METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A MACHINE FROM THE FIELD OF AUTOMATION ENGINEERING

• US 20120290108A1
• Filed: 11/09/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Wolf, Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 9,122,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4069 Simulating machining process on screen G05B19/4068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32038 Client can develop programs, parts on remote server located by manufacturer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35311 Remote simulation of machining program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40167 Switch between simulated display of remote site, and actual display
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

In a method and system for operating a machine from the field of automation engineering, operating inputs entered at an operating unit of the machine and an identification code are transmitted via a data network to communication server software running on an external computing device. The communication server software determines MMI (machine-machine-interface) application software associated with the machine and with the operating inputs and transfers the operating inputs to the MMI application software, which in turn determines visualization data on the basis of the operating inputs. The visualization data specify a graphical output image to be represented on a display screen and are transferred to the machine via the communication server software and the data network for display. The performance characteristics of the machine can thereby be enhanced, without increasing demands on the hardware.

Claims

1. A method for operating a machine from the field of automation engineering, comprising the steps of:

transmitting operating inputs entered at an operating unit of the machine having a screen and an identification code via a data network to communication server software running on an external computing device,

based on the identification code, determining with the communication server software MMI (Machine-Machine-Interface) application software associated with the machine and with the operating inputs,

with the communication server software, transferring the operating inputs to the determined MMI application software running on the external computing device or on an additional external computing device,

determining with the MMI application software visualization data on the basis of the operating inputs, with the visualization data specifying a graphical output image to be represented on the screen,

transferring the visualization data to the machine via the communication server software and the data network, and

representing the graphical output image on the screen based on the visualization data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transferring the operating inputs and the identification code, by means of client software running on the machine, via a data network to the communication server software running on the external computing device or on an additional external computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein client software running on the machine determines the graphical output image on the screen based on the visualization data

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the MMI application software is used for at least one of:

simulating production sequences of the machine,

changing part programs,

diagnosing the machine, and

monitoring the machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine is implemented as a machine tool, a production machine or a robot, or a combination thereof.

6. A system for operating a machine from the field of automation engineering, comprising:

an operating unit having a display screen,

an external computing device running communication server software, and

a control device associated with the machine and configured to transfer operating inputs entered at the operating unit and an identification code via a data network to the communication server software running on the external computing device,

wherein the communication server software is configured to determine, based on the identification code, MMI application software associated with the machine and with the operating inputs,

wherein the communication server software is further configured to transfer the operating inputs to the associated determined MMI application software running on the external computing device or on an additional external computing device,

wherein the associated MMI application software is configured to determine visualization data based on the operating inputs, with the visualization data specifying a graphical output image to be represented on the display screen,

wherein the system is configured to transfer the visualization data via the communication server software and the data network to the control device, and

wherein the control device is configured to represent the graphical output image on the display screen based on the visualization data.

7. A control device for a machine from the field of automation engineering, the control device comprising an operating unit having a display screen, an input device and a computing unit, wherein the computing unit is configured to generate control variables for controlling drives of the machine and to transfer operating inputs entered at the operating unit and an identification code to a data network, wherein the computing unit is further configured to receive from the data network visualization data determined by MMI application software based on the operating inputs, wherein the visualization data specifies a graphical output image to be represented on the display screen, wherein the computing unit is configured to determine the graphical output image based on the visualization data, and wherein the control device is configured to represent the graphical output image on the display screen based on the visualization data.

8. A device for operating a machine from the field of automation engineering, comprising communication server software and MMI (machine-machine-interface) application software running on the device,

wherein the communication server software is configured to receive via a data network operating inputs entered at an operating unit of the machine and an identification code,

wherein the communication server software is configured to determine, based on the identification code, MMI application software associated with the machine and with the operating inputs,

wherein the communication server software is further configured to transfer the operating inputs to the determined MMI application software running on the external computing device or on an additional external computing device,

wherein the MMI application software is configured to determine visualization data based on the operating inputs, with the visualization data specifying a graphical output image to be represented on the display screen, and

wherein the device is configured to transfer the visualization data via the communication server software and the data network to the machine.