Method for searching across a PLC network

• US 20050278319A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cornett, James W., Karklins, Gregory, Rittenhouse, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: recognizing, by a PLC, that a memory device has been connected to the PLC; and configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to one or more search parameters.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

via a PLC network interface;

presenting, to a non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to at least one search parameter specified by a user of the non-PLC information device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, receiving the at least one search parameter.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, identifying the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, highlighting at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, previewing at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item comprises a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC connected to the PLC network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item comprises a content of a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC connected to the PLC network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a property of the item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises at least a portion of a file name.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file type.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises file creation temporal information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises file modification temporal information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file storage location.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file size.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a textual content of the item.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a graphical content of the item.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an image content of the item.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an audio content of the item.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a video content of the item.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an animation content of the item.

22. A machine-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for activities comprising:

via a PLC network interface;

presenting, to a non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to at least one search parameter specified by a user of the non-PLC information device.