Modular object dynamic hosting

• US 8,041,435 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reichard, Douglas James, Seger, Daniel Baliey, Bliss, Ronald Eric, Hall, Kenwood Henry, Kretschmann, Robert John, Plache, Kenneth Scott, Kalan, Michael Dan, Brandes, Russell William, Govindaraj, Subbian, Jasper, Taryl Jon, Staron, Raymond John, Jarrett, James Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/241,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-203, 700/9, 700/19, 700/28
• US Class Current: 700/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5044 considering hardware capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory configured to store an industrial modular object, a resource management component and an organizational component,

wherein the industrial modular object comprises a first layer comprising a first logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a first host and a second layer comprising a second logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a second host, and wherein the industrial modular object further comprises an operational requirement including a set of capabilities identified for the first host and the second host that enable an execution of the industrial modular object,

wherein the resource management component is configured to determine available hosts and further configured to collect information about capabilities of the available hosts; and

wherein the organizational component is configured to pair the industrial modular object with at least one host of the available hosts according to at least one resource request of an industrial automation system, wherein the at least one host has at least one capability of the set of capabilities that matches the operational requirement of the industrial modular object; and

at least one processor configured to facilitate execution of at least one of the industrial modular object, the resource management component, or the organizational component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store a comparator component configured to identify at least one resource deficiency of the at least one of the at least one host paired with the industrial modular object based on the at least one resource request, and the processor is further configured to execute the comparator component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured to store an association component configured to bind the industrial modular object to the at least one host in response to the at least one resource request being satisfied, and the processor is further configured to execute the association component.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory is further configured to store:

a discovery component configured to determine that a second industrial modular object is added to the industrial automation system, and to alert the resource management component to determine an operational requirement of the second industrial modular object; and

a balance component configured to determine that a pairing of the at least one industrial modular object and the at least one host is to be broken based on the operational requirement of the second industrial modular object; and

the processor is further configured to execute the discovery component and the balance component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the organizational component is further configured to pair the industrial modular object with the at least one host randomly based at least in part on at least one of a prediction from an artificial intelligence technique or a designation from a user.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first logic component facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on the first host of a first type and wherein the second logic component facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on the second host of a second type.

7. A method, comprising:

storing an industrial modular object in memory, wherein the industrial modular object comprises a first layer comprising a first logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a first host and a second layer comprising a second logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a second host, and wherein the industrial modular object further comprises an operational requirement including a set of capabilities identified for the first host and the second host that facilitate an execution of the industrial modular object;

employing a processor to determine a plurality of available hosts;

employing the processor to collect information related to capabilities of the plurality of available hosts; and

employing the processor to match a capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object with a capability of a host from the plurality of available hosts and pair the industrial modular object with the host.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the employing the processor to match the capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object with the capability of the host further comprises pairing the industrial modular object with the host based on a resource requirement of an industrial automation system.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the employing the processor to match the capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object with the capability of the host further comprises pairing the industrial modular object with the host based on a function of at least one of estimated operational speed, configuration security, or host stability.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

employing the processor to determine a capability of a second host of the plurality of available hosts that matches a second capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising employing the processor to modify the capability of the host to meet the capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

employing the processor to determine a number of industrial modular objects that the at least one host is able to at least one of hold, schedule, or execute; and

employing the processor to evaluate whether the at least one host is able to at least one of hold, schedule, or execute the industrial modular object.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising employing the processor to notify a user that the at least one host cannot handle the industrial modular object in response to the at least one host being unable to at least one of hold, schedule or execute the industrial modular object.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the industrial modular object resides in at least one application.

15. An industrial automation system, comprising:

a memory configured to store an industrial modular object, a resource management component and an organizational component,

wherein the industrial modular object comprises a first layer comprising a first logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a first host and a second layer comprising a second logic component that facilitates execution of the industrial modular object on a second host, and wherein the industrial modular object further comprises an operational requirement including a set of capabilities identified for the first host and the second host that enable an execution of the industrial modular object,

wherein the resource management component is configured to determine available hosts and further configured to collect information about capabilities of the available hosts; and

wherein the organizational component is configured to pair the industrial modular object with at least one host of the available hosts according to at least one resource request of the industrial automation system, wherein the at least one host has at least one capability of the set of capabilities that matches the operational requirement of the industrial modular object; and

at least one processor configured to execute at least one of the industrial modular object, the resource management component, or the organizational component.

16. The industrial automation system of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to store a notice component configured to issue a notification indicating the industrial modular object with the operational requirement requires at least one host with a capability from the set of capabilities;

and the processor is further configured to execute the notice component.

17. The industrial automation system of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to store an association component configured to bind the industrial modular object to the at least one host;

and the processor is further configured to execute the association component.

18. The industrial automation system of claim 15, wherein the memory is further configured to store a modification component configured to alter at least one capability of the at least one host to match the capability from the set of capabilities of the industrial modular object;

and the processor is further configured to execute the modification component.