Control system apparatus with change updates

• US 20080148170A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Systems USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Thibault, Richard L., Couper, Gerald S., Canna, Bruce S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,899,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41835 characterised by programme execution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4186 by protocol, e.g. MAP, TOP
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31083 In server store virtual nodes for controlled machines, with states for map
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33148 CLS client server architecture, client consumes, server provides services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

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.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A control system, comprising

A. a control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process,

B. a digital data processor coupled to the control apparatus, the digital data processor executing a program that configures the 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, (v) a program that executes in a web browser,

C. an interface that is coupled to the control apparatus and that responds 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.

50. A control system of claim 49, wherein the program configures the digital data processor to generate the request.

51. A control system of claim 49, wherein the program configures the digital data processor to process one or more of the data value and subsequent changes thereto.

52. A control system according to claim 50, wherein the program configures the digital data processor to report one or more of the data value and subsequent changes thereto.

53. A control system according to claim 49, wherein the digital data processor and the interface are coupled by way of a network.

54. A control system according to claim 49, wherein the digital data processor and the interface are coupled by way of a further digital data processor.

55. A control system according to claim 54, wherein the interface executes at least in part on the further digital data processor.

56. A control system according to claim 55, wherein the digital data processor is coupled to the further digital data processor by a network.

57. A control system according to claim 54, wherein the digital data processor transmits to the further digital data processor a request for the one or more data values.

58. A control system according to claim 49, wherein the digital data processor generates a request for the program.

59. A control system according to claim 49, wherein the interface maintains one or more objects that at least one of control and reflect a status of the control apparatus.

60. A control system, comprising

A. a control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices,

B. a server digital data processor that is coupled to the control apparatus,

C. a client digital data processor in communication coupling with the control apparatus and with the server digital data processor,

D. the client digital data processor executing a program that configures the client digital data processor as a process controller, 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,

E. at least one of the control apparatus and the server digital data processor (i) having an object that stores a data value associated with the control apparatus, and (ii) responding to a request for that object by transmitting to the client digital data processor the stored data value and one or more subsequent changes thereto.

61. A control system of claim 60, wherein at least one of the control apparatus and the server digital data processor providing services for any of (i) creating a named such object, (ii) destroying such an object, (iii) accessing information in such an object, (iv) updating information in such an object, (v) determining, from an object name, a physical address associated with such an object, and (vi) providing notification of changes in at least selected information stored in such an object.

62. A control system according to claim 60, wherein at least one of the control apparatus and the server digital data processor provide services for any of getting and setting a value of such object.

63. A control system according to claim 61, wherein the program configures the client digital data processor to request such services.

64. A control system according to claim 60, wherein the client digital data processor is coupled to the server digital data processor by a network.

65. A control system according to claim 60, wherein the server digital data processor is coupled to the control apparatus by any of a bus and a network.