Communication system for the remote control of equipment
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between a programmable computer and a central controller for remote control of plural equipment devices, comprising the steps of:
- developing a program segment and storing the program segment on memory associated with the central controller, the program segment for supporting a desired control operation for each of the plural equipment devices, the program segment operable to interpret variable parameters;
developing and sending from the programmable computer to the central controller a command with a device number, channel number, and variable parameters representative of the desired control operation on the plural remote-controlled equipment devices;
accepting and loading the command with device number, channel number, and variable parameters into memory of the central controller; and
performing the desired control operation on at least one of the plural equipment devices at the direction of the central controller using the program segment by interpreting the variable parameters.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system (10) has a first computer (20), central controller (16) and controlled equipment (18). An operator may enter a desired performance by equipment (18) on first computer (20) which is placed in a communications packet with a device number, channel number, and one or more parameters and then sent to central controller (16) for processing. Central controller (16) loads the parameters into memory (270) and calls an appropriate function that uses the parameters to carry out the desired performance of the equipment (18). The receipt and processing of the communication packet may be acknowledged by the central controller (16) to computer (20).
43 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between a programmable computer and a central controller for remote control of plural equipment devices, comprising the steps of:
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developing a program segment and storing the program segment on memory associated with the central controller, the program segment for supporting a desired control operation for each of the plural equipment devices, the program segment operable to interpret variable parameters; developing and sending from the programmable computer to the central controller a command with a device number, channel number, and variable parameters representative of the desired control operation on the plural remote-controlled equipment devices; accepting and loading the command with device number, channel number, and variable parameters into memory of the central controller; and performing the desired control operation on at least one of the plural equipment devices at the direction of the central controller using the program segment by interpreting the variable parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system for remotely controlling equipment devices, the system comprising:
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a first computer having a first processor and first memory for operating a first computer program; a central controller having a second processor and a second memory for operating a second computer program, the second memory storing a program segment for performing a desired control operation on each of the equipment devices, the program segment operable to interpret variable parameters; a communications link coupled to the first computer and the central controller for allowing bidirectional communication therebetween; a first remote-controlled device coupled to and controller by the central controller; and wherein the first computer is operable to run the first program to develop and send a command with a device number, channel number, and variable parameters corresponding to a desired performance of the remote-controlled equipment device to the central controller, the central controller operable to use the program segment for directing the equipment device to perform the desired control operation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system for remotely controlling plural equipment devices, the system comprising:
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a first computer having a first processor and a first memory for operating a first computer program; a central controller having a master card with a second processor and a second memory for operating a second computer program; a communications link coupling the first computer and the central controller; the central controller having a port for connecting with equipment to be controlled; wherein the first computer if operable to run the first program to; accept from an operator through an interface a desired performance command indicating a desired operation or equipment that may be attached to the port of the second computer and accepting at least one performance parameter along with the desired performance command; and develop a communications packet that includes variable parameters, the variable parameters including an identification of the equipment to be controlled, the desired performance command, and the performance parameter, which may be sent over the communications link to the second computer; and wherein the central controller is operable to run the second program to perform the following steps; accept the communications packet sent by the first computer; interpret the communication packet sent from the first computer in order to identify the equipment to be controlled, the desired performance command, and the performance parameters, call a command function corresponding to the desired performance command for developing control signals to be sent to the identified equipment, the command function operable to develop control signals for plural equipment devices, and pass the performance parameter to the command function. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification