MODULAR OBJECT DYNAMIC HOSTING

• US 20100082127A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seger, Daniel Bailey, Govindaraj, Subbian, Jasper, Taryl Jon, Staron, Raymond John, Jarrett, James Harry, Reichard, Douglas James, Bliss, Ronald Eric, Hall, Kenwood Henry, Kretschmann, Robert John, Plache, Kenneth Scott, Kalan, Michael Dan, Brandes, Russell William
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change.

Claims

1. A system capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

a resource management component that determines what resources are needed for an object to operate according to a manner; and

an organizational component that pairs the object with a host in an attempt to meet the resource need.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a comparator component that identifies at least one resource deficiency of the host relating to the object operating according to the manner.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an association component that automatically matches the object with the host if it is determined that at least one resource need is met.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a discovery component that determines that there is a newly added modular object to the configuration, the resource management component determines resource needs of the newly added modular object; and

a balance component that determines if the match made by the association component should be broken based upon the operational need of the newly added modular object.

5. The system of claim 1, pairing occurs randomly, based upon a prediction facilitated by at least one artificial intelligence technique, through designation from a user, or a combination thereof.

6. A method capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

determining that a host enters the industrial control configuration; and

automatically evaluating the host to determine at least one capability of the host.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising

accessing at least one operational need of a modular object;

and

determining if a capability of the host fulfills the operational need of the modular object.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining if another host also meets the operational need of the modular object; and

dynamically allocating objects to hosts where one host is associated with an object to meet an operational need.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining if another host also meets the operational need of the modular object; and

selecting one host to meet the operational need if more than one host is determined to meet the operational need.

10. The method of claim 9, selection is performed as a function estimated operational speed, configuration security, host stability, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining if another host meets the operational need of the modular object, determining if a capability of the host fulfills the operational need of the modular object occurs upon a negative determination that another host meets the operational need.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising modifying a capability of the host to meet the operational need if it is determined that the host does not meet the need.

13. A system capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

means for determining that a modular object of the configuration has an operational need not met; and

means for determining the operational need not met.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for attempting to identify a host that can satisfy the operational need that is not met.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for creating a notice that the a host is desired if the means for attempting to identify does not find a suitable host, the notice facilitates newly entering or modified hosts to be evaluated in view of the operational need that is not met.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for prioritizing notices based upon more than one modular object having an equivalent need not met, such that the modular object associated with the higher prioritized notice gains first access to an available capability.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for automatically matching the modular object with a host discovered to meet the operational need identified by the means for attempting to identify.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for verifying a newly added host, upon verification of the newly added host the means for attempting to identify operates again.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising means for verifying a newly modified host with the modification relating to a capability of the host, upon verification of the newly modified host the means for searching operates again.

20. A system capable of implementation upon an industrial control environment or industrial information environment, comprising:

means for evaluating a scheduling and execution component to determine a number of objects in relation to that component;

means for analyzing a host to determine how many objects can be held by the host; and

means for determining if the host can hold, schedule, or execute the objects based upon a result of the evaluation and a result of the analysis.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for notifying a user that the host cannot handle all objects if it is determined that the host cannot hold the schedule and execute the objects.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for identifying at least one unit to use in assistance with the host toward holding the scheduling and execution of objects if it is determined that the host cannot hold the objects.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for constructing a layout to compensate for deficiencies of the controller if it is determined that the host cannot hold the objects, the layout includes at least one identified unit.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising means for developing operation of the means for constructing such that the layout attempts to have the hosts operate at improved performance.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising

means for testing the layout to determine if there are errors;

and

means for resolving the determined errors.

26. The system of claim 20, the determination is made prior to downloading the objects, where the objects reside in an application.