Database system and method for industrial automation services

• US 6,975,913 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Mutscheller, Wolfgang, Lagies, Knut, Kreidler, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, ALEXANDER J
• Application Number:
  US09/950,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20030014387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 700/96, 700/169, 700/174, 700/175
• US Class Current: 700/96
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31282 Data acquisition, BDE MDE
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31418 NC program management, support, storage, distribution, version, update
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34039 Access central database through internet
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A host system generates and manages databases incorporating data gathered from a plurality of client automation systems, such as CNC machine tools. The data may include real-time data, and is captured from the client systems under supervision of software downloaded over a network from the host system to the client systems. The captured data is transmitted over the network to the host, which creates the databases. The databases preferably include a commercial database comprising data associated with customer owners or operators of the client automation system, as well as a technical database, comprising captured data, administrative and other data, organized by customer and client system. Captured data is preferably associated with the date of capture, providing for the creation of a historical database for given client equipment. With customer authorization, others, such as original equipment manufacturers, may access the captured data, for which they may be charged a fee.

Claims

1. A method for creating a database for use in connection with a system for providing content based on data collected from a client system associated with an industrial controller for controlling at least one machine tool, at least one of client system and the at least one machine tool having a unique identifying code, wherein the system comprises a processor and at least one data storage device, the processor being in communication over a network with the client system, the method comprising the steps of:

a. creating in one of the data storage devices a data structure for storing data collected from the at least one machine tool;

b. receiving from the client system the unique identifying code;

c. including in the data structure information relating to the unique identifying code;

d. receiving, from the client system, real-time control data associated with the control of the at least one machine tool based on the unique identifying code; and

e. including in the data structure the real-time control data associated with the control of the at least one machine tool.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to the unique identifying code comprises the identifying code.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the information relating to the unique identifying code comprises data derived using the unique identifying code.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording in the data structure the date of the receipt of the real-time control data from the client system.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content comprises a service associated with a transaction code, the method comprising the further step of including the transaction code in the data structure.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein steps b-e are repeated, thereby creating a history of services for the at least one machine tool identified by the unique identifying code.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data structure comprises a database record.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the industrial controller is operated by a customer identified by a unique code, further comprising the step of including data relating to the unique customer identifying code in the data structure customer information.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlled manufacturing equipment comprises a CNC machine tool.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the client system comprises the industrial controller.

11. A method for creating a database for use in connection with a system for providing content based on data collected from a client system associated with an industrial controller for controlling manufacturing equipment, at least one of the client system and the manufacturing equipment having a customer identifying code, wherein the system comprises at least one data storage device, the system being in communication over a network with the client system, the method comprising the steps of:

a. creating in one of the data storage devices a data structure for storing data collected from the manufacturing equipment;

b. receiving from the client system the customer identifying code;

c. including in the data structure information relating to the customer identifying code;

d. receiving, from the client system, data associated with the control of the manufacturing equipment based on the information relating to the customer identifying code;

e. including in the data structure the data associated with the control of the manufacturing equipment; and

f. retrieving content from the data structure based at least in part on the customer identifying code.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the data comprise real-time data from the manufacturing equipment.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of including in the data structure transaction codes for identifying the nature of the content.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the nature of the content comprises at least one of the group consisting of a service and software.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein steps d-e are repeated, thereby creating a history of data associated with the control of the manufacturing equipment identified by the customer identifying code.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving from the client system a unique identifying code associated with at least one of the group consisting of the client system and the manufacturing equipment.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of including in the data structure information relating to the unique identifying code.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving, from the client system, data associated with the control of the manufacturing equipment based on the information relating to the unique identifying code.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information relating to the customer identifying code comprises a variety of customer-specific data.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the variety of customer-specific data establishes a session appropriate to a user.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein after establishing the session appropriate to the user, a set of options tailored to the user is transmitted to the user for selection.

22. In a system associated with the management of computer-controlled machine tools based on the data collected from a plurality of machine tools, wherein the system comprises a computer and at least one data storage device, the computer in communication over a network with the plurality of computer controlled machine tools each having a unique identifying code, a method for building a database in support of the management of the computer controlled machine tools, the method comprising the steps of:

creating in one of the data storage devices a record relating to data collected from one of the plurality of machine tools;

extracting from the machine tool the unique identifying code associated with the machine tool;

inserting in the record information relating to the unique identifying code;

extracting from the machine tool data associated with the control of the machine tool;

inserting in the record the data extracted from the machine tool; and

providing content to the machine tool based on data extracted from the machine tool, wherein the content comprises a service associated with a transaction code; and

including the transaction code in the record.