SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE AUTOMATIC AGGREGATION OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION DISPLAYS

• US 20100082131A1
• 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: Gordon, Kevin George, Baier, John Joseph, Kui, Karen, Hobbs, Mark David, Fevang, Monte Leroy, Schouten, Teunis Hendrik
• Granted Patent: US 9,582,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units

Abstract

A data aggregation system comprises an aggregation server. The aggregation server receives from a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics data comprising a graphical representation of a portion of an industrial automation environment over an enterprise network, receives operation data associated with an operation of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network, and receives a request for a viewing session from a plurality of communication devices over a communication network. In response to the request, the aggregation server transfers the graphics data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices. In response to the request, the aggregation server transfers the operation data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices.

Claims

1. A method of operating a data aggregation system, the method comprising:

receiving from a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics data comprising a graphical representation of a portion of an industrial automation environment over an enterprise network;

receiving operation data associated with an operation of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network;

receiving a request for a viewing session from a plurality of communication devices over a communication network;

in response to the request, transferring the graphics data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices; and

in response to the request, transferring the operation data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the operation data comprises receiving the operation data from a machine system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the operation data comprises receiving the operation data from the Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single file.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single web page.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving configuration data comprising a configuration of the portion of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of communication devices is a remote Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

8. A data aggregation system comprising:

an aggregation server configured to;

receive from a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics data comprising a graphical representation of a portion of an industrial automation environment over an enterprise network,

receive operation data associated with an operation of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network,

receive a request for a viewing session from a plurality of communication devices over a communication network,

in response to the request, transfer the graphics data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices, and in response to the request, transfer the operation data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices.

9. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein the aggregation server is configured to receive the operation data from a machine system.

10. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein the aggregation server is configured to receive the operation data from the Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

11. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single file.

12. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single web page.

13. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein the aggregation server is further configured to receive configuration data comprising a configuration of the portion of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network.

14. The data aggregation system of claim 8 wherein one of the plurality of communication devices is a remote Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processing system for employing a method of operating a data aggregation system, the method comprising:

receiving from a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics data comprising a graphical representation of a portion of an industrial automation environment over an enterprise network;

receiving operation data associated with an operation of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network;

receiving a request for a viewing session from a plurality of communication devices over a communication network;

in response to the request, transferring the graphics data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices; and

in response to the request, transferring the operation data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein receiving the operation data comprises receiving the operation data from a machine system.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein receiving the operation data comprises receiving the operation data from the Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single file.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the graphics data and the operation data are contained in a single web page.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving configuration data comprising a configuration of the portion of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network.