Device, especially an automation apparatus, with a file index structure stored in files

• US 20050256894A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Volkmann, Frank, Talanis, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method to represent and/or display a data index structure in an XML file in a very easy manner with the aid of an internet-capable language, especially XML, in automation apparatus, so-called embedded devices, that as a rule do not have their own file index structure and to bringing said data index structure to the embedded device by sending the file so that the target machine can work as a web server thereby enabling remote access.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage for storing a file directory structure having a first hierarchy level and a second hierarchy level designed as a subordinate level of the first hierarchy level;

a first file directory situated on the first hierarchy level;

a second file directory situated on the second hierarchy level; and

a first file situated on the first or the second hierarchy level or on a subordinate hierarchy level, wherein

the file directory structure is held in a second file, wherein

the file directory structure represents part of the content or all of the content of the second file, wherein

each file directory and each file of the file directory structure is listed consecutively in the second file, wherein

each file directory and each file of the file directory structure is identified by at least one characteristic start symbol and/or at least one characteristic end symbol, and wherein

the contents of each file directory and each file in the file directory structure are stored in each case between the respective characteristic symbols.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein an Internet-compatible language is used for describing the file directory structure.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second file, in which the file directory structure is stored, is an XML file and the XML language is used for the purpose of description.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the XML language is used for describing the file directory structure.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a new line is used both for each characteristic start symbol and for each characteristic end symbol in the second file.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the designation of the relevant file directory or of the relevant file is used as a characteristic start symbol, and the designation of the relevant file directory or of the relevant file is used as a characteristic end symbol and a predeterminable character is added as a prefix.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second file includes further sections having other contents, said further sections being identified or separated in each case by at least one characteristic start symbol and at least one characteristic end symbol.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein configuration data is stored in at least one of the further sections of the second file.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein result codes and/or error codes are stored in at least one of the further sections of the second file.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus comprising mechanisms for receiving and/or storing the second file via a communication network.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the communication network is the Internet and/or a Intranet and/or a radio connection.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein a configuration of the apparatus, using the configuration data which is present in the second file, can be carried out automatically after the second file has been loaded onto the apparatus.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus can be used as a Web server after the second file has been loaded onto the apparatus.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein an update of the file directory structure can be carried out by overwriting an original file version of the second file with a new file version.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein an update of the configuration data can be carried out by overwriting an original file version of the second file with a new file version.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein after the second file has been updated, a previously set configuration data of the apparatus onto which the original file version of the second file was loaded, can automatically be checked and adapted.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus is an embedded device.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the apparatus is an automation device.

37. An automation system having at least one apparatus as claimed in claim 19.

38. A method for mapping a hierarchical first file directory structure into a second file, the method comprising:

providing at least one first hierarchy level and one second hierarchy level for the first file directory structure, wherein the second hierarchy level is designed as a subordinate level of the first hierarchy level;

providing at least one first file directory which is situated on the first hierarchy level;

providing at least one second file directory which is situated on the second hierarchy level; and

providing at least one first file which is situated on one of the two hierarchy levels or on a subordinate hierarchy level, wherein

the second file directory structure, which is mapped from the hierarchical first file directory structure, represents a part of the content or all of the content of the second file;

consecutively listing each file directory and each file of the hierarchical file directory structure that must be mapped in the second file;

identifying each file directory and each file of the hierarchical file directory structure that must be mapped by at least one characteristic start symbol and/or at least one characteristic end symbol; and

storing the contents of each file directory and each file in the file directory structure that must be mapped in each case between the assigned two characteristic symbols.