Machine system, machine control computer, base software application, computer-readable recording medium, and machine control method for intercommunication with machines

• US 11,086,603 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2020
• Issued: 08/10/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Oda, Masaru, Inaba, Kiyonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Qing
• Application Number:
  US16/776,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20200167136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4083 Adapting programme, configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41845 characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35565 Communications adapter converts program to machine or controls directly machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/40 Transformation of program code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/51 Source to source
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/70 Software maintenance or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/76 Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A machine system includes two machines, a computer communicably connected to the machines, and a base software application and an operation software application installed in the computer. The base software application includes a first communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first machine information to be outputted from each machine and second command information to be outputted to each machine, and a second communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first command information to be inputted from the operation software application to the base software application and second machine information to be outputted from the base software application to the operation software application.

Claims

1. A machine system comprising:

a machine; and

a machine control computer communicatably connected to the machine and comprising one or more control processing units and one or more memory units, a base software application and an operation software application being installed in the machine control computer,

wherein the base software application includes;

a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;

a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information to the operation software application; and

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine,

wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information,

wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information, and

wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload the first machine information or the second machine information to a host computer connected to the machine control computer through the Internet in response to a command from the host computer, or to download data or a program in the host computer to the machine control computer.

2. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the operation software application is a machine learning software application to enable the machine control computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information.

3. The machine system according to claim 1, wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload a learned model after an execution of machine learning from the machine control computer to the host computer, or download data or a program for the machine learning corrected or generated by the host computer to the machine control computer.

4. A machine system comprising:

a machine; and

a machine control computer communicatably connected to the machine and comprising one or more control processing units and one or more memory units, a base software application and an operation software application being installed in the machine control computer,

wherein the base software application includes;

a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information outputted from the machine to the machine control computer, and transmit second command information to the machine;

a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to input first command information from the operation software application, and output second machine information to the operation software application;

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine; and

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first command information into the second command information,

wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the machine based on the second command information,

wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the machine based on the second machine information inputted from the second communication module, and output the first command information to the second communication module, and

wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload the first machine information or the second machine information to a host computer connected to the machine control computer through the Internet in response to a command from the host computer, or to download data or a program in the host computer to the machine control computer.

5. The machine system according to claim 4, wherein the operation software application is a machine learning software application to enable the machine control computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information.

6. The machine system according to claim 4, wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload a learned model after an execution of machine learning from the machine control computer to the host computer, or download data or a program for the machine learning corrected or generated by the host computer to the machine control computer.

7. A machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, comprising one or more control processing units, one or more memory units, and a base software application and an operation software application installed in the machine control computer,

wherein the base software application includes:

a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;

a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information to the operation software application; and

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine,

wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information,

wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information, and

wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload the first machine information or the second machine information to a host computer connected to the machine control computer through the Internet in response to a command from the host computer, or to download data or a program in the host computer to the machine control computer.

8. The machine control computer according to claim 7, wherein the operation software application is a machine learning software application to enable the machine control computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information.

9. The machine control computer according to claim 7, wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload a learned model after an execution of machine learning from the machine control computer to the host computer, or download data or a program for the machine learning corrected or generated by the host computer to the machine control computer.

10. A machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, comprising one or more control processing units, one or more memory units, and a base software application and an operation software application installed in the machine control computer,

wherein the base software application includes:

a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information outputted from the machine to the machine control computer, and transmit second command information to the machine;

a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to input first command information from the operation software application, and output second machine information to the operation software application;

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine; and

a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first command information into the second command information,

wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the machine based on the second command information,

wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the machine based on the second machine information inputted from the second communication module, and output the first command information to the second communication module, and

wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload the first machine information or the second machine information to a host computer connected to the machine control computer through the Internet in response to a command from the host computer, or to download data or a program in the host computer to the machine control computer.

11. The machine control computer according to claim 10, wherein the operation software application is a machine learning software application to enable the machine control computer to perform machine learning based on the second machine information.

12. The machine control computer according to claim 10, wherein the second communication module enables the machine control computer to upload a learned model after an execution of machine learning from the machine control computer to the host computer, or download data or a program for the machine learning corrected or generated by the host computer to the machine control computer.