Systems and methods that utilize scalable vector graphics to provide web-based visualization of a device

• US 20050108364A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Batke, Brian A., Callaghan, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,291,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/986 Document structures and storage, e.g. HTML extensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods that employ scalable vector graphics (SVG) to view and effectuate an industrial device from a remote Web interface. The systems and methods can be utilized to retrieve an SVG XML markup language-based file associated with the device and execute the SVG file via basic ASCII drawing commands. Thus, a faceplate of an industrial device and/or other device-related information can be represented via SVG syntax and stored with the device. A user can employ a Web browser from a remote location (e.g., via a Web client) to retrieve the SVG file, wherein the file can be loaded within the Web browser and/or an open source software package. The SVG file can be executed to render an interactive graphical faceplate that can depict LEDs, alphanumeric displays, inputs/output, etc., trending mechanisms (e.g., graphs, charts, etc.), and capabilities to load parameters.

Claims

1. A system that provides remote visualization of a device'"'"'s faceplate, comprising:

an interface component that retrieves a stream of SVG information that includes data representative of the device'"'"'s physical faceplate; and

a display component that executes the stream of SVG information to render an interactive graphical representation of the device'"'"'s faceplate within a remote viewing window.

2. The system of claim 1, the stream of SVG information comprises a finite set of data embedded within an XML markup language-based file.

3. The system of claim 1, the stream of SVG information is obtained in real-time from the device.

4. The system of claim 1, the interface is a Web browser.

5. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation is rendered within one of a Web browser and an open software package.

6. The system of claim 5, the open software package is one of an Adobe and a Macromedia plug-in.

7. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation provides for viewing, recording, and effecting device operation.

8. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation depicts is dynamically updated to reflect a current state of the device'"'"'s physical faceplate.

9. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation comprises one or more of an LED, an alphanumeric display, a state, a status, an input value, and an output value.

10. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation further depicts one or more of a chart and a graph to monitor device performance.

11. The system of claim 1, the graphical representation can be stored for future analysis.

12. The system of claim 1 is employed in an industrial environment.

13. A system that provides access to a device from a remote Web interface, comprising:

a data conveying component that is utilized to stream device-related data;

an interface component that couples the data conveying component to a device residing on a network; and

a network browser that retrieves a stream of data from the device and generates a graphical depiction of the device based on the information within the stream of data, the graphical depiction provides a user with access to the device.

14. The system of claim 13, the stream of data is based on a Scalable Vector Graphics XML markup language.

15. The system of claim 13, the stream of data is stored local to the device or the network.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprises a firewall that provides secure communication between the network browser and the device.

17. The system of claim 13 is employed in an industrial environment.

18. The system of claim 13, the graphical depiction comprises a virtual representation of a physical faceplate associated with the device.

19. The system of claim 18, the virtual representation of the physical faceplate comprises one or more of an LED, an alphanumeric display, a status, a state, an input value, and an output value.

20. The system of claim 13, the graphical depiction displays device performance information in one or more of a chart, a graph and one or more values.

21. The system of claim 13, the graphical depiction is utilized to effectuate device operation.

22. The system of claim 13 further comprises intelligence comprising one or more of a statistic, a probability, an inference and a classifier to facilitate at least one of locating the file, executing the file and interacting with the device via the graphical depiction.

23. The system of claim 22, the graphical depiction is dynamically updated to reflect a current state of the device'"'"'s physical faceplate.

33. The system of claim 19 further comprises means for effectuating the operation of the device via a graphical display.

24. A method to interact with a device through a remote interface, comprising:

creating a file that represents at least one aspect of the device;

storing the file with the device;

employing a remote interface to access the file; and

utilizing the file to generate a graphical representation of the at least one aspect of the device within the remote interface.

25. The system of claim 24, the file is based on a Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) XML markup language.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprises employing ACSII drawings commands to execute the instructions embedded within the SVG XML file to draw the graphical representation.

27. The system of claim 24 further comprises employing an open software package to display the graphical representation.

28. A method that renders device-related graphics from streamed SVG information within a Web-based interface, comprising:

establishing a connection with a network associated with a device;

retrieving a stream of SVG information associated with the device; and

executing the stream of SVG information within the remote interface to draw a dynamically updated interactive graphic of the device.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprises generating an SVG file with information related to a physical faceplate of the device.

30. The system of claim 28 further comprises employing intelligence to facilitate at least one of locating the SVG information, executing the SVG information and interacting with the device via the interactive graphic.

31. The system of claim 30, the intelligence is based on one or more of a statistic, a probability, an inference and a classifier.

32. A system that provides Web-based visualization of a device, comprising:

means for retrieving a file with device-related information;

means for invoking the file within a Web-based browser; and

means for graphically viewing the device related information.