System, method & apparatus of providing process data to a client

• US 7,461,171 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Thurner, Elmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOSSAIN, TANIM M
• Application Number:
  US10/145,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/203, 709/246, 715/236
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation

Abstract

Process data to a client is provided for process data to a client from a server in an Industrial Automation System. An incompletely determined and/or extensible request for process data from the client by the server is received. The structure and kind of process data to be sent to the client by a server application is determined. An XML type message of meta data being descriptive on structure and kind of the process data and the process data are generated. The XML type message is then sent to the client.

Claims

1. A method of providing process data to a client from a server in an Industrial Automation System, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an unspecific request for runtime process data of a process, which is at least a process controlled and monitored by the Industrial Automation System, from the client by the server, wherein the request serves to initiate a data transfer from the server to the client and wherein the request contains an incomplete specification of structure and kind of process data/content to be provided by the server such that the server is enabled to decide which data shall be sent to the client;

determining within the server a kind of process data to be provided to the client;

selecting as process data from the determined kind of data either all up-to-date process data or a subset of process data;

determining a data structure for communicating the process data to the client;

generating an XML type message comprising meta data being descriptive of the kind and the data structure of the process data and comprising the process data; and

sending the XML type message to the client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request being descriptive of a data selection, query, subscription and other conditions, wherein the selection, query or subscription condition is extensible so that the structure/content of the selection, query, condition is capable of being specific for different clients while all different clients are compliant with the protocol.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is an XML-type message.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request or the response XML type message is an XML document where the specification of the selection-condition or query is formulated as an extensible XML element being compliant with the protocol even if the client extends the request in a client specific way.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the subscription condition is received in the form of a second XML type message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second XML type document further comprising second meta data being descriptive of a structure of the requested process data.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising an acknowledgement XML type response message that indicates to the client in a case where the subscription condition can be fulfilled by the server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the client and the server are at remote physical locations with respect to another.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the client is coupled remotely to the server via access through internet.

10. A computer program product storing a program executable by a computer comprising program means for performing a method in accordance with claim 1.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the request and the response XML type message is an XML document where the specification of the selection-condition or query is formulated as an extensible XML element being compliant with the protocol even if the client extends the request in a client specific way.

12. A server computer for an Industrial Automation system comprising:

means for determining a kind of runtime process data for a process being control and monitored by the Industrial Automation System, said process data to be provided to a client in response to an unspecific request received from the client, wherein the request serves to initiate a data transfer from the server to the client and wherein the request contains an incomplete specification of structure and kind of process data/content to be provided by the server such that the server is enabled to decide which data shall be sent to the client;

means for selecting as process data from the determined kind of data either all up-to-date process data or a subset of process data;

means for determining a data structure for communicating the process data to the client;

means for generating an XML type message with meta data being descriptive on the kind and the data structure and meaning and comprising the process data; and

means for sending the XML type message to the client.