Systems, devices, and methods for network wizards

• US 20040165544A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cornett, James W., Karklins, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0869 Validating the configuration within one network element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0883 Semiautomatic configuration, e.g. proposals from system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0889 Techniques to speed-up the configuration process
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method for configuring a network interface device. The network interface device can be adaptable to connect a programmable logic controller to a network. The method can comprise automatically enforcing, via a wizard, user compliance with a plurality of predetermined steps for a computer-assisted configuration of the network interface device. The computer-assisted configuration of the network interface device can relate to an OSI transport layer or above. The method can comprise receiving at least one setting associated with a network connection for the network interface device.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a network interface device, the network interface device adaptable to connect a programmable logic controller to a network, said method comprising:

automatically enforcing, via a wizard, user compliance with a plurality of predetermined steps for a computer-assisted configuration of the network interface device, the computer-assisted configuration relating to an OSI transport layer or above; and

providing at least one setting to the network interface device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, from a user, the at least one setting for the network interface device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the at least one setting for the network interface device

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the at least one setting for the network interface device

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a count of network connections for the network interface device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a type for at least one network connection to the network interface device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the at least one setting for the network interface device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the network interface device with the at least one setting.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a setting of a logical position of the network interface device relative to the programmable logic controller.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a Q-address used by an input/output module attached to the programmable logic controller, the input/output module further couplable to the network interface device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying the at least one setting for the network interface device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is adaptable to communicatively couple the programmable logic controller to an ethernet network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is adaptable to communicatively couple the programmable logic controller to the Internet.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one e-mail client configuration setting.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one FTP client configuration setting.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one FTP server configuration setting.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one HTTP server configuration setting.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one FTP server login services setting.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one secure HTTP server login services setting.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to validate an FTP server address.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to receive at least one SMTP client configuration setting.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to configure an e-mail message to at least one user.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps are adaptable to validate an e-mail server address.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said network interface device is adaptable to communicate at least one programmable logic controller administration setting to the programmable logic controller.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said network interface device is adaptable to communicate process data from the programmable logic controller to a network.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined steps comprises a help utility.

27. A wizard adaptable to configure a network interface device couplable to a programmable logic controller, said wizard comprising:

an input processor adapted to sequentially prompt a user for at least one setting for configuring the network interface device at an OSI transport layer or above; and

an output processor adapted to provide the at least one setting from the wizard to the network interface device.

28. A system comprising:

a network interface device adaptable to communicatively couple a programmable logic controller to a network; and

a wizard comprising a plurality of predetermined steps adapted to configure said network interface device at an OSI transport layer or above.

29. A machine-readable medium storing instructions for activities comprising:

providing a plurality of predetermined steps adapted to sequentially prompt a user for at least one setting for configuring the network interface device at an OSI transport layer or above; and

providing a plurality of predetermined steps adapted to provide the at least one setting from the wizard to the network interface device.