Methods and apparatus for remote process control
First Claim
1. A process control system comprisingA. a plurality of devices to any of monitor and control a process,B. a portable computer equipped for display to, and input from, an operator,C. a program executing on the portable computer that responds to input to transmit to a digital data processor separate from the portable computer a request to update information that controls one or more of the devices,D. software executing on the digital data processor, the software responding to selected requests received from the program to issue a command to update information that controls one or more of the devices.
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Abstract
A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.
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Citations
98 Claims
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1. A process control system comprising
A. a plurality of devices to any of monitor and control a process, B. a portable computer equipped for display to, and input from, an operator, C. a program executing on the portable computer that responds to input to transmit to a digital data processor separate from the portable computer a request to update information that controls one or more of the devices, D. software executing on the digital data processor, the software responding to selected requests received from the program to issue a command to update information that controls one or more of the devices.
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13. A process control system of the type having a plurality of devices to any of monitor and control a process, the process control system comprising
A. a portable computer equipped for display to, and input from, an operator, B. a program executing on the portable computer that transmits to a digital data processor requests to update information that controls one or more of the devices, the program responding to operator input to transmit requests to get information reflecting the status of one or more of the devices and/or displaying said information, C. software executing on the digital data processor, the software responding to requests received from the program to selectively (a) issue a command to update information that controls one or more of the devices and (b) obtain information pertaining to one or more of the devices, D. wherein the digital data processor is disposed remotely from the portable computer and is coupled for communication therewith via a wireless network.
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22. A process control system comprising
A. a plurality of devices to any of monitor and control a process, B. a portable computer equipped for display to, and input from, an operator, C. a digital data processor coupled to the portable computer via a wireless network, D. software executing on the digital data processor, the software responding to selected requests received from the portable computer to execute a service for at least one of (i) creating a named object that stores information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (ii) destroying such an object, (iii) accessing information in such an object, (iv) updating information in such an object, (v) determining, from an object name, a physical address associated with such an object, and (vi) providing notification of changes in at least selected information stored in such an object, and E. the portable computer transmitting to the digital data processor requests for one or more said services, and responding to input to transmit to the digital data processor requests for one or more of said services in order to update information in an object that is associated with one or more of the devices.
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36. A process control system comprising
A. a plurality of devices to any of monitor and control a process, B. a portable computer equipped for display to, and input from, an operator, C. a digital data processor coupled to the portable computer via a wireless network, D. software executing on the digital data processor, the software responding to selected requests received from the portable computer to execute a service for at least one of (i) creating a named object that stores information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (ii) destroying such an object, (iii) accessing information in such an object, (iv) updating information in such an object, (v) determining, from an object name, a physical address associated with such an object, and (vi) providing notification of changes in at least selected information stored in such an object.
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52. A portable computer for use in a control system that includes one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, the portable computer comprising
A. a program that executes on the portable computer in order to configure it as a process controller for purposes of at least controlling the one or more control/sensing devices, B. the portable computer, when configured as a process controller, exchanging messages over a wireless network with a server digital data processor for purposes of controlling the one or more control/sensing devices, C. the messages including requests, transmitted by the portable computer to the server digital data processor, for services provided by the server digital data processor including services for at least one of (i) accessing information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (ii) updating information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (iii) determining a physical address associated with the one or more control/sensing devices, and (iv) providing notification of changes in at least selected information pertaining to the one or more control/sensing devices.
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66. A digital data processor for use in a control system that includes one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, the digital data processor comprising
A. a program that executes on the digital data processor in order to configure it as a process controller for purposes of at least controlling the one or more control/sensing devices, B. the digital data processor, when configured as a process controller, exchanging messages over a wireless network for purposes of controlling the one or more control/sensing devices, C. the messages including requests, transmitted by the digital data processor for object management services including services for at least one of (i) accessing information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (ii) updating information regarding the one or more control/sensing devices, (iii) determining a physical address associated with the one or more control/sensing devices, and (iv) providing notification of changes in at least selected information pertaining to the one or more control/sensing devices.
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80. A method of operating a digital data processor for use in a control system that includes one or more control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, said digital data processor including a wireless network connection, the method comprising
A. configuring the digital data processor as a process controller for purposes of controlling one or more of said control/sensing devices, and B. exchanging one or more messages in a form of any of text and ASCII format via said wireless network connection for purposes of effecting said controlling of said one or more said control/sensing devices.
Specification