Device and process for operation of automation components

• US 20040260518A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wagner, Peter, Polz, Andreas, Kiesel, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23161 Hand held terminal PDA displays machine control program when user is near that machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23406 Programmer device, portable, handheld detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio

Abstract

The operation of automation components is to be configured conveniently. Consequently, use is made of generally available IT units, for example PDA or mobile radio telephones, as simple HMI (Human Machine Interface). In this case, the nearest automation component can be displayed visually to the operator. The processing of conversion processes or service routines can be controlled by workflows. Furthermore, personalized or unit-specific access rights can be awarded.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating and/or observing automation components, having a communication device for data communication with the automation components, in particular via radio, and a data processing device for processing the data received and to be transmitted, characterized in that the apparatus is a mobile radio telephone, a personal digital assistant or a portable computer.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the data processing device can be used to evaluate the data received from the automation components with regard to the spatial distance of the respective automation component from the location of the apparatus such that a nearest automation component can be detected.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, having a visualization device for visualizing automation components which are in data communication with the apparatus with the aid of symbols or texts uniquely assigned to the automation components.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the nearest automation component can be visualized by predetermined symbols or highlighting.

5. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, in which multimedia messages cap be processed and transmitted with the aid of the communication and data processing device.

6. The apparatus as claimed in the preamble of claim 1, characterized by an authorization device for acquiring operator identification information from an operator for the purpose of establishing the authorization of the latter to operate the automation components.

7. The, apparatus as claimed in the preamble of claim 1 or as claimed in claim 6, in which the authorization device cam send operator unit identification information to the automation components and/or to external servers such that the automation components and/or the external servers can check the authorization of the apparatus to operate.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the operator identification information can be acquired from a password, a PIN, a dongle, a memory card and/or a fingerprint.

9. The apparatus as claimed in the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device can be used to call up and/or process workflows for commissioning, converting and/or servicing the automation components and/or an external server.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 having a display device for optically guiding an operator when processing a workflow.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10 having an input/output device for controlling and/or processing a workflow by the operator.

12. A method for operating and/or observing automation components by communicating data to the automatic components, in particular via radio, and processing the data received and to be transmitted, characterized in that the data received from the automation components with regard to the spatial distance of the respective automation component from an operating location are evaluated such that a nearest automation component can be detected.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, in which automation components with which data communication exists are visualized with the aid in each case of uniquely assigned symbols or texts.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which the nearest automation component is visualized by predetermined symbols or highlighting.

15. The method as claimed in one of claims 12 to 14, in which the data are for communicating and processing multimedia messages.

16. The method as claimed in the preamble of claim 12, characterized by acquiring operator identification information from an operator for the purpose of establishing the authorization of the latter to operate the automation components.

17. The method as claimed in the preamble of claim 12 or as claimed in claim 16, in which the communication comprises sending operator unit identification information to the automation components and/or to external servers such that the automation components and/or external servers can check the authorization to operate.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which the operator identification information is acquired from a pass rd, a PIN, a dongle, a memory card and/or a fingerprint.

19. The method as claimed in the preamble of claim 12, characterized in that workflows for commissioning, converting and/or servicing the automation components and/or an external server are called up and/or processed.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which an operator is guided optically, in particular, when processing a workflow.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19 or 20, in which workflows are controlled and/or processed by an operator.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19, in which the work steps cared out by the operator are logged.