Video interface architecture for programmable industrial control systems

• US 5,982,362 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Power Control Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Goldman, Craig E., Crater, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/851,644
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217-219, 348/6, 348/7, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/143, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 345/326, 345/327
• US Class Current: 715/719
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24048 Remote test, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31205 Remote transmission of measured values from site, local to host
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

An integrated control system comprises one or more controllers each equipped to perform a control function and to gather data (ordinarily from sensors or a video camera) relevant to the control functions. Each controller contains computer storage for the relevant data and instructions, associated with the data, for causing a remote computer to generate a visual display incorporating the data in a predetermined format; and a communication module for establishing contact and facilitating data interchange with the remote computer. The remote computer, in turn, also includes a communication module compatible with the controller-borne module, and which enables the remote computer to download the data, including current video information and/or historical and/or reference video information, and associated instructions from one or more controllers. The remote computer also includes a facility for processing the instructions to create a user interface encoded by the instructions, and which incorporates the data. In this way, controller data is coupled to instructions for displaying that data, and this totality of information is continuously accessible, on a freely selective basis, to the remote computer.

Claims

1. A controller capable of interacting with a remotely located monitoring station, the controller comprising:

a. means for performing an industrial control function;

b. means for gathering current video information relevant to the control function while said function is performed by said performance means, the current video information being retrievable by the remotely located monitoring station;

c. instructions executable by the remotely located monitoring station for causing said monitoring station to present the current video information in a predetermined format; and

d. means for transmitting said current video information and said instructions to said monitoring station, whereby said monitoring station presents the transmitted video information in the format specified by the instructions.

2. The controller of claim 1 wherein said means for gathering current video information is a plurality of video cameras positioned to retrieve said current video information relevant to said control function connected such that at least one of said video cameras can be selected to display said current video information at said monitoring station in said predetermined format.

3. The controller of claim 1 wherein said means for gathering current video information is at least one video camera having a selectable orientation and an image capture rate.

4. The controller of claim 3 wherein said video camera is a digital video camera providing images for transmission to said monitoring station and display on said monitoring station in said predetermined format.

5. The controller of claim 4 wherein said predetermined format in which said current video information is presented is periodically refreshed digital images.

6. The controller of claim 4 wherein said predetermined format in which said current video information is presented is full motion video.

7. The controller of claim 4 wherein said predetermined format in which said current video information is presented is a video display with a graphic frame inserted on one portion of said video display illustrating a selected control parameter.

8. The controller of claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting current video information includes a transmission medium coupled between said controller and said remotely located monitoring station, said transmission medium including a computer network.

9. The controller of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a source of comparison video information comprising at least one of historical video information and reference video information relevant to a control function; and

b. means for causing the remotely located monitoring station to present said comparison video information in a predetermined format.

10. The controller of claim 9 wherein said predetermined format in which said comparison video information is presented comprises side-by-side presentation of said current video information with said comparison video information.

11. The controller of claim 10 wherein said predetermined format also includes a graphic frame inserted on one portion of said side-by-side presentation illustrating a selected control or comparison parameter.

12. The controller of claim 1 further comprising security means for preventing data interchange between the controller and an unauthorized user.

13. The controller of claim 1 wherein the control function comprises operation of an industrial machine, the controller further comprising an input/output module configured to communicate with the machine and to implement the control function.

14. The controller of claim 13 wherein the machine comprises sensors, the input/output module being configured to receive signals from the sensors.

15. The controller of claim 1 wherein the control function comprises control of an industrial process, the data-gathering means comprising an input/output module configured to communicate with equipment implementing the industrial process.

16. The controller of claim 1 wherein the transmitting means connects to and transfers the instructions over the Internet.

17. The controller of claim 16 wherein the transmitting means also transfers the video information over the Internet.

18. An integrated control system comprising:

a. at least one controller comprising;

i. means for performing an industrial control function;

ii. means for gathering data and video information relevant to the control function while said functions is performed by said performance means;

iii. computer storage means for storing (a) said data and video information and (b) instructions, associated with said data and video information, for causing a remotely located computer to present said data and video information in a predetermined format; and

iv. means for transmitting said data, video information and instructions to the remotely located computer upon connection therewith;

b. at least one remotely located monitoring computer comprising;

i. means for establishing a connection to at least one selected controller to obtain therefrom the data, video information and the instructions; and

ii. means for presenting the data and video information in the predetermined format specified by the obtained instructions.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the transmitting means of the controllers and the connection-establishing means of the monitoring computer are connected by a computer network.

20. The system of claim 18 where the connection-establishing means and the means for presenting the data and video comprise a web browser configured to generate a visual display.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the instructions cause the data and video to be visually displayed in an interactive user interface.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller and the monitoring computer are connected by way of the Internet.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein said means for gathering video information relevant to said control function includes a bank of video cameras positioned to generate a plurality of images of said control system, and further comprising means for selecting any one of said video cameras to display a selected image of said control system.