Industrial control system with autonomous web server
First Claim
1. A Web interface module for an industrial control system including a programmable logic controller for executing an industrial control program, the programmable logic controller communicating over a controller network with I/O modules, the I/O modules sending and receiving electrical signals to and from an industrial process, the Web interface module comprising;
- an Internet interface for connecting to a Web accessing communications medium;
a network interface for connecting to the controller network; and
a processing unit executing a stored program to communicate directly with at least one I/O module and to pass data between the Web accessing communications medium and the I/O module, the passing of data including the writing of data to the I/O modules defining the electrical signals to be sent by the I/O module to the industrial process and the reading of data from the I/O modules defined by electrical signals received by the I/O modules from the industrial process;
whereby communications may be had with the I/O module without intervention of the programmable logic controller.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous Web server may be connected to an industrial control system to provide direct access to input and output points through connections between the Web server and the input and output points. Coordination with the programmable logic controller is implemented through a set of lock flags which prevent conflicts either between multiple Web connections or between Web connections and the control produced by the programmable logic controller.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A Web interface module for an industrial control system including a programmable logic controller for executing an industrial control program, the programmable logic controller communicating over a controller network with I/O modules, the I/O modules sending and receiving electrical signals to and from an industrial process, the Web interface module comprising;
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an Internet interface for connecting to a Web accessing communications medium; a network interface for connecting to the controller network; and a processing unit executing a stored program to communicate directly with at least one I/O module and to pass data between the Web accessing communications medium and the I/O module, the passing of data including the writing of data to the I/O modules defining the electrical signals to be sent by the I/O module to the industrial process and the reading of data from the I/O modules defined by electrical signals received by the I/O modules from the industrial process; whereby communications may be had with the I/O module without intervention of the programmable logic controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An industrial control system for an industrial control system comprising:
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a plurality of I/O modules sending and receiving electrical signals to and from an industrial process; a controller network communicating with the I/O modules; a programmable logic controller attachable to the controller network to execute a stored control program to exchange data with the I/O modules over the controller network to control the industrial process; and a Web interface module including; (a) an Internet interface for connecting to a Web accessing communications medium; (b) a network interface for connecting to the controller network; and (c) a processing unit executing a stored interface program to communicate directly with at least one I/O module and to pass data between the Web accessing communications medium and the I/O module, the passing of data including the writing of data to the I/O modules defining the electrical signals to be sent by the I/O module to the industrial process and the reading of data from the I/O modules defined by electrical signals received by the I/O modules from the industrial process; whereby communications may be had with the I/O module without intervention of the programmable logic controller. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. An industrial control system comprising:
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a plurality of I/O modules sending and receiving electrical signals to and from an industrial process; a connected messaging network communicating with the I/O modules; a programmable logic controller attachable to the controller network to execute a stored control program to open connections and exchange data with the I/O modules over the connected messaging network to control the industrial process; and a Web interface module including; (a) an Internet interface for connecting to a Web accessing communications medium; (b) a network interface for connecting to the connected messaging network; and (c) a processing unit executing a stored interface program to open connections on the connected messaging network between at least one I/O module and the Web interface module and to pass data between the Web accessing communications medium and the I/O module the passing of data including the writing of data to the I/O modules defining the electrical signals to be sent by the I/O module to the industrial process and the reading of data from the I/O modules defined by electrical signals received by the I/O modules from the industrial process; whereby communications may be had with the I/O module without intervention of the programmable logic controller. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification