SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DIRECT WEB ACCESS TO CONTROLLERS IN A PROCESS CONTROL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A controller, comprising:
- an execution environment capable of executing an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment; and
a web server capable of being executed as a background task in the execution environment, the web server also capable of providing direct web access to the controller by providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network for display on a web browser; and
a scheduler capable of scheduling execution of the application and calling the execution environment to allow the execution environment to execute a plurality of background tasks including the web server, the scheduler capable of informing the execution environment of an amount of time provided to the execution environment for executing one or more of the background tasks the execution environment capable of guaranteeing that control is returned to the scheduler on or before expiration of the identified amount of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller includes an execution environment capable of executing an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment. The controller also includes a web server capable of being executed in the execution environment. The web server is also capable of providing direct web access to the controller by providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network for display on a web browser. The information could be provided in the form of graphical images embedded in web pages or using a web service, a web form, or a smart client application. Also, the web server could be executed as a background task in the execution environment, the execution environment could represent a deterministic execution environment, and the application could represent a real-time application.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A controller, comprising:
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an execution environment capable of executing an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment; and
a web server capable of being executed as a background task in the execution environment, the web server also capable of providing direct web access to the controller by providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network for display on a web browser; and
a scheduler capable of scheduling execution of the application and calling the execution environment to allow the execution environment to execute a plurality of background tasks including the web server, the scheduler capable of informing the execution environment of an amount of time provided to the execution environment for executing one or more of the background tasks the execution environment capable of guaranteeing that control is returned to the scheduler on or before expiration of the identified amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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2. (canceled)
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10. A method, comprising:
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executing, in an execution environment within a controller, an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment;
executing a web server as a background task in the execution environment;
providing direct web access to the controller using the web server, wherein providing the direct web access comprises providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network for display on a web browser; and
scheduling execution of the application and calling the execution environment to allow the execution environment to execute a plurality of background tasks including the web server using a scheduler, wherein calling the execution environment comprises informing the execution environment of an amount of time provided to the execution environment for executing one or more of the background tasks, the execution environment capable of guaranteeing that control is returned to the scheduler on or before expiration of the identified amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22)
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11. (canceled)
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17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and operable to be executed by a processor, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
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executing, in an execution environment within a controller, an application for controlling a process element in a processing environment;
executing a web server as a background task in the execution environment, the web server capable of providing direct web access to the controller by providing information associated with at least one of the controller and the process element over a network; and
scheduling execution of the application and calling the execution environment to allow the execution environment to execute a plurality of background tasks including the web server, wherein calling the execution environment comprises informing the execution environment of an amount of time provided to the execution environment for executing one or more of the background tasks, the execution environment capable of guaranteeing that control is returned to a scheduler on or before expiration of the identified amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification