INTELLIGENT DEVICE FRAMEWORK

• US 20130055135A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Keller, Michael Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,348,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/36 Software reuse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate consistent experiences with respect to control or configuration of a feature or function of a device. In particular, a reusable graphical user interface (GUI) component can be employed to interact with a specific feature or function of the device rather than to a specific device or application.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions, comprising;

a reusable framework configured to be embedded in a plurality of distinct host applications, wherein the reusable framework comprises;

an abstract data model configured to translate a plurality of data formats from the plurality of distinct host applications and a plurality of distinct industrial automation components into a common data format;

an abstract communication interface configured to communicate with the plurality of distinct host applications and the plurality of distinct industrial automation components using a plurality of distinct communications protocols;

a reusable graphical user interface component configured to employ the abstract data model and abstract communication interface to facilitate configuration of an industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components; and

respective wrappers configured to enforce operation of the reusable graphical user interface component within constraints associated with subsets of the plurality of distinct host applications.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the industrial automation function is substantially the same across the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable graphical user interface component is further configured to employ the common data format to facilitate configuration of the industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the abstract data model is further configured to translate the common data format to the plurality of data formats.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable graphical user interface component is further configured to persist configuration information associated with the industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable graphical user interface component is further configured to provide a common presentation of the industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable framework is further configured to be extended to at least one additional host application distinct from the plurality of distinct host applications.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reusable framework is further configured to be extended to at least one additional industrial automation component distinct from the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

9. A method, comprising:

embedding, by a device including a processor, a reusable framework in a host application, wherein the reusable framework is configured to be embedded in a plurality of distinct host applications, wherein the reusable framework comprises;

an abstract data model configured to translate a plurality of data formats from the plurality of distinct host applications and a plurality of distinct industrial automation components into a common data format;

an abstract communication interface configured to communicate with the plurality of distinct host applications and the plurality of distinct industrial automation components using a plurality of distinct communications protocols;

a reusable graphical user interface component configured to employ the abstract data model and abstract communication interface to facilitate configuration of an industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components; and

respective wrappers configured to enforce operation of the reusable graphical user interface component within constraints associated with subsets of the plurality of distinct host applications; and

configuring, by the device, the industrial automation function for an industrial automation component of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the industrial automation function is substantially the same across the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the configuring comprises employing the common data format configure the industrial automation function for the industrial automation component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuring further comprises translating the common data format to a of data format of the industrial automation component.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising persisting, by the device, within the reusable framework, configuration information associated with configuration of the industrial automation function for the industrial automation component.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending, by the device, the reusable framework to at least one additional host application distinct from the plurality of distinct host applications.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending, by the device, the reusable framework to at least one additional industrial automation component distinct from the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause at least one device including a processor to perform operations comprising:

embedding a reusable framework in a host application, wherein the reusable framework is configured to be embedded in a plurality of distinct host applications, wherein the reusable framework comprises;

an abstract data model configured to translate a plurality of data formats from the plurality of distinct host applications and a plurality of distinct industrial automation components into a common data format;

an abstract communication interface configured to communicate with the plurality of distinct host applications and the plurality of distinct industrial automation components using a plurality of distinct communications protocols;

a reusable graphical user interface component configured to employ the abstract data model and abstract communication interface to facilitate configuration of an industrial automation function of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components; and

respective wrappers configured to enforce operation of the reusable graphical user interface component within constraints associated with subsets of the plurality of distinct host applications; and

configuring, by the device, the industrial automation function for an industrial automation component of the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the industrial automation function is substantially the same across the plurality of distinct industrial automation components.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the configuring comprises employing the common data format configure the industrial automation function for the industrial automation component.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the configuring further comprises translating the common data format to a of data format of the industrial automation component.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise persisting within the reusable framework, configuration information associated with configuration of the industrial automation function for the industrial automation component.