Methods and systems for management and control of an automation control module

• US 7,590,712 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GE Fanuc Automation North America Incorporated
• Inventors: Newman, Robert Francis, Hietanen, David J., Chambers, Robert Baxter II, Collier, David Scott, Mercer, Ferrell Louis, Elliott, David Charles, Kadingo, Jason Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): WASEL, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US10/238,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,562 Days
• Field of Search: 709/212, 709/217, 709/220, 709/246, 709/250, 709/221, 709/25, 709223-225
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server

Abstract

An automation control module (ACM) includes an ACM central processing unit (CPU), a backplane electrically coupled to the ACM CPU, and a web system embedded within the ACM and electrically coupled to the ACM CPU and backplane. The web system includes a secure web server and is configured to process hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests from a network to program and configure the ACM through the network. The HTTP requests are received by the secure web server and transmitted by the secure web server directly the ACM CPU without using the backplane.

Claims

1. An automation control module (ACM) comprising:

an ACM central processing unit (CPU);

a backplane electrically coupled to said ACM CPU; and

a web subsystem comprising a secure web server, said web subsystem electrically coupled to said ACM CPU, and configured to process hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests from a network to program and configure said ACM through the network, the HTTP requests received by said secure web server and transmitted by said secure web server directly to said ACM CPU without using said backplane.

2. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web server is electrically coupled to said ACM CPU and the network, and is configured to process HTTP requests from the network to program and configure said ACM through the network.

3. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web server is configured to respond to HTTP requests from the network.

4. The ACM in accordance with claim 3 wherein said web subsystem further comprises at least one web page file.

5. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web server is configured to transfer ACM data from said ACM CPU to the network.

6. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web server is configured to transfer ACM data to said ACM CPU.

7. The ACM in accordance with claim 4 wherein said web server is configured to:

transfer ACM data from said ACM CPU; and

embed said ACM data within said at least one web page file based on function tags embedded within said at least one web page file.

8. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web server is further configured to transfer web page files via the network to a user on the network, wherein the user receives the web page files and uses the web page files to identify the hardware configuration of the ACM.

9. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a system memory coupled to said ACM CPU, wherein said web server is further configured to transfer web page files via the network to a user on the network, wherein the user receives the web page files and uses the web page files to program said system memory.

10. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web subsystem further comprises a network interface configured for connection to the network.

11. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ACM comprises a backplane interface electrically coupled to said ACM, said backplane electrically coupled to said backplane interface, said backplane configured for connection with at least one of an input/output (I/O) module and an input module.

12. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web subsystem is configured to process HTTP requests to program said ACM, and said ACM comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC).

13. The ACM in accordance with claim 1 wherein said web subsystem is configured to process HTTP requests to control an operation of said ACM, and said ACM comprises a programmable logic controller (PLC).

14. An automation control module (ACM) system comprising:

an ACM comprising a backplane and an ACM CPU;

a network;

a computer electrically coupled to said network and configured to communicate with said network; and

a web subsystem comprising a secure web server, said web subsystem electrically coupled to said ACM and said network, said web subsystem configured to process hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests received from said computer through said network to program and configure said ACM using the network, the HTTP requests received by said secure web server and transmitted by said secure web server directly to said ACM CPU without using said backplane.

15. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server is electrically coupled to said ACM and said network, and is configured to process HTTP requests received from said computer through said network to program and configure said ACM using said network.

16. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server is configured to respond to HTTP requests from said computer using said network.

17. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server further comprises at least one web page file.

18. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server is configured to transfer ACM data from said ACM CPU to said computer using said network.

19. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server is configured to transfer ACM data to said ACM CPU.

20. The ACM system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said web server is configured to transfer ACM data from said ACM CPU to said computer and embed said ACM data within said at least one web page file based on function tags embedded within said at least one web page file.

21. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web server is further configured to transfer web page files to said computer using said network and said computer is configured to receive said web page files and use said web page files to identify a hardware configuration of said ACM.

22. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a system memory coupled to said ACM CPU, wherein said web server is further configured to transfer web page files to said computer using said network and said computer is configured to receive said web page files and use said web page files to program said system memory using said network.

23. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said web subsystem further comprises a network interface configured for connection to said web server and said network.

24. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said ACM comprises a backplane interface electrically coupled to said ACM, said backplane electrically coupled to said backplane interface, said backplane configured for connection with at least one of an input/output (I/O) module and an input module.

25. The ACM system in accordance with claim 14 wherein a user is required to enter a valid user name and user password to access said ACM system.

26. A method for management and control of an automation control module (ACM) including an ACM central processing unit (CPU), a backplane, and a web subsystem electrically coupled to the ACM and a network, wherein the web subsystem includes a secure web server, said method comprising:

embedding the web server within the web subsystem;

electrically connecting the web subsystem to the ACM CPU;

receiving hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests from the network using the web subsystem;

transmitting the HTTP requests directly from the web subsystem to the ACM CPU without using the backplane; and

processing the HTTP requests using the ACM CPU to facilitate programming and configuring the ACM using the network.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26 wherein processing HTTP requests from the network using the web server to facilitate programming and configuring the ACM using the network comprises:

transferring web page files from the web server to the network;

receiving the web page files using the network; and

using the web page files to identify a hardware configuration of the ACM.

28. The method in accordance with claim 26 wherein the ACM further comprises a system memory electrically coupled to the ACM CPU, said processing HTTP requests from the network using the web server to facilitate programming and configuring the ACM using the network comprising:

transferring web page files from the web server to the network;

receiving the web page files using the network; and

using the web page files to program the system memory.