Device, especially an automation apparatus, with a file index structure stored in files

• US 7,865,539 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Volkmann, Frank, Talanis, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene; John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/524,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20050256894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,709 Days
• Field of Search: 707/102, 707/999.001, 707/999.003, 707/999.01, 707/999.102, 707/999.103, 707/999.107, 707/829, 707/999.2
• US Class Current: 707/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

Device and method to represent and/or display a data index structure in an XML file in a very easy manner with the aid of an internet-capable language, especially XML, in automation apparatus, so-called embedded devices, that as a rule do not have their own file index structure and to bringing said data index structure to the embedded device by sending the file so that the target machine can work as a web server thereby enabling remote access.

Claims

1. An apparatus having embedded computer functions for controlling operation of a device, the apparatus comprising:

a communication connection for receiving a first file, wherein the first file is an XML file;

a storage for storing the first file;

wherein the first file is stored in the storage and includes contents of one or more files arranged in a nested manner in accordance with a portrayed file directory structure within the first file itself for addressing contents of the first file in a hierarchical manner;

wherein the portrayed file directory structure operates as a file directory structure for the apparatus without using a separate descriptor file to define the file directory structure or a separate local file directory structure on the apparatus;

wherein the portrayed file directory structure in the first file comprises;

characteristic start symbols and characteristic end symbols to represent each hierarchy levels, wherein the symbols comprise representations of one or more directories, representations of one or more corresponding subdirectories nested therein, and representations of one or more files nested in one or more directories or subdirectories, in a manner representative of a physical hierarchical file directory structure, and

wherein the contents of each file in the portrayed file directory structure are stored between the respective characteristic symbols for each file, thereby allowing directories, subdirectories, and files to be directly addressable by means of the respective characteristic symbols,

said portrayed file directory structure enabling the apparatus to operate as a web server with hierarchical addressing, thereby enabling remote access to control or change operation of the device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an Internet-compatible language is used for describing the portrayed file directory structure.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the XML language of the first file, in which the portrayed file directory structure is stored, is used for the purpose of describing the portrayed file directory structure.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a new line is used both for each characteristic start symbol and for each characteristic end symbol.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the designation of the relevant file directory or of the relevant file is used as a characteristic start symbol, and the designation of the relevant file directory or of the relevant file is used as a characteristic end symbol and a predeterminable character is added as a prefix.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first file includes further sections having other contents, said further sections being identified or separated in each case by at least one characteristic start symbol and at least one characteristic end symbol.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein configuration data is stored in at least one of the further sections.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein one or more of result codes and/or error codes are stored in at least one of the further sections.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a mechanism for receiving the first file via a communication network.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communication network comprises one or more of an Internet, an Intranet, and a radio connection.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein a configuration of the apparatus, using the configuration data, can be carried out automatically after the first file has been loaded onto the apparatus.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the content of one or more of the files in the portrayed file directory structure is capable of being remotely addressed using a full Uniform Resource Language URL address in accordance with the file'"'"'s location in the portrayed file directory structure and being displayed as a webpage on a remote device.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an update of the portrayed file directory structure comprises overwriting an original file version of the first file with a new file version.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein an update of the configuration data comprises overwriting an original file version of the first file with a new file version.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein after the first file has been updated, a previously set configuration data of the apparatus onto which the original file version of the first file was loaded, is automatically checked and adapted.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an embedded device.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an automation device.

18. An automation system having at least one apparatus as claimed in claim 1.