Web Access for Non-TCP/IP Control Devices of an Industrial Control System
First Claim
1. A web access interface for use with an industrial control system for controlling an industrial process, the industrial control system including a plurality of control devices communicating data over a control network using a control network protocol, wherein each control device includes a respective web server program that may directly respond to and provide internet application level socket API data and wherein each control device provide signals to or receive signals from the industrial process to control the industrial process, the web access interface comprising:
- an Ethernet protocol interface and a control network interface, wherein the control network interface is capable of being coupled to the plurality of control devices by way of the control network, and wherein the Ethernet protocol interface is capable of being coupled to a remote device via an Ethernet protocol, the web access interface executing;
an Ethernet communications program executing on the web access interface that receives a signal having internet application level socket API data formatted in accordance with an internet transport layer protocol and an internet network layer protocol, wherein the Ethernet communications program extracts internet application level socket API data from the signal and provides an internet application level socket API signal including the internet application level socket API data; and
a control network communications program executing on the web access interface that receives the internet application level socket API signal and transmits a network signal over the control network based upon the internet application level socket API signal to an appropriate one of the control devices selected in accordance with the internet signal for response to the internet application level socket API data, wherein the internet application level socket API data is included within the network signal and processed by the respective web server program at the one of the control devices, and wherein the network signal is formatted and transmitted according to a protocol of the control network and not formatted or transmitted in accordance with any internet transport layer protocol and any internet network layer protocol.
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Abstract
A new industrial control system and method are disclosed allowing for communication between multiple control devices of the system and remote devices via the Internet. The system includes a web access interface that is capable of being coupled to the remote devices via the Internet, and is coupled to the control devices by way of a network. A program executed by the interface receives an Internet signal having socket API data and formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, and extracts the data from the Internet signal. Another program executed by the interface receives the data and transmits a network signal, which includes the data but is not formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, to an appropriate one of the control devices, each of which has a respective web server program. The data is processed by the server program at the appropriate control device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A web access interface for use with an industrial control system for controlling an industrial process, the industrial control system including a plurality of control devices communicating data over a control network using a control network protocol, wherein each control device includes a respective web server program that may directly respond to and provide internet application level socket API data and wherein each control device provide signals to or receive signals from the industrial process to control the industrial process, the web access interface comprising:
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an Ethernet protocol interface and a control network interface, wherein the control network interface is capable of being coupled to the plurality of control devices by way of the control network, and wherein the Ethernet protocol interface is capable of being coupled to a remote device via an Ethernet protocol, the web access interface executing; an Ethernet communications program executing on the web access interface that receives a signal having internet application level socket API data formatted in accordance with an internet transport layer protocol and an internet network layer protocol, wherein the Ethernet communications program extracts internet application level socket API data from the signal and provides an internet application level socket API signal including the internet application level socket API data; and a control network communications program executing on the web access interface that receives the internet application level socket API signal and transmits a network signal over the control network based upon the internet application level socket API signal to an appropriate one of the control devices selected in accordance with the internet signal for response to the internet application level socket API data, wherein the internet application level socket API data is included within the network signal and processed by the respective web server program at the one of the control devices, and wherein the network signal is formatted and transmitted according to a protocol of the control network and not formatted or transmitted in accordance with any internet transport layer protocol and any internet network layer protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control device for use with an industrial control system for controlling an industrial process, the industrial control system providing a web access interface including an Ethernet protocol interface and a control network interface, wherein the control network interface is capable of being coupled to the control device by way of the control network, and wherein the Ethernet protocol interface is capable of being coupled to a remote device via an Ethernet protocol, the web access interface executing:
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(i) an Ethernet communications program executing on the web access interface that receives a signal having internet application level socket API data and formatted in accordance with an internet transport layer protocol and an internet network layer protocol, wherein the Ethernet communications program extracts internet application level socket API data from the signal and provides an internet application level socket API signal including the internet application level socket API data; and (ii) a control network communications program executing on the web access interface that receives the internet application level socket API signal and transmits a network signal over the control network based upon the internet application level socket API signal to an appropriate one of the control devices selected in accordance with the signal for response to the internet application level socket API data, wherein the internet application level socket API data is included within the network signal and processed by the respective web server program at the one of the control devices, and wherein the network signal is formatted and transmitted according to a protocol of the control network and not formatted or transmitted in accordance with any internet transport layer protocol and any internet network layer protocol, the control device comprising; a control network port configured to communicate data with a web access interface over a control network using a control network protocol a web server program that may directly respond to and provide internet application level socket API data over the control network port in communication with the web access interface; and an industrial controller interface configured to provide signals to or receive signals from the industrial process to control the industrial process. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification