Method for remotely diagnosing process flows in systems

• US 20050038531A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korsch AG
• Original Assignee: Korsch Pressen AG
• Inventors: Hegel, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/26
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/08 co-operating with moulds carried by a turntable
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/26 Programme control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/058 Safety, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/14006 Safety, monitoring in general
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24048 Remote test, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• 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 2219/35008 Www cad, world wide design and manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for remotely diagnosing process conditions in systems such as tablet presses, using computer software. The aim of the invention is to develop a method, which overcomes the disadvantages of methods in prior art and ensures that no modifications, which lead to unintentional effects on the systems, can be made to the software. To achieve this, a programmable control system (PCS) and/or a computer, such as a personal computer (PC), is/are connected to an Internet server, such as a browser, in such a way that—the process image of all conditions and the entire parameterisation of the system (actual condition) is stored on the Internet on a protected home page and/or—the PCS and/or the PC is operated as a subscriber of an e-mail system and issues protected status messages via said system—and the installation and parameterisation of the components and the software are stored either in e-mail form or as a protected Internet page.

Claims

1. Method for remote diagnosis of process states in systems such as tabletting machines using computer software, characterized in that either a stored program control system (SPS) and/or a computer such as a personal computer (PC) is connected to an internet server in such a way that

the process image of all states and the complete parameterization of the system (actual state) is stored in a secure home page on the internet, and/or

the SPS and/or the PC is connected as a subscriber to an e-mail system and transmits status messages via this system in a secure manner and

the installation and parameterization of the components and the software are stored either as e-mail or as a secure internet site:

2. Method from claim 1, characterized in that programs are started by means of e-mail that are used to perform controlled diagnoses in the system or to start specific functions from which the state of the machine can be deduced (online diagnosis).

3. Method from claims 1 and 2, characterized in that parameterizations of the PC and/or the SPS and of files that are relevant for on-site diagnosis (offline diagnosis) are transmitted as e-mail or as secure home pages.

4. Method from claim 1, characterized in that the system automatically sends messages with varying content, such as regarding critical states and maintenance, as an e-mail to a defined addressee.

5. Method from claim 1, characterized in that the screen pages and screen contents of the SCADA system and the HMI are stored on the Internet on a secure home page such that the screen contents produced for the user in offline diagnosis can be transmitted to this secure home page for analysis, troubleshooting, and diagnosis.