Control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, and a method for handling messages from a mobile user connected to the control system

• US 7,873,371 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Markic, Robert, Öberg, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Harper; Vincent P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casca; Fred A
• Application Number:
  US10/538,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,959 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/454, 455/575, 455/26.1, 455/412.2, 455/408, 455/406, 455/407, 455/412.1, 455/414.3, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/457, 455/66.1
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25167 Receive commands through mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method for handling messages from a mobile user, in a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, wherein the real world objects are represented by software objects and the user selects one of the objects for the message. The method includes receiving information about which of the objects has been selected. A voice message is recorded. The message is stored associated with the software object representing the selected real world object, such that the message is accessible from the control system. The presence of a message associated with the object is indicated. Upon request, the content of the message is presented.

Claims

1. A method for handling messages from a mobile user, connected to a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, the method comprising:

determining a location of the mobile user moving among the real world objects by detecting a hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user remote from the control system with a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points connected to the control system, connecting the hand-held mobile unit to one of the wireless access points and utilizing information regarding placement of the plurality of wireless access points;

determining real world objects in the vicinity of the wireless access points,

wirelessly connecting the hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user to any of the wireless access points as the mobile user and mobile unit approaches any of the wireless access points,

representing each real world object closest to the user by a software object on the hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user after the mobile unit connects to any of the wireless access points, the real world objects represented changing as the user moves among the real world objects,

selecting by the mobile user with the hand-held mobile unit one of the software objects corresponding to one of the real world objects in the vicinity of the mobile user,

recording a voice message with the hand-held mobile unit,

associating the voice message with the software object representing the selected real world object,

transmitting the voice message and software object representing the selected real world object from the hand-held mobile unit to the control system,

storing with the control system the message associated with the software object representing the selected object, so that the message is accessible from the control system,

indicating with a control system interface the presence of a voice message associated with the selected real world object,

indicating to the mobile user the presence of a voice message associated with real world objects represented on the hand-held mobile unit, and

upon request, presenting the content of the voice message to any user interface connected to the control system interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each software object is an Aspect object which contains a set of selectable functions representing different aspects of the real world object, the method further comprising:

including the functions “

record a message” and

“

present a message”

to said set of functions,

recording a message comprising;

activating the “

record a message”

function of the object, and

presenting a message comprising;

activating the “

present a message”

function of the object.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the handheld mobile unit comprises a user interface and is wirelessly connected to the control system.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein objects possible to select are displayed on said user interface of the hand-held mobile unit.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

storing the recorded message in the hand-held mobile unit.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

presenting the message on a second user interface connected to the control system.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recording, storing and presenting of the message is achieved with one or more software modules common to the software objects in the control system.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting the voice message into a text string, storing the text string and upon request presenting the content of the message by displaying the text string.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the recorded message is stored as a voice message and presenting the message to the user comprises playing the voice message.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the presence of the message is indicated in connection with a visual representation of the object.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

assigning a category and a priority to the message and

visually indicating the category and priority of the message.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

storing information about who recorded the message and

upon request presenting information about who recorded the message.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

automatically deleting the message in dependence of a predetermined period of time following the recording of the message.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

indicating with the hand-held mobile unit the presence of a message regarding the selected object.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium;

and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for performing the steps of

handling messages from a mobile user, connected to a control system controlling a plurality of real world objects, wherein the control system is arranged in a control room,

determining a location of the mobile user moving among the real world objects by detecting a hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user remote from the control system with a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points connected to the control system, connecting the hand-held mobile unit to one of the wireless access points and utilizing information regarding placement of the plurality of wireless access points;

determining real world objects in the vicinity of the wireless access points, wirelessly connecting the hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user to any of the wireless access points as the mobile user and mobile unit approaches any of the wireless access points,

representing each real world object closest to the user by a software object on the hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user after the mobile unit connects to any of the wireless access points, the real world objects represented changing as the user moves among the real world objects,

selecting by the mobile user with the hand-held mobile unit one of the software objects corresponding to one of the real world objects in the vicinity of the mobile user,

recording a voice message with the hand-held mobile unit, associating the voice message with the software object representing the selected real world object,

transmitting the voice message and software object representing the selected real world object from the hand-held mobile unit to the control system,

storing with the control system the message associated with the software object representing the selected object, so that the message is accessible from the control system,

indicating with a control system interface the presence of a voice message associated with the selected real world object,

indicating to the mobile user the presence of a voice message associated with real world objects represented on the hand-held mobile unit, and upon request, presenting the content of the voice message to any user interface connected to the control system interface.

16. A control system adapted for controlling a plurality of real world objects represented as software objects, the method comprising:

means for determining a location of a user by detecting a hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user remote from the control system with a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points connected to the control system utilizing information regarding connection of the hand-held mobile unit to a wireless access point and placement of the plurality of wireless access points,

a hand-held mobile unit remote from the control system and comprising means for determining real world objects in the vicinity of the wireless access points, wirelessly connecting the hand-held mobile unit located with the mobile user to any of the wireless access points as the mobile user and mobile unit approaches any of the wireless access points, means for representing each real world object closest to the user by a software object after the mobile unit connects to any of the wireless access points and changing the real world objects represented as the user moves among the real world objects, means for selecting one of the software objects corresponding to one of said real world objects in the vicinity of the mobile user, means for creating a voice message, and means for associating the voice message with the selected software object representing the selected real world object, and means for transmitting the voice message and software object to the control system remote from the hand-held mobile unit,

a storage unit arranged with the control system for storing the voice message associated with the software object representing the real-world object so that the voice message is accessible from the control system,

means for indicating the presence of the message associated with the selected real world object on the hand-held unit and on an interface of the control system, and

means for, upon request, presenting the content of the message to any user interface connected to the control system.

17. The control system according to claim 16, wherein the handheld mobile unit further comprises a user interface, and means for recording the message, wherein the hand-held mobile unit is wirelessly connected to the control system.

18. The control system according to claim 16, further comprising

a second user interface and said indicating means is adapted for indicating the presence of the message on the second user interface and said presenting means is adapted for presenting the message on the second user interface.