Automation installation

• US 20040044420A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clemens Dinges, Joachim Feld, Michael Schlereth, Ronald Lange
• Original Assignee: Clemens Dinges, Joachim Feld, Michael Schlereth, Ronald Lange
• Inventors: Schlereth, Michael, Dinges, Clemens, Lange, Ronald, Feld, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 6,915,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24167 Encryption, password, user access privileges
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31166 Access data by name, object, stored in list, database
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33209 Protocol, mailbox, email, mail system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34039 Access central database through internet
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Information available in an automation installation can be accessed via the automation installation by a computer that is coupled to the automation installation. The computer can access, via an interface, a search machine stored in the automation installation. The search machine selects the information available in the automation installation according to at least one criterion defined by an alphanumeric character string.

Claims

1. An automation installation having an interface (2) which a computer (4) coupled to the automation installation (1) can use to retrieve information about the automation installation (1) which is available in the automation installation (1),

characterized

in that the interface (2) can be used from the computer (4) to call up a search engine (19) which is stored in the automation installation (1) and which can be used to select the information about the automation installation (1) which is available in the automation installation (1) on the basis of at least one criterion, with the criterion for the automation installation (1) being able to be prescribed in the form of an alphanumeric character string using the computer (4).

2. The automation installation as claimed in claim 1,

characterized

in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up at least one connection list (15-18).

3. The automation installation, as claimed in claim 2,

characterized

in that the connection list (15-18) comprises non-installation-specific operating functions, installation-specific operating functions and/or installation-specific details other than operating functions:

4. The automation installation as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized

in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up a help function (22).

5. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims,

characterized

in that the interface (2) can also be used to call up an e-mail function (21).

6. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims,

characterized

in that the computer (4) can also use the interface (2) to store a message (28) in the automation installation (1), which message can be retrieved via the interface (2) by the computer (4) or by another computer which can be coupled to the automation installation (1) during subsequent access to the automation installation (1).

7. The automation installation as claimed in claim 6,

characterized

in that retrieval of the message (28) is access-protected.

8. The automation installation system as claimed in claim 6,

characterized

in that retrieval of the message (28) is not access-protected.

9. The automation installation as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8,

characterized

in that the message (28) is automatically erased by the automation installation (1) after a storage time has elapsed.

10. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims,

characterized

in that access to the automation installation (1) by the computer (4) is password-protected.

11. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims,

characterized

in that the automation installation (1) can store messages about states of a technical installation (10) controlled by the automation installation (1) in the automation installation (1) such that they can be retrieved by the computer (4) via the interface (2).

12. The automation installation as claimed in one of the above claims,

characterized

in that the interface (2) is in the form of an interface (2) to the worldwide web (3).

13. The automation installation as claimed in claim 12,

characterized

in that the search engine (19) and possibly other functions (15-18, 20-23) which can be retrieved via the interface (2) is or are integrated in a web portal (14).

14. A computer program product for programming an automation installation (1) as claimed in one of the above claims.