Database system and method for industrial automation services

• US 20060010006A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knut Lagies, Volker Kreidler, Wolfgang Mutscheller
• Original Assignee: Knut Lagies, Volker Kreidler, Wolfgang Mutscheller
• Inventors: Mutscheller, Wolfgang, Lagies, Knut, Kreidler, Volker
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31418 NC program management, support, storage, distribution, version, update
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34039 Access central database through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A host system generates and manages databases incorporating data gathered from a plurality of client automation systems, such as CNC machine tools. The data may include real-time data, and is captured from the client systems under supervision of software downloaded over a network from the host system to the client systems. The captured data is transmitted over the network to the host, which creates the databases. The databases preferably. include a commercial database comprising data associated with customer owners or operators of the. client automation system, as well as a technical database, comprising captured data, administrative and other data, organized by customer and client system. Captured data is preferably associated with the date of capture, providing for the creation of a historical database for given client equipment. With customer authorization, others, such as original equipment manufacturers, may access the captured data, for which they may be charged a fee.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for managing data relating to the provision of an automation-related service to a customer having a facility comprising manufacturing equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a data structure corresponding to the provision, over a network, of the automation-related service involving the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment;

storing in a first portion of the data structure data relating to the identity of the customer;

storing in a second portion of the data structure data relating to the identity of the automation-related service;

identifying a measure of the automation-related service provided to the manufacturer; and

storing in a third portion of the data structure data relating to the measure of automation-related service provided to the customer.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the data relating to the measure of the service comprises billing data.

23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the data structure a code uniquely identifying the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the data relating to the identity of the service comprises a transaction code.

25. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the data structure machine configuration data relating to the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

26. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing, in a fourth portion of the data structure, real time trace data from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

27. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of storing in a fourth portion of the data structure machine configuration data from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the automation-related service provided to the customer and involving the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment is based upon data retrieved over the network from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the data retrieved over the network from the customer'"'"'s equipment is retrieved at least in partial response to computer instructions transmitted over the network to the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

30. The method according to claim 21, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by a manufacturer of the manufacturing equipment.

31. The method according to claim 21, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by the customer.

32. The method according to claim 31, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by a manufacturer of the manufacturing equipment.

33. A method for managing data relating to the provision of an automation-related service over a network to a customer having a facility comprising manufacturing equipment, the service being directed to the manufacturing equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

creating and storing a data structure corresponding to the provision of the automation-related service over the network to the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment;

storing in a first portion of the data structure data relating to the identity of the customer; and

storing in a second portion of the data structure data relating to the identity of the service.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of computing a measure associated with the service provided to the manufacturer.

35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of storing in a third portion of the data structure data relating to the measure of service.

36. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of computing a price for the service as a function of the measure service.

37. The method according to claim 36, further comprising the step of receiving value based on the computed price.

38. The method according to claim 33, wherein the data relating to the measure of the service comprises billing data.

39. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of storing in a third portion of the data structure a code uniquely identifying the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

40. The method according to claim 33, wherein the data relating to the identity of the service comprises a transaction code.

41. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of storing in a third portion of the data structure machine configuration data relating to the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

42. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of storing, in a third portion of the data structure, real time trace data from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

43. The method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of storing in a third portion of the data structure machine configuration data from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

44. The method according to claim 33, wherein the automation-related service provided to the customer and involving the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment is based upon data retrieved over the network from the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the data retrieved over the network from the customer'"'"'s equipment is retrieved at least in partial response to computer instructions transmitted over the network to the customer'"'"'s manufacturing equipment.

46. The method according to claim 44, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by a manufacturer of the manufacturing equipment.

47. The method according to claim 44, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by the customer.

48. The method according to claim 47, comprising the further step of permitting inspection of the data by a manufacturer of the manufacturing equipment.

49. The method according to claim 33, comprising the further step of storing in a third portion of the data structure data relating to the measure of automation-related service provided to the customer.