Web-based configuration server for automation systems

• US 8,028,045 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hofmann, Reinhard, Hall, Kenwood H., Auinger, Franz Johann, Zoitl, Alois
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): YI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/536,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/203, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41855 by local area network [LAN], network structure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31161 Java programcode or simular active agents, programs, applets
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31348 Gateway
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A configuration server provides a gateway for joining and exploring different networks to find and/or configure automation devices. The configuration server can be used for presentation and configuration interactions within a common web browser via, for example, a self-contained software application such as a configuration applet. The gateway can be based on open standards and implemented with small devices and/or with heterogeneous automation networks. The configuration server provides exploration of different network types and a list of attached devices to a configuration applet. The gateway enables links to automation devices to inspect their parameters and/or send configuration commands. In one instance, the configuration applet and the automation network devices are based on Java and IEC 61499, respectively. The configuration server can be utilized to discover both legacy and extended devices to help support manufacturing operators to easily maintain their automation systems.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates configuration of automation control systems, comprising:

a processor;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to implement the system, including;

a web server configured to provide an interface via a web browser to at least one computing device,

wherein the web server is further configured to instantiate multiple configuration gateways on the web server that respectively provide a pathway for communication between at least two interconnected automation networks, wherein the interface is configured to interact, through the multiple configuration gateways, with the at least two interconnected automation networks to provide detection of and communication with at least two devices on the respective at least two automation networks,

wherein the web server is further configured to download, to at least one device of the at least two devices, a who-am-I resource that executes on the at least one device and provides identification information employed by the web server to display the at least one device within the web browser, and

wherein the web server is configured to interact with the who-am-I resource using at least one of multicast detection, a sniffer, or an echo request to retrieve the identification information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple configuration gateways are configured to interact with standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 compliant devices and devices that are not IEC 61499 compliant.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple configuration gateways are configured to allow a topology of the at least two interconnected automation networks to be explored via the web browser.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple configuration gateways provide a single access point between the at least two interconnected automation networks and the at least one computing device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple configuration gateways is configured to employ the sniffer to detect a passive device, the echo request to stimulate and detect silent devices, or an identification request to detect International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 compliant devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple configuration gateways is configured to interact with the who-am-I resource in the at least one device for active multicast detection of the at least one device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple configuration gateways is configured to interact with heterogeneous automation networks.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the web server is configured to create additional configuration gateways that interact with additional automation networks to detect and communicate with automation devices on the additional automation networks.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the additional configuration gateways are configured to explore topologies of the additional automation networks.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a hyper-text markup language (HTML) web page for the web browser.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interface comprises a configuration applet that operates in the web browser.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the configuration applet interacts with the multiple configuration gateways to configure at least one of the at least two devices.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple configuration gateways are based on an open standard for engineering platforms.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the open standard is an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 compatible standard.

15. A method for configuring automation control systems, comprising:

employing a processor executing computer-executable instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

serving, from a configuration web server to at least one computing device, a self-contained software application for configuring automation network devices via a web browser;

detecting and communicating with a first device in a first automation network via a first gateway instantiated on the configuration web server by the self-contained software application;

instantiating a second gateway on the configuration web server for interacting with the self-contained software application and a second automation network;

downloading a who-am-I resource from the configuration web server to a second device in the second automation network;

retrieving identification information for the second device from the who-am-I resource using at least one of multicast detection, a sniffer, or an echo request;

employing the identification information to display the second device on the self-contained software application; and

detecting and communicating with the second device in the second automation network via the second gateway using the self-contained software application.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

actively or passively exploring the first automation network or the second automation network via the self-contained software application; and

discovering at least one of the first device or the second device via the exploring.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the downloading comprises downloading the who-am-I resource to an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 compliant device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising implementing a security layer in at least one of the first gateway or the second gateway to restrict unauthorized access to the first automation network or the second automation network.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing additional separate interactions to the first automation network or the second automation network for respective additional self-contained software applications.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the self-contained software application in a hyper-text markup language (HTML) web page for the web browser.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising basing the first gateway and the second gateway on an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61499 compatible standard.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution by a computer, direct the computer to:

serve a software applet from a configuration web server to a web browser window on at least one computing device, the software applet acting as an interface with at least one automation device residing on a topology of multiple interconnected automation networks;

maintain multiple gateways on the configuration web server, the multiple gateways respectively acting as communication links between the software applet and a disparate automation network within the topology;

download a who-am-I resource to the at least one automation device;

retrieve an identification for the at least one automation device from the who-am-I resource using at least one of multicast detection, a sniffer, or an echo request;

employ the identification to display the at least one automation device on the software applet; and

interface the software applet with the at least one automation device via the multiple gateways to control the at least one automation device via the software applet.