System and method for integrating a power system over a network

• US 7,032,015 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Delandro, Kwame, Zupa, Anthony M., Cummiskey, Carol
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin T
• Application Number:
  US09/699,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/203, 709/200, 709/221, 714/36, 714/44, 714/45, 714/47, 714/48, 713/2, 717/100, 717/101, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

A method and system of integrating a software application over a network include receiving an order for a software system from a user at a server over the network. The process further includes configuring the user'"'"'s system over the network, and installing the software system over the network. A start up operation may also be performed over the network. The software package delivered according to the invention may in one implementation be a Power Management Control System (PMCS) such as those developed by the General Electric Co.

Claims

1. A system for integrating a software system over a network, comprising:

means for receiving an order for a software system from a user using a user system at a server over the network;

means for configuring the user system over the network; and

means for installing the software system on the user system over the network; and

wherein the software system comprises a power management control system; and

further comprising;

means for developing at least one software application for the software system;

means for customizing a screen design for the software system over the network;

means for integrating the at least one software application and the screen design for the application to produce an integrated software system;

means for creating supplier links for ordering material over the network; and

means for integrating the at least one software application, the supplier and the seen design for the application to produce an integrated software system; and

wherein the means for customizing a screen design comprises;

means for creating human machine interface project;

means for starting up a configuration application over the network;

means for using the configuration application to add devices;

means for adding trend points to a historical database;

means for creating a one line diagram screen;

means for creating trend and tabular screens for each device;

means for setting passwords for each user; and

means for testing the screen design with a dynamic data exchange simulator to ensure functionality.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for transmitting the order for a software system to a development facility; and

means for receiving at least one software application for the software system from the development facility.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for testing the at least one software application.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for developing at least one software application for the software system wherein the developing means comprises:

means for receiving user information over the network;

means for preparing a project design for the software application based on the user information;

means for transmitting the project design to the user over the network,

means for receiving user feedback over the network; and

means for revising the project design until the user feedback does not contain change requests.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for installing the software system on a user system over the network comprises:

means for installing human machine interface software and the at least one software application onto the user system over the network; and

means for transferring the integrated application from a development system to the user system over the network.

7. The system of claim 1, further including means for starting up operation of the software system over the network, wherein the means for starting up operation of the software system over the network comprises means for configuring user devices over the network to support the software system and means for testing the software system on the user system.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for supporting the software system on the user system over the network after start up.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for starting up operation of the software system over the network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the user system comprises at least one of a personal computer and a mainframe.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the user system comprises a network.