EXTENSIBLE MANUFACTURING/PROCESS CONTROL INFORMATION PORTAL SERVER
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Abstract
A manufacturing/process control system information access provider architecture is disclosed. Manufacturing/process control system data provider flexibility is achieved through a user-configurable manufacturing/process control information portal server that comprises multiple selectable data provides (sources) and/or data types that a particular data provider accommodates. A user configures the portal server to deliver manufacturing/process control information associated with a controlled process environment, such as a food processing plant floor or an oil refinery reactor, to the user via a browser client over the Internet or a corporate intranet. Furthermore, an extensible architecture is provided that enables adding new components to the portal server. Such extensions include new data sources and new data types/handlers. The new architecture enables a user to select particular ones of the available data handlers and then their associated data sources thereby facilitating customizing the configuration of the portal server to the particular needs/interests of the user.
59 Citations
24 Claims
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1-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. An industrial control system, comprising:
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a plurality of components cooperating to provide industrial process control, the components including a process control component; and
a networked server including an interface that facilitates bi-directional communications between clients and at least one web service associated with at least one of the plurality of components. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing access to information, in a variety of forms, relating to the operation of an industrial controller environment, the method comprising the steps of:
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configuring a web service for providing access to at least one component in an industrial control process;
defining an interface for communicating with the web service;
employing an XML-based protocol for communicating with the interface; and
interacting with the at least one component across a network to manage the industrial control process via the interface and the XML-based protocol. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification