Method for using portable wireless devices to monitor industrial controllers

• US 6,965,802 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Inventors: Sexton, Daniel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THOMAS K
• Application Number:
  US09/731,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,805 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/66, 700/168, 700/174, 714/46, 714/47, 709217-219, 345/169
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31195 WAP wireless application protocol, wireless web application
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability

Abstract

A system and method for controlling and monitoring an industrial controller using a portable wireless device. The system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC), a local server for exchanging communication with the PLC, a Internet Service Provider (ISP) server for exchanging communication with the local server using the Internet, and a wireless user communication device for exchanging communication with the ISP server. A user utilizes the Internet to monitor the operation of the PLC and input control commands to the PLC using the wireless user communication device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling and monitoring an industrial controller using a portable wireless device, utilizing a system including a programmable logic controller (PLC), a local server, and a wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP), said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring and controlling a system using a programmable logic controller (PLC);

exchanging communications between the PLC and a local server;

exchanging communications between the local server and a wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP) server utilizing the Internet;

configuring the local server to communicate with the PLC via a local area network and to convert an Internet protocol into a protocol compatible with the PLC;

transmitting, via the wireless ISP server, commands from a wireless user communication device to the PLC, wherein the PLC is configured to determine whether to energize an output module based on a state of an input module;

displaying information retrieved from the PLC using the wireless ISP server; and

controlling said PLC, via said wireless ISP server, by formatting, in a wireless markup language, responses to the commands.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of exchanging communications between the PLC server and the local server further comprises the step of sending PLC operational data from the PLC to the local server.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said step of exchanging communications between the local server and the ISP server further comprises the step of sending the PLC operational data from the local server to the wireless ISP server.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the wireless user communication device includes a display for displaying information, said method further comprising exchanging communications between the wireless ISP server and the wireless user communication device, wherein said step of exchanging communications between the wireless ISP server and the wireless user communication device further comprises the steps of:

sending the PLC operational data from the wireless ISP server to the wireless user communication device; and

displaying the PLC operational data on the wireless user communication device display.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising formatting and processing the PLC operational data into the wireless markup language.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising transmitting the PLC operational data to the wireless user communication device by applying a wireless application protocol to the PLC operational data.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wireless user communication device includes an input device for inputting information to the wireless user communication device, said method further comprising exchanging communications between the wireless ISP server and the wireless user communication device, wherein said step of exchanging communications between the ISP server and the wireless user communications device further comprises the steps of:

inputting at least one PLC command;

inputting PLC operational response data using the input device;

sending the at least one PLC command from the wireless user communication device to the wireless ISP server; and

sending the PLC operational response data from the wireless user communication device to the wireless ISP server.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said step of exchanging communications between the local server and the wireless ISP server further comprises the steps of:

sending the at least one PLC command from the wireless ISP server to the local server using the Internet; and

sending the PLC operational response data from the wireless ISP server to the local server using the Internet.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of exchanging communications between the PLC and the local server further comprises the steps of:

sending the at least one PLC command from the local server to the PLC; and

sending the PLC operational response data from the local server to the PLC.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of monitoring and controlling further comprises the steps of:

controlling an operation of the PLC using the at least one PLC command; and

controlling the operation of the PLC using the PLC operational response data.

11. A system for controlling and monitoring an industrial controller using a wireless device, said system comprising:

a programmable logic controller (PLC);

a local server configured to exchange communication with said PLC;

a wireless Internet Service Provider (ISP) server configured to exchange communication with said local server using the Internet, said local server implemented within a single device physically separate from said PLC, coupled to said PLC via a local area network, and configured to convert an Internet protocol into a protocol compatible with said PLC, and said wireless ISP server configured to control said PLC by formatting, in a wireless markup language, a set of responses to a set of commands; and

a wireless user communication device configured to exchange communication with said wireless ISP server, wherein said PLC configured to exchange communication via said wireless ISP server with said wireless user communication device and configured to determine whether to energize an output module based on a state of an input module.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said local server further configured to access PLC operational data from said PLC.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said local server further configured to communicate the PLC operational data to said wireless ISP server.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said wireless ISP server further configured to communicate the PLC operational data to said wireless user communication device.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said wireless user communication device further configured to display the PLC operational data.

16. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said wireless user communication device further configured to initiate at least one PLC command and communicate the PLC command to said wireless ISP server.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said wireless user communication device further configured to initiate PLC operational response data and communicate the PLC operational response data to said wireless ISP server.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said wireless ISP server further configured to communicate the at least one PLC command and the PLC operational response data to said local server.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said local server further configured to communicate the at least one PLC command and the PLC operational response data to said PLC.

20. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein said wireless user communication device comprises:

a user interface configured for an input of information to said wireless user communication device; and

a display configured to display the user input information and information received by said wireless user communication device from said wireless ISP server.