Software download system for controller

• US 20050144620A1
• Filed: 12/14/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Noda, Hiroshi, Ando, Hiroshige, Hada, Kouji
• Application Number:
  US11/010,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144620A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/178
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS

Abstract

A GPS receiver is provided within a controller. When the customer orders the option software, the ID information identifying the controller and the positional information acquired by the GPS receiver are transmitted to a management apparatus on the controller maker side. The management apparatus collates the received ID information and positional information with the information stored in storage means of its own, and as a result, transmits the option software to the controller via a communication line if it is determined that there is no problem on transmission. And the option software is downloaded into the controller.

Claims

1. A software download system for downloading software for a controller from a management apparatus via communication means into said controller;

wherein said controller comprises;

a GPS receiver for receiving the positional information of said controller from a GPS; and

a transmitter for transmitting the information including the positional information of said controller to said management apparatus; and

wherein said management apparatus comprises;

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted from said transmitter of said controller;

storage means for storing the export restricted area information;

determination means for determining whether or not said controller is in an export restricted area based on said export restricted area information stored in said storage means and the received positional information of said controller; and

transmitting means for transmitting the software of said controller to said controller, when said determination means determines that said controller is outside the export restricted area.

2. The software download system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores advisability of selling each software to the export restricted area, and said determination means determines whether or not it is permitted to sell the desired software, transmitted from the controller, to the export restricted area, and if it is determined that selling of the software is not permitted, said determination means determines whether or not the controller resides in the export restricted area.

3. The software download system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmitted from said controller includes the ID information of said controller, and the storage means of said management apparatus includes the ID information of the controller and the customer information.

6. The software download system according to claim 2, wherein the information transmitted from said controller includes the ID information of said controller, and the storage means of said management apparatus includes the ID information of the controller and the customer information.

4. A software download system for downloading software for a controller from a management apparatus via communication means into said controller;

wherein said controller comprises;

a GPS receiver for receiving the positional information of said controller from a GPS; and

a transmitter for transmitting the information including the positional information of said controller and the ID information specifying said controller to said management apparatus; and

wherein said management apparatus comprises;

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted from said transmitter of said controller;

storage means for storing the ID information of said controller and the position where said controller is installed;

determination means for determining whether or not the received ID information and positional information coincide with the ID information and positional information stored in said storage means; and

transmitting means for transmitting the software of said controller via said communication means to said controller, when a determination result by said determination means is affirmative.

5. A software transmission system for transmitting software from a management apparatus via an electrical communication line to a remote controller;

wherein said controller comprises a transmitter for transmitting the information of position where said controller is installed and the ID information specifying said controller; and

wherein said management apparatus comprises;

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted from said transmitter of said controller;

a database;

determination means for determining whether or not incorporating the software appointed to transmit to said controller into said controller is restricted by the rules or other regulations by referring to the information received by said receiving means with said database; and

transmitting means for transmitting said software to said controller, when said determination means determines that incorporating said software into said controller is not restricted.