CONTROL SYSTEM METHODS AND APPARATUS WITH SERVICES
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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.
135 Citations
151 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A control system, comprising:
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a plurality of control system components in communications coupling with a network, at least one of the control system components being a service-providing component, the service-providing component providing one or more services in response to one or more messages from another of said control system components over the network, where those services include at least setting a value used by one or more control apparatus, at least one of which includes a control/sensing device, one or more interfaces, in communications coupling with the network and with the service-providing component, that facilitates invoking said services. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 126)
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62. A control system, comprising:
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first and second components in communications coupling over a network, each of the first and second components comprising software executing on respective processors, the second component providing one or more services in response to one or more messages from the first component over the network, where those services include at least setting a value used by the one or more control apparatus, at least one of which includes a control/sensing device, wherein one or more one or more messages comprises request in text or ASCII format. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A control system, comprising:
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first and second digital data processors in communications coupling via one or more networks, where the one or more networks include any of an Internet, an intranet, a LAN, WAN, cable television-based network, wireless network and/or telecommunications-based network, a first control component comprising software executing on the first digital data processor, a second control component comprising software executing on the second digital data processors, the second control component providing one or more services in response to one or more messages from the first component over the network, where those services include at least setting a value used by one or more control apparatus that include a control/sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A control system, comprising:
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a plurality of control system components in communications coupling with a network, at least one of the control system components being a service-providing component providing services in regard to objects storing information pertaining to one or more control apparatus, at least one of which includes a control/sensing device, the service-providing component providing such services in response to one or more messages from another of said control system components over the network. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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98-1. The control system of claim 89, wherein one of the components comprises a client digital data processor executing code supplied by another of the control system components.
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99-2. The control system of claim 89, wherein the plurality of components includes any of an HTPP server, a web browser, a client digital data processor and a server digital data processor.
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100. A control system, comprising:
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a plurality of components that transfer information between a network and one or more process control apparatus, the plurality of components being responsive to one or more messages exchanged via the network in text or ASCII form to provide one or more services for at least setting information regarding the one or more process control apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119)
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120. A method for process control, comprising:
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providing one or more services for at least setting information regarding one or more process control apparatus in a process control system, the one or more services being provided over a network; responding to requests received in text or ASCII form over the network to provide the one or more services. - View Dependent Claims (121, 122, 123, 124)
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125. A control system, comprising:
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a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via a network, at least a first one of the control system components providing one or more services to at least a second one of the control system components in response to one or more messages from that second component over the network, where those services include configuring the first component to any of (i) establish communications over the network with a third one of the control system components, (ii) to monitor and/or control said third component.
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127. A control system, comprising:
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a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via a network, at least a first one of the control system components providing one or more services to at least a second one of the control system components in response to one or more messages from that second component over the network, where those services include configuring the first component to access or update one or more objects that any of control and reflect a status of an associated process control apparatus.
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128. A control system, comprising:
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A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network, B. at least a first control system component providing one or more services via the IP network to at least a second control system component, and C. wherein the one or more services include enabling the second component to locate an object in the control system, the object being associated with a third control system component. - View Dependent Claims (129, 130, 131, 132, 133)
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134. A control system, comprising:
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A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network, B. at least a first control system component providing one or more services via the IP network to at least a second control system component, the one or more services enabling the second component to set a value associated with a third one of the control system components. - View Dependent Claims (135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141)
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142. A control system, comprising:
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A. a plurality of control system components in communications coupling via an IP network, B. at least a first control system component providing one or more services via the IP network to at least a second control system component, the one or more services enabling a second component to register one or more characteristics for use by a third control system component over the network. - View Dependent Claims (143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151)
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Specification