated protocol and communication in the common protocol by converting the protocols from one to the other, and

the terminal-end communication means, when the addresses of the devices indicate which of the devices is to be controlled by the control apparatus, (i) transmits an inquiry that inquires the contents of the addresses, in the common protocol to that programmable display apparatus that is connected to the control apparatus, and (ii) acquires the contents of the addresses according to how the programmable display apparatus responds in the common protocol.

6. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the terminal-end communication means communicates with the terminal apparatus via the Internet.

7. A control server apparatus,

being used in a control system including programmable display apparatuses, in accordance with screen data composed of a combination of (a) addresses of devices corresponding to displays on regions on a screen, (b) addresses of devices corresponding to inputs entered onto the regions on the screen, and (c) processing instruction words for indicating corresponding relationship between the addresses and the regions of the screen, for changing, in response to the inputs, that contents of the addresses of the devices that correspond to the regions onto which the inputs are entered, and

comprising:

a terminal-end communication means capable of communicating with a terminal apparatus; and

a converting means for converting the screen data so as to generate a program for giving an instruction to the terminal-end communication means, in response to an input entered onto a screen region of the terminal apparatus that is indicated by the screen data, the instruction for changing the contents of the addresses,

the terminal-end communication means transmitting to the terminal apparatus the program generated by the converting means, and changing that contents of the addresses that are indicated by the instruction for changing the contents of the addresses.

8. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the terminal-end communication means communicates with the terminal apparatus via the Internet.

9. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

each programmable display apparatus includes (a) a designated protocol communication means for communicating with a control apparatus for controlling a device in a designated protocol that is designated to the control apparatus, (b) a common protocol communication means for communicating with the control apparatus, regardless of which type the control apparatus is of, in a common protocol that is preset, and (c) a relay means for relaying communication in the designated protocol and communication in the common protocol by converting the protocols from one to the other, and

the terminal-end communication means, when the addresses of the devices indicate which device is to be controlled by the control apparatus, transmits to that programmable display apparatus that is connected with the control apparatus, an instruction for changing the contents of the addresses in the common protocol.

10. The control server apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the terminal-end communication means communicates with the terminal apparatus via the Internet.

11. A control system comprising:

programmable display apparatuses including (a) a designated protocol communication means for communicating with a control apparatus for controlling a device in a designated protocol that is designated to the control apparatus, (b) a common protocol communication means for communicating, regardless of which type the control apparatus is of, in a common protocol that is preset, and (c) a relay means for relaying communication in the designated protocol and communication in the common protocol by converting the protocols from one to the other; and

a control server apparatus including (d) a display apparatus-end communication means, connected to the programmable display apparatuses, for receiving data indicating screens of the programmable display apparatuses, (e) a converting means for converting the thus received data into a format that is displayable for a terminal apparatus, and (f) a terminal-end communication means for communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network so as to transmit the data that is converted into the format by the converting means.

12. A method of communicating comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving data indicating a screen of a programmable display apparatus by a control server apparatus;

(b) converting, into a format that is displayable for a terminal apparatus, the thus received data in the step (a); and

(c) transmitting the data that is thus converted by communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network.

13. A recording medium storing a communication control program, the communication control program being for operating, as a control server apparatus, a computer, which is connected with a programmable display apparatus, and which includes a display apparatus-end communication means for receiving data indicating a screen of the programmable display apparatus, and a terminal-end communication means for communicating with a terminal apparatus via a network, wherein:

the communication control program operates the computer as a converting means for converting, into a format that is displayable for a terminal apparatus, data received by the display apparatus-end communication means, and controls the terminal-end communication means to transmit the data that is thus converted by the converting means.

14. A control terminal apparatus, comprising:

a wide area network communication means of being connected, via a wide area network, to a local control system including a control unit for controlling a control object in accordance with a control program, and a control display apparatus for communicating with the control unit via a serial interface so as to display or control a control state of the control unit; and

a serial port simulating means for presetting which local control system having a control unit that is to receive the control program, and for receiving, as a proxy of a serial port, the control program which a control program generating means outputs to a serial port, and transmits, to the local control system, instruction data indicating the control program and the control unit to receive the control program, so as to instruct the wide area network communication means to give an instruction for updating the control program.

15. A control system comprising:

a local control system including a control unit for controlling a control object in accordance with a control program, and a control display apparatus for displaying or controlling a control state of the control unit, the control display apparatus having (a) a designated protocol communication means for communicating via the serial interface in a designated protocol designated to a type of the control unit so as to display or control the control state of the control unit, (b) a common protocol communication means for communicating with a network other than the serial interface, regardless of which type the control apparatus is of, in a common protocol that is preset, and (c) a relay means for relaying communication between the designated protocol means and the common protocol means; and

a control terminal apparatus including (d) a wide area network communication means capable of being connected, via a wide area network, and (e) a serial port simulating means (i) for presetting which local control system having a control unit that is to receive the control program, (ii) for receiving, as a proxy of a serial port, the control program which a control program generating means outputs to a serial port, and (iii) transmitting, to the local control system, instruction data indicating the control program and the control unit to receive the control program, so as to instruct the wide area network communication means to give an instruction for updating the control program,

the local control system including a display apparatus specifying means for specifying, via the wide area network, the control display apparatus connected to the control unit to receive the control program, in accordance with instruction data, which the local control system receives from the wide area network, and instructing, in the common protocol and via the network, the control display apparatus to update the control program.

16. A recording medium, storing therein a program for operating a computer as a control terminal apparatus including a control unit for controlling a control object in accordance with a control program, a wide area network communication means capable of being connected via a wide area network to a local control system having a control display apparatus for communicating with the control unit via a serial interface so as to display or control a control state of the control unit, the recording medium storing therein:

a program for operating the computer as a serial port simulating means for presetting which local control system having a control unit that is to receive the control program, and for receiving, as a proxy of a serial port, the control program which a control program generating means outputs to a serial port, and transmits, to the local control system, instruction data indicating the control program and the control unit to receive the control program, so as to instruct the wide area network communication means to give an instruction for updating the control program.

17. A control system comprising:

an acquiring means for displaying a state of a device on a display-use screen that has been generated in advance, and for acquiring screen data and device data from a control display apparatus for giving a control instruction for the device via the display-use screen, the screen data being for the display-use screen, and device data indicating a state of the device;

a generating means for generating terminal-use data for displaying the display-use screen on a display surface of the terminal apparatus, in accordance with the screen data and device data thus acquired; and

a communication means for communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network so as to transmit the terminal-use data to the terminal apparatus.

18. A control system comprising:

a control display apparatus, which displays a state of device on a display-use screen that has been generated in advance, and which gives a control instruction to the device via the display-use screen, the control display apparatus including a recording means for storing therein screen data, which is data of the display-use screen, and a transmitting means for transmitting the screen data stored in the recording means in accordance with a request from a terminal apparatus;

a communication means for acquiring, from the control display apparatus, device data indicating a state of the device, the communication means being capable of communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network;

an execution program recording means for storing therein an execution program for causing the terminal apparatus to perform an action of inquiring the communication means about the device data corresponding to the screen data transmitted, and an action of displaying the display-use screen on the terminal apparatus in accordance with a response to the inquiring; and

a generating means for generating terminal-use data for displaying the display-use screen on a display surface of the terminal apparatus, in accordance with the thus acquired screen data and the device data,

the communication means transmitting the execution program and the terminal-use data to the terminal apparatus so as to cause the terminal apparatus to perform the actions, and acquiring device data that is inquired about by the terminal, so as to transmit the device data.

19. A computer readable recording medium, storing a control communication program for executing:

an acquiring process for acquiring device data for displaying a state of a device on a display-use screen that has been generated in advance, and for acquiring screen data and device data from a control display apparatus for giving a control instruction for the device via the display-use screen, the screen data being for the display-use screen, and device data indicating a state of the device;

a generating process for generating terminal-use data for displaying the display-use screen on a display surface of the terminal apparatus, in accordance with the thus acquired screen data and the device data; and

a communicating process for communicating with the terminal apparatus via a network so as to cause the terminal apparatus to transmit the terminal-use data.

20. A recording medium being readable for a computer for use in a control system including a control display apparatus, which displays a state of device on a display-use screen that has been generated in advance, and which gives a control instruction to the device via the display-use screen, the control display apparatus including a recording means for storing therein screen data for the display-use screen, and a transmitting means for transmitting the screen data stored in the recording means in accordance with a request from a terminal apparatus, the recording medium storing a program for executing:

a communication process for acquiring, from the control display apparatus, a device data indicating the state of the device, and can communicate with the terminal apparatus via a network;

an execution program recording process for causing the terminal apparatus to perform an action of inquiring the communication process about the device data corresponding to the screen data transmitted, and an action of displaying the display-use screen on the terminal apparatus in accordance with a response to the inquiring; and

a generating process for generating terminal-use data for displaying the display-use screen on a display surface of the terminal apparatus, in accordance with the thus acquired screen data and the device data,

the communication process transmitting the execution program and the terminal-use data to the terminal apparatus so as to cause the terminal apparatus to perform the actions, and acquiring device data that is inquired about by the terminal, so as to transmit the device data.

21. A control system, comprising:

a control display apparatus for displaying a state of a device on a display-use screen that has been generated in advance, and for giving a control instruction for the device via the display-use screen;

a server apparatus including a server-end communication means for acquiring device data from the control display apparatus, and for transmitting the device data, the device data indicating the state of the device;

a plurality of terminal apparatuses including a terminal-end recording means for storing screen data in a format suitable for display processing, the screen data being for the display-use screen, a display processing means for inquiring the server-end communication means about whether or not the server-end communication means has acquired the device data corresponding the screen data stored in the terminal-end recording means, and for displaying the display-use screen in accordance with the device data transmitted from the server-end communication means, and a terminal-end communication means for communicating with the server-end communication means via a local network so as to receive the inquiry from the display processing means and the device data as a reply for the inquiry.

22. The control system as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

the server apparatus includes a server-end storing means for storing the screen data in a format suitable for display processing, and a communication relay means for relaying communication between the server-end communication means and a public network, the server-end communication means acquiring the screen data stored in the server-end storing means and giving the screen data to the communication relay means, and

the display processing means (a) inquires the server-end communication means, by relay communication via the relay means via the public network, about whether or not the server-end communication means has acquired the screen data stored in the server-end storing means and the device data corresponding thereto, and (b) displays the screen-use screen in accordance with (i) the screen data transmitted from the server-end communication means by the relay communication and (ii) the device data corresponding thereto, (c) causes the server-end communication means to perform the communication via the local network for acquiring the screen data stored in the terminal-end storing means, and (d) causes the sever-end communication means to perform the communication via the public network for acquiring the screen data stored in the server-end storing means.

23. A recording medium storing therein a communication control program for causing a computer to execute:

in a control system including (a) a control display apparatus for displaying a state of a device on a display-use screen generated in advance, and for giving, via the display-use screen, a control instruction for the device, (b) a sever apparatus having a sever communication means for acquiring, from the control display apparatus, display data indicating the state of the device, and for transmitting the device data, and (c) a plurality of terminal apparatuses for communicating with the server apparatus,

a storing process for storing the screen data in a terminal-end storing means for storing screen data in a format suitable for display processing, the screen data being that data of display-use screen which the terminal apparatuses have;

a display processing means for inquiring the sever-end communication means about whether or not the server-end communication means has acquired the device data corresponding to that screen data stored in the terminal-end storing means, which the terminal apparatuses have, and for displaying the display-use screen in accordance with the device data transmitted from the server-end communication means; and

a terminal-end communication means for communicating, via a local network, with the server-end communication means so as to receive the inquiry from the display processing means and the device data as a reply thereto.

24. The recording medium as set forth in claim 23, further comprising:

a sever-end storing means for storing therein the screen data in a format suitable for display processing; and

a communication relay means for relaying communication between the server-end communication means and a public network,

the server-end communication means acquiring the screen data stored in the server-end storing means, and the communication control program causing the computer to perform the storing processing for storing the screen data in the server-end storing means in the server apparatus for giving the screen data to the communication relay means, and in the server-end storing means,

the display processing means (a) inquiring the server-end communication means, by relay communication via the relay means via the public network, about whether or not the server-end communication means has acquired the screen data stored in the server-end storing means and the device data corresponding thereto, and (b) displaying the screen-use screen in accordance with the screen data transmitted from the server-end communication means and the device data corresponding thereto by the relay communication, (c) causing the server-end communication means to perform the communication via the local network for acquiring the screen data stored in the terminal-end storing means, and (d) causing the sever-end network to perform the communication via the public network for acquiring the screen data stored in the server-end storing means.

25. A control system for accumulating data regarding a control apparatus to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the control apparatus, between the control apparatus and display-type control apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the control apparatus, and which give a control instruction to the control apparatus, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the display-type control apparatus, and at least one of the display-type control apparatuses, wherein:

the display-type control apparatus includes;

a protocol converting means for converting the communication protocols used in both the networks from one to the other; and

a delivery means for delivering to the host computer, a user program for displays a control states of the control apparatus, the user program being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the user program, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and the output data resulted from the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the change elements, and

the host computer includes;

an accumulating means for accumulating the user program, the change elements, and both the data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the display-type control apparatus;

a searching means for consecutively searching and displaying the user program, the change elements and both the data accumulated in the accumulating means;

a converting means for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the user program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a communicating means for transmitting the execution programs, the change elements, and both the data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the change elements in the user program in accordance with both the data.

26. A data accumulating method, including the step of accumulating data regarding a control apparatus to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the control apparatus, between the control apparatus and display-type control apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the control apparatus, and which give a control instruction to the control apparatus, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the display-type control apparatus, and at least one of the display-type control apparatuses, the data accumulating method comprising the steps of:

causing the display-type control apparatus (a) to convert the communication protocols used in both the network from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, a user program for displays a control states of the control apparatus, the user program being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus in the user program, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and the output data resulted from the control instruction data, and the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the change elements;

accumulating the user program, the change elements, and both the data, which are thus delivered to the host computer, sequentially in time sequence and per the display-type control apparatus;

consecutively searching and displaying the user program, the change elements and both the data accumulated in the accumulating means;

converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the user program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

transmitting the execution programs, the change elements, and both the data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the change elements in the user program in accordance with both the data.

27. A computer-readable recording medium storing therein a program for accumulating data regarding a control apparatus to which an input apparatus and an output apparatus are connected, by communication, via a designated network in a communication protocol designated to the control apparatus, between the control apparatus and display-type control apparatuses, which display control states of the input and the output apparatus caused by the control apparatus, and which give a control instruction to the control apparatus, and by communication, via a common network in a common communication protocol, between a host computer provided ranking above the display-type control apparatuses, and at least one of the display-type control apparatuses, the recording medium storing therein the program for executing:

a process for causing the display-type control apparatuses (a) to convert the communication protocols used in both the networks from one to the other, and (b) to deliver to the host computer, (i) a user program for displays a control states of the control apparatus, the user program being executed when a preset delivery condition is satisfied, (ii) respective change elements, which are corresponded to addresses of the input and the output apparatus, and which are changed in accordance with data of the control instruction and the output data resulted from the control instruction data, and (iii) the control instruction data (iv) the output data, the control instruction data and the output data corresponding to the change elements;

a process for accumulating the user program, the change elements, and both the data, which are thus delivered, sequentially in time sequence and per the display-type control apparatus;

a process for consecutively searching and displaying the user program, the change elements and both the data accumulated in the accumulating means;

a process for converting, into an execution program executable for a terminal apparatus, the user program searched out by the searching means as requested by the terminal apparatus; and

a process for transmitting the execution programs, the change elements, and both the data to the terminal apparatus that executes the execution program, so as to change the change elements in the user program in accordance with both the data.