METHODS FOR PROCESS CONTROL WITH CHANGE UPDATES
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A method of operating a control system of the type having a control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices, the method comprising the steps of
A. executing a program that configures a digital data processor as a process controller for monitoring and/or controlling the control apparatus, the program comprising any of (i) a JAVA applet, (ii) an intermediate language program, (iii) a byte code program, (iv) a downloaded program that executes in a virtual machine environment, (v) a program that executes in a web browser, B. responding to a request for a data value associated with the control apparatus by transmitting to the digital data processor that data value and one or more subsequent changes thereto.
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59. A method of operating a control system of the type having a control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices, the method comprising the steps of
A. executing on a client digital data processor a program that configures the client digital data processor as a process controller for monitoring and/or controlling the control apparatus, the applet comprising any of (i) a JAVA applet, (ii) an intermediate language program, (iii) a byte code program, (iv) a downloaded program that executes in a virtual machine environment, (v) a program that executes in a web browser, and B. maintaining with at least one of the control apparatus and a server digital data processor that is coupled thereto an object that stores the data value associated with the control apparatus, C. responding to a request for the object by transmitting to the client digital data processor that data value and one or more subsequent changes thereto.
Specification