Web interface to a device and an electrical network control system

• US 7,664,869 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Automation Incorporated (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Baker, Richard A, Rolland, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): England; David E
• Application Number:
  US11/933,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15038 Internet, tcp-ip, web server see under S05B219-40
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31156 Network structure, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31422 Upload, download programs, parameters from, to station to, from server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32126 Hyperlink, access to program modules and to hardware modules in www, web server, browser
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/12 Protocol engines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 : Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A method and interface module for communicating messages with a remote location and to provide access to an at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) operably connected to a communication network. The interface module is comprised of a central processing unit and an operating system operating the central processing unit. A network interface is operably connected with the communication network. A protocol task processes communication on the network according to first and second protocol stacks, wherein messages are assigned to either the first or second protocol stack. Messages assigned to the first protocol stack have a higher priority than messages assigned to the second protocol stack. A set of application tasks communicates with the protocol task for responding to an incoming message from the communication network and initiating an outgoing message to the communication network. An interconnection bus with an interface driver is operably connected with the at least one IED.

Claims

1. An interface module for communicating messages with a remote location and to provide access to an at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) operably connected to a communication network, the interface module comprising:

a central processing unit;

an operating system operating the central processing unit;

a network interface for communicating with the communication network;

first and second TCP/IP protocol stacks for managing the communication on the network, wherein, in operation, each message is selectively assigned to one of the first and second protocol stacks according to a type of the message;

a protocol task for processing the communication according to the protocol stacks, wherein messages assigned to the first protocol stack have a higher priority than messages assigned to the second protocol stack, wherein industrial protocol control messages are assigned to the first protocol stack;

a set of application tasks communicating with the protocol task for responding to an incoming message from the communication network and initiating an outgoing message to the communication network; and

,

an interconnection bus with an interface driver for communicating with the at least one IED.

2. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the communication network is a worldwide Internet network using the Internet Protocol (IP).

3. The interface module of claim 2 operating as a Web site on the Internet, the interface module having a global IP address.

4. The interface module of claim 2 wherein the set of application tasks comprises a FTP server task for processing a File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

5. The interface module of claim 4 wherein the FTP server task accepts a connection;

parses an FTP message; and

, calls the operating system to process the FTP message.

6. The interface module of claim 5 wherein the FTP message allows a user at a remote location to download a file for updating the operating software within the at least one IED through the Internet.

7. The interface module of claim 5 wherein the FTP message allows a user at a remote location to upload a file for obtaining data records from the at least one IED through the Internet.

8. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the network interface is operably connected to a driver.

9. The interface module of claim 8 wherein the network interface is operably connected to an Ethernet driver.

10. The interface module of claim 8 wherein the network interface is operably connected to a SLIP/PPP driver.

11. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the set of application tasks includes a control task for processing the incoming and outgoing messages between a remote location and the at least one IED using an industrial communication standard Modbus over TCP/IP.

12. The interface of claim 1 wherein the set of application tasks comprises a HTTP server task for processing the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) to provide a standard Web access to a remote Web browser.

13. The interface module of claim 12 wherein the HTTP server task accepts a connection;

parses an HTTP message; and

, calls the operating system to process the HTTP message.

14. The interface module of claim 13 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at a remote location to view data within the at least one IED from the browser operably connected to the communication network.

15. The interface module of claim 13 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at a remote location to write data within the at least one IED from the browser operably connected to the communication network.

16. The interface module of claim 1 wherein the second TCP/IP protocol stack is capable of handling a broad range of TCP/IP messages and the first TCP/IP protocol stack is capable of handling a less broad range of TCP/IP messages more quickly than the first stack is capable of handling the broad range of TCP/IP messages.

17. An interface module for communicating messages with a remote location and to provide access to an at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) operably connected to a communication network, the interface module comprising:

a central processing unit;

an operating system operating the central processing unit;

a network interface for communicating with the communication network;

a dual TCP/IP protocol stack comprising a first and second stacks for managing the communication on the network, wherein, in operation, messages are selectively assigned to one of the first and second stacks according to a type of the respective message, wherein Modbus control messages are assigned to the first protocol stack;

a protocol task for processing the communication according to the dual protocol stack; and

a set of application tasks, comprising a control task and communicating with the protocol task for responding to an incoming message from the communication network and initiating an outgoing message to the communication network using an industrial communication standard Modbus over TCP/IP, wherein the control task accepts a connection, parses a Modbus message, and calls the operation system to process the Modbus message.

18. The interface module of claim 17 wherein the control task comprises means for processing the Modbus message;

accessing data on the at least one IED;

and, sending back a response.

19. The interface of claim 18 wherein the control task further includes means for initiating the Modbus message allowing the at least one IED to communicate with the interface module.

20. A control system for allowing a user access at a remote location through a communication network, to information and data contained in an electrical network control system having an at least one intelligent electronic device (IED), the control system comprising:

means for coupling the remote location to the communication network, the coupling means including a Web browser for interacting with the communication network;

a Web site associated with the electrical network control system and accessible through the communication network;

means for linking the electrical network control system to the Web site, the linking means including an interface module for coupling the at least one IED to the communication network;

first and second TCP/IP protocol stacks for enabling transfer of a message between the remote location and the electrical network control system, wherein, in operation, the message is selectively assigned to one of the first and second protocol stacks according to a type of the message; and

means for processing the message received from the remote location over the communication network wherein a message assigned to the first protocol stack has a higher priority than a message assigned to the second protocol stack, wherein industrial protocol control messages are assigned to the first protocol stack;

the means for processing the message comprising means for receiving a message;

means for accessing the at least one IED for the message; and

, means for sending a response to the remote location through the communication network.

21. The control system of claim 20 wherein the communication network is a worldwide Internet network using an Internet Protocol (IP).

22. The control system of claim 20 wherein the interface module operates as a Web site on the Internet, the interface module having a global IP address.

23. The control system of claim 22 wherein the interface module comprises a network driver for receiving the message from the Web browser on the Internet and for sending a response back to the Web browser.

24. The control system of claim 23 wherein the message transfer enabling means comprises a protocol task using a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).

25. The control system of claim 24 wherein the first and second TCP/IP stack comprises one stack capable of handling TCP/IP messages with a higher priority than the other stack.

26. The control system of claim 25 wherein the message processing means comprises a control task for processing a message exchange over the communication network between a remote application and the at least one IED using the industrial communication standard Modbus over TCP/IP.

27. The control system of claim 25 wherein the data message processing means includes a FTP server task for processing a File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

28. The control system of claim 27 wherein the FTP server task accepts a connection;

parses an FTP message; and

, calls the operating system to process the FTP message.

29. The control system of claim 28 wherein the FTP message allows a user at the remote location to download a file through the Internet for updating the operating software within the at least one IED associated with the electrical network control system.

30. The control system of claim 29 wherein the FTP message allows a user at the remote location to upload through the Internet a file for obtaining data records from the at least one IED associated with the electrical network control system.

31. The control system of claim 25 wherein the data message processing means includes a HTTP server task for processing a Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) to provide access to the remote Web browser.

32. The control system of claim 31 wherein the HTTP task accepts a connection;

parses an HTTP message; and

, calls the operating system to process the HTTP message.

33. The control system of claim 32 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at the remote location to view the electrical network control system from a browser connected to the Internet.

34. The control system of claim 33 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at the remote location to write to the electrical network control system from a browser connected to the Internet.

35. The control system of claim 33 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at the remote location to write IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

36. The control system of claim 33 wherein a Java message allows a user at the remote location to write IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

37. The control system of claim 33 wherein an ActiveX message allows a user at the remote location to write IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

38. The control system of claim 32 wherein the HTTP message allows a user at the remote location to view IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

39. The control system of claim 32 wherein a Java message allows a user at the remote location to view IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

40. The control system of claim 32 wherein an ActiveX message allows a user at the remote location to view IED data from a browser connected to the Internet.

41. A control system for allowing a user access at a remote location through a communication network, to information and data contained in an electrical network control system having an at least one intelligent electronic device IED), the control system comprising:

means for coupling the remote location to the communication network, the coupling means including a Web browser for interacting with the communication network;

a Web site associated with the electrical network control system and accessible through the communication network;

means for linking the electrical network control system to the Web site, the linking means including an interface module for coupling the at least one IED to the communication network;

first and second TCP/IP protocol stacks for enabling transfer of a message between the remote location and the electrical network control system, wherein, in operation, the message is selectively assigned to one of the first and second protocol stacks according to a type of the message, wherein Modbus control messages are assigned to the first protocol stack; and

means for processing the message received from the remote location over the communication network, the means for processing the message comprising a control task, means for receiving a message;

means for accessing the at least one IED for the message; and

, means for sending a response to the remote location through the communication network using an industrial communication standard Modbus over TCP/IP, wherein the control task accepts a connection, parses a Modbus message, and calls an operation system to process the Modbus message.

42. The control system of claim 41 wherein the control task includes means for processing the message received from the remote location over the communication network;

accessing data on the at least one IED; and

, sending back a response.

43. The control system of claim 42 wherein the control task further includes means for initiating the message allowing the IED to communicate with the remote location over the communication network.