Control system apparatus and systems based thereon that transfer control apparatus information over IP networks in web page-less transfers

• US 20080222276A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Original Assignee: Invensys Systems Incorporated (Invensys PLC)
• Inventors: Thibault, Richard L., Couper, Gerald S., Canna, Bruce S.
• Application Number:
  US11/929,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222276A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• 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 digital data processor for use in a control system that includes a control apparatus that has one or more control/sensing devices, the digital data processor executing a program received by it over an internet protocol (IP) network, the program configuring the digital data processor to receive, via the IP network, information associated with the control apparatus, where that information does not comprise, nor is it received within, a web page.

50. The digital data processor of claim 49, where the program configures the digital data processor to receive the information from the IP network in a text form.

51. The digital data processor of claim 49, where the program configures the digital data processor to exchange messages over the IP network in text form for purposes of at least one of monitoring and controlling the control apparatus.

52. The digital data processor of claim 49, where the program configures the digital data processor to generate requests for information associated with the control apparatus.

53. The digital data processor of claim 52, where the program configures the digital data processor to generate the requests for transmission on the IP network in a text form.

54. The digital data processor of claim 53, where the program configures the digital data processor to generate the requests and to receive the information in order to monitor the control apparatus.

55. The digital data processor of claim 53, where program configures the digital data processor to generate the requests and to receive the information in order to control the control apparatus.

56. The digital data processor of claim 49, where the information comprises a process variable associated with the control apparatus.

57. The digital data processor of claim 49, wherein the digital data processor receives the program from a server that is coupled to the IP network.

58. The digital data processor of claim 57, wherein the server is associated with the control apparatus and wherein the interface executes at least in part on the server.

59. A control system, comprising

A. a digital data processor in communication coupling with a control apparatus via an internet protocol (IP) network, the control apparatus comprising one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, and

B. the digital data processor executing a program received by it over the IP network from a server associated with the control apparatus, the program configuring the digital data processor to receive, via the IP network, information associated with the control apparatus, where that information does not comprise, nor is it received within, a web page,

C. where the program configures the digital data processor to receive the information from the IP network in a text form,

D. n interface that is coupled to the control apparatus and to the digital data processor, the interface generating said information in response to a request generated by the program.

60. The control system of claim 59, where the interface generates the information in a text form.

61. The control system of claim 59, wherein the interface executes at least in part on a server.

62. The control system of claim 59, wherein the program comprises a program that executes in a web browser.

63. The control system of claim 59, wherein the program configures the digital data processor to generate, as at least one of the requests, a request for a process variable associated with the control apparatus.

64. 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 executing a program within a web browser, the program

(i) configuring the digital data processor for monitoring the control apparatus,

(ii) generating a request for information associated with the control apparatus,

C. an interface in communication with the control apparatus and with the digital data processor, the interface responding to the request for transmitting information associated with the control apparatus, where that information does not comprise, nor is it received within, a web page.

65. 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 for monitoring 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,

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 data value, where the data value is transmitted other than as or within a web page.

66. The control system of claim 65, where the data value is transmitted in a text form.

67. The control system of claim 65, wherein the transmitted data value represents a process variable associated with the control apparatus.

68. A portable wireless device for use in a control system that includes one or more control/sensing devices, the portable wireless device executing a program received by it over an internet protocol (IP) network from a server associated with the control apparatus, the program configuring the portable wireless device to receive, via the IP network, information associated with the control apparatus, where that information does not comprise, nor is it received within, a web page.

69. The portable wireless device of claim 68 adapted for use in a control system in which the process control apparatus includes said one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process.