Thin-client terminal and client/server-system having such a terminal

• US 7,930,454 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2005
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
• Original Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
• Inventors: Rausenberger, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Knoll; Clifford H
• Application Number:
  US11/918,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,040 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/300, 710/305, 36167901-67902, 361/679.08, 361/679.21
• US Class Current: 710/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel

Abstract

A thin-client terminal (1,1′) according to the invention serves for use in a potentially explosive area (ExB) and has at least the following components: an EDP device (11,11′), which can be programmed using software, has graphics capabilities, has its own storage and computation capacity, is connected, via at least one data transmission channel (K), to a computer (C)—which is not arranged in the potentially explosive area (ExB) and acts as a server—and is capable of communicating with the latter as a thin client in accordance with the client/server principle, and a display (12) which is connected to the EDP device (11, 11′) and is intended to display data. The thin-client terminal (1,1′) according to the invention is explosion-proof or is intrinsically safe and can thus be used in the potentially explosive area (ExB). The thin-client terminal (1,1′) also preferably has an explosion-proof or intrinsically safe keyboard (13) which is connected to the EDP device (11,11′) and is intended for inputting data.

Claims

1. A client server system with one server (C) and at least one thin client (1, 1′

) characterized in that the thin client is a thin client terminal (1,1′

) for use in an explosive area (ExB),

having a data processing device (11, 11′

) having graphics capabilities that can be programmed by means of software and having its own storage and computing capacity, said device being connected through at least one data transmission channel (K) to a computer (C) that is not located in the explosive area (ExB) and that functions as a server, said device, as the thin client, being capable of communicating with the computer (C) according to the client-server principle

and a display (12) connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for purposes of displaying data,

whereby the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe so that it can be used in the explosive area (ExB),

and

a) wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) receives a certain maximum volume of basic data per unit of time from the server (C), and said device generates a volume of graphic data from this per unit of time and transmits it to the display (12), said data, averaged over time, being more extensive, here preferably averaged over time more extensive by a factor of at least 10, than the volume of basic data received per unit of time by the data processing device (11, 11′

) from the server (C),

and/or

b) wherein the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) also has

a keyboard (13) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

),

and/or a barcode reader (15) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe,

and/or a mouse (14) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe,

and/or at least one other pointing device, for example, a trackball, finger mouse or touchpad, that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device for purposes of inputting data,

and/or at least one sensor is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

),

and wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) receives a certain maximum volume of raw data per unit of time from the keyboard (13) and/or the mouse (14) and/or the barcode reader (15) and/or one or more sensors (S) connected to the data processing device (11′

), wherein the device generates a volume of processed data from this per unit of time and transmits it to the server (C), said data volume being less extensive averaged over time, preferably less extensive by a factor of at least 10, than the volume of raw data received by the data processing device (11, 11′

) per unit of time.

2. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) also has a keyboard (13) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for purposes of inputting data.

3. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) has a barcode reader (15) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for purposes of inputting data.

4. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) has a mouse (14) that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for purposes of inputting data and/or it has at least one other pointing device, for example, a trackball, finger mouse or touchpad, that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device for purposes of inputting data.

5. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device (11, 11′

) has a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

6. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the clock frequency of the microprocessor or microcontroller is less than 5 gigahertz or less than 2 gigahertz or less than 1 gigahertz or less than 800 megahertz or less than 100 megahertz.

7. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device (11, 11′

) has its own graphics processor.

8. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the display (12) is a flat monitor (12) that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe.

9. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the display (12) is a touch screen that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe, via which data can be input into the data processing device (11, 11′

).

10. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device (11, 11′

) has at least one memory chip or other type of memory without a magnetic disk.

11. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the entire thin client terminal (1, 1′

) can be operated at a low voltage of 24 volts or less.

12. The client server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device (11′

) has at least one interface for the connection of a sensor (S).

13. The client-server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmission channel (K) is a DSL or ISDN line or it has at least one asynchronous serial interface.

14. The client-server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmission channel (K) allows a maximum data transmission rate between 100 kilobits per second and 100 megabits per second, preferably 115,200 bits per second, or between 1 megabit and 8 megabits per second.

15. The client-server system according to claim 1, characterized in that several thin client terminals (1, 1′

) are connected to the server (C).

16. The client-server system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing device (11′

) and the computer (C) are

capable of communicating in at least one direction by means of a multiplex signal.

17. A method for processing and displaying of data in an explosion endangered region

characterized in that

a thin client terminal (1, 1′

)

which is configured so as to be completely explosion-protected or intrinsically safe including all of the input and output devices (12, 13, 14, 15) and is operated in the explosion endangered area (ExB),

a data processing device (11, 11′

) having graphics capabilities that can be programmed by means of software and having its own storage and computing capacity,

and a display connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for purposes of displaying data,

a computer (C) not disposed in the explosion endangered region and operated as a server,

wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) is connected according to the client-server principle through at least one data transmission channel to the computer (C) that is not located in the explosive area and that functions as a server,

and

a) wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) receives a certain maximum volume of basic data per unit of time from the server (C), and said device generates a volume of graphic data from this per unit of time and transmits it to the display (12), said data, averaged over time, being more extensive, here preferably averaged over time more extensive by a factor of at least 10, than the volume of basic data received per unit of time by the data processing device (11, 11′

) from the server (C),

and/or

b) wherein the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) also has

a keyboard (13) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

),

and/or a barcode reader (15) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe,

and/or a mouse (14) that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe,

and/or at least one other pointing device, for example, a trackball, finger mouse or touchpad, that is configured so as to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe and that is connected to the data processing device for purposes of inputting data,

and/or at least one sensor is connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

),

and wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) receives a certain maximum volume of raw data per unit of time from the keyboard (13) and/or the mouse (14) and/or the barcode reader (15) and/or one or more sensors (S) connected to the data processing device (11′

), wherein the device generates a volume of processed data from this per unit of time and transmits it to the server (C), said data volume being less extensive averaged over time, preferably less extensive by a factor of at least 10, than the volume of raw data received by the data processing device (11, 11′

) per unit of time.

18. The method according to claim 17

wherein the data transmitted via the data transmission channel consists at least partially of data that only relates to the change of an already existing status, for example, a certain screen layout,

wherein such data does not contain the complete information for creating a certain status such as, for instance, a certain screen layout, but rather only the much less comprehensive information relating to a pure change or updating of the existing status.

19. The method according to claim 17

wherein the graphic data delivered by the server (C) to be shown on the display are only generated in the data processing device (11, 11′

), wherein the graphic data obtained in this way are more voluminous as the base data delivered by the server (C) in each case relative to a unit of time.

20. A client server system comprising

an explosion endangered area (ExB);

a safe area (SiB) disposed outside of the explosion endangered area (ExB);

a server (C) disposed in the safe area (SiB);

a data processing device (11, 11′

) disposed in the explosion endangered area (ExB) and having graphics capabilities that are programmed by means of software and having its own storage and computing capacity;

a data transmission channel (K) explosion protected or intrinsically safe and connecting the data processing device (11,11′

) to the server (C) for furnishing data transmission between the data processing device (11, 11′

) and the server (C) according to a client-server principle;

a display (12) disposed in the explosion endangered area (ExB) and connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) for displaying data delivered by the data processing device (11, 11′

) to the display (12) and wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) and the display (12) form a thin client terminal (1,1′

);

wherein the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe so that it is useable in the explosion endangered area (ExB);

a data input device (13, 14, 15, S) disposed in the explosion endangered area (ExB), that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe,

and connected to the data processing device (11, 11′

) through an explosion protected or intrinsically safe line (L) with the purpose of inputting data to the data processing device (11, 11′

);

wherein a volume of inputted data delivered by the data input device (13, 14, 15, S) to the data processing device (11, 11′

) is less extensive when averaged over time than the client data delivered from the data processing device (11, 11′

) to the server (C).

21. A method for processing and displaying of data in an explosion endangered region comprising

defining an explosion endangered area (ExB);

defining a safe area (SiB) disposed outside of the explosion endangered area (ExB);

disposing a server (C) in the safe area;

disposing a data processing device (11, 11′

) in the explosion endangered area (ExB);

furnishing graphics capabilities to the data processing device (11, 11′

);

programming the graphics capabilities by means of software;

furnishing its own storage and computing capacity to the data processing device (11, 11′

);

connecting the data processing device (11,11′

) to the server (C) through a data transmission channel (K) which is explosion protected or intrinsically safe and for furnishing data transmission between the data processing device (11, 11′

) and the server (C) according to a client-server principle;

disposing a display (12) in the explosion endangered area (ExB);

connecting the display (12) to the data processing device (11, 11′

);

displaying data delivered by the data processing device (11, 11′

) to the display (12) and wherein the data processing device (11, 11′

) and the display (12) form a thin client terminal (1,1′

);

configuring the thin client terminal (1, 1′

) to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe so that it is useable in the explosion endangered area (ExB);

disposing a data input device (13, 14, 15, S) in the explosion endangered area (ExB), that is configured to be explosion-protected or intrinsically safe;

connecting the data input device (13, 14, 15, S) to the data processing device (11, 11′

) through an explosion protected or intrinsically safe line (L);

inputting data to the data processing device (11, 11′

);

wherein a volume of inputted data delivered by the data input device (13, 14, 15, S) to the data processing device (11, 11′

) is less extensive when averaged over time than client data delivered from the data processing device (11, 11′

) to the server (C).