System for searching across a PLC network

• US 20050278320A1
• 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 7,512,593 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 system, comprising:

a PLC network communications interface adapted to present, to a non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

a PLC network user interface adapted to receive, from a user of the non-PLC information device, at least one search parameter for searching the PLC network for at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, further wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, at least a portion of the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, an identification of the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, information related to the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, highlighted information related to the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the PLC network user interface is adapted to render, to a user of the non-PLC information device, a preview of the at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.

8. The system 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.

9. The system 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. A system, comprising:

a non-PLC information device;

a PLC network communications interface adapted to present, to the non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

a PLC network user interface adapted to receive, from a user of the non-PLC information device, at least one search parameter for searching the PLC network for at least one item that corresponds to the at least one search parameter.