Control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, and a method for handling messages from a mobile user connected to the control system

• US 20060205389A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Markic, Robert, Öberg, Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 7,873,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25167 Receive commands through mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method for handling messages from a mobile user, in a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, wherein the real world objects are represented by software objects and the user selects one of the objects for the message. The method includes receiving information about which of the objects has been selected. A voice message is recorded. The message is stored associated with the software object representing the selected real world object, such that the message is accessible from the control system. The presence of a message associated with the object is indicated. Upon request, the content of the message is presented.

Claims

1. A method for handling messages from a mobile user, connected to a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, wherein each real world object is represented by a software object and the mobile user selects one of the objects for the message, the method comprising:

receiving information about which of said objects has been selected,

recording a voice message,

storing the message associated with the software object representing the selected object, so that the message is accessible from the control system,

indicating the presence of a message associated with the object, and

upon request, presenting the content of the message.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each software object is an Aspect object which contains a set of selectable functions representing different aspects of the real world object, the method further comprising:

including the functions “

record a message” and

“

present a message”

to said set of functions,

recording a message comprising;

activating the “

record a message”

function of the object, and

presenting a message comprising;

activating the “

present a message”

function of the object.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the message is recorded by means of a handheld mobile unit having an user interface and being wirelessly connected to the control system.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein objects possible to select are displayed on said user interface of the mobile unit.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the recorded message is transmitted from the mobile unit to the control system and stored in the control system.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the message is presented on a second user interface connected to the control system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recording, storing and presenting of the message is achieved by means of one or more software modules common to the software objects in the control system.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting the voice message into a text string, storing the text string and upon request presenting the content of the message by displaying the text string.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recorded message is stored as a voice message and upon request the content of the message is presented by playing the voice message.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the presence of the message is indicated in connection with a visual representation of the object.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning a category and a priority to the message and visually indicating the category and priority of the message.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing information about who recorded the message and upon request presenting information about who recorded the message.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically deleting the message in dependence of a predetermined period of time following the recording of the message.

14. A computer program comprising program instructions which, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform the process of claim 1.

15. A computer readable medium having a program recorded thereon, where the program is to make a computer perform the steps of claim 1, when said program is run on the computer.

16. A control system adapted for controlling a plurality of real world objects represented as software objects, the method comprising:

means for selecting one of said object,

means for creating a message,

a storage unit for storing the message associated with the software object,

means for indicating the presence of the message, and

means for, upon request, presenting the content of the message.

17. The control system according to claim 16, further comprising a handheld mobile unit having an user interface, which mobile unit is wirelessly connected to the control system and that the mobile unit is provided with said selecting means and recording means.

18. The control system according to claim claim 16, further comprising a second user interface and said indicating means is adapted for indicating the presence of the message on the second user interface and said presenting means is adapted for presenting the message on the second user interface.