Library that includes modifiable industrial automation objects

• US 20060259500A1
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hood, Gavan W., Hall, Kenwood H., Kappelhoff, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 7,809,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/056 Programming the PLC
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/13148 Object oriented programming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An industrial automation object library system comprises a data store that is accessible by way of the Internet. The data store retains an object that is executable by a programmable logic controller, wherein the object conforms to a hierarchically structured data model. A location component associated with the data store accesses the data store to locate the object upon receipt of a request for the object. In one particular example, the hierarchically structured data model can be based at least in part upon ISA S95 and/or ISA S88.

Claims

1. An industrial automation object library system comprising the following computer-executable components:

a data store accessible by way of one of the Internet and an intranet, the data store retains an object that is executable by a programmable logic controller, the object conforms to a hierarchically structured data model; and

a location component associated with the data store that accesses the data store to locate the object upon receipt of a request for the object.

2. The system of claim 1, the hierarchically structured data model is based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S88, ISA S95, and OMAC.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a deliverance component that delivers the object to an entity requesting the object.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a sales component that collects payment for the requested object.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a security component that ensures that an entity initiating the request is authorized to receive the object.

6. The system of claim 1, the data store includes a plurality of objects.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an interface component that selectively filters at least one object based at least in part upon one of an identity of an entity requesting review of the plurality of objects and version information associated with requested objects.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subscription component that enables several entities to subscribe to the data store.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a detection component that recognizes at least one of when an object has been added to the data store and when an updated version of an object has been added to the data store.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

an analysis component that determines which subscribing entities are associated with at least one of the added object and the updated version of the object; and

a distribution component that automatically distributes the at least one of the added object and the updated version of the object to the subscribing entities.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a scheduling component that schedules the distribution during off-peak time slots.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a pinging component that notifies subscribing entities of addition of an object to the data store.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an updating component that facilitates one of adding an object to the data store and modifying an object existent within the data store.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising an encryption component that encrypts the object prior to communicating the object over the Internet.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sales component that allows a defined number of accesses to the data store for a defined price.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sales component that allows access to the data store to a paying entity for a defined amount of time.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a filtering component that provides a portion of the object to a requesting entity.

18. A method for providing an object to a programmable logic controller comprising the following computer-executable acts:

providing a data storage unit that is accessible by way of one of the Internet and an intranet, the data storage unit includes at least one object that conforms to a hierarchically structured data model and is executable by the programmable logic controller;

receiving a request for the at least one object over the Internet; and

delivering the requested object to a requesting entity.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising securing payment for the requested object prior to delivering the requested object.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating a bill for the requesting entity upon receipt of the request.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining that the requesting entity is authorized to received the requested object prior to delivering the requested object.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

recognizing that a disparate object has been added to the data storage unit; and

automatically delivering the disparate object to at least one requesting entity that has subscribed to the data storage unit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining off-peak hours with respect to the requesting entity; and

delivering the disparate object during the off-peak hours.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining that an additional object has been added to the data storage unit; and

notifying one or more entities that subscribe to the data storage unit regarding the additional object.

25. An online library system, comprising:

means for providing access to a data store by way of one of the Internet and an intranet, the data store includes at least one object that is executable by a programmable logic controller and is designed in accordance with a hierarchically structured data model; and

means for receiving a request for the at least one object.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for providing the at least on object to a requesting entity upon receipt of payment from the requesting entity.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for generating a bill for the at least one object; and

means for delivering the bill to an entity that requests the object.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for automatically distributing the at least one object to a plurality of subscribers.

29. The system of claim 25, the hierarchically structured data model is based at least in part upon one or more of ISA S88, ISA S95, and OMAC.