Service-portal enabled automation control module (ACM)

• US 20030033376A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mercer, Ferrell, Collier, David, Bolfing, Brad, Brownhill, Carrie, Huntley, Bill, Miller, Dan, Kadingo, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,266,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24071 Online service documentation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server

Abstract

The invention presents a system and a method for assisting automation control module (ACM) customers to retrieve information relevant to their specific ACM(s). A service-portal ACM combines a conventional ACM with a service portal and/or a general-purpose computer to facilitate locating relevant information by the customers. The service-portal ACM comprises a first central processing unit (CPU), and a first memory operably connected to the first CPU. A second CPU is operably connected to the first CPU, and a second memory is operably connected to the second CPU for storing a service-portal database containing a first set of service-portal data and one or more links to a second set of service-portal data stored in a remote network server. A first network interface is operably connected to the second CPU and to a gateway configured for enabling the second CPU to communicate with the remote network server.

Claims

1. A service-portal automation control module (ACM), comprising:

a first central processing unit (CPU) configured for processing automation control signals;

a first memory operably connected to said first CPU;

a second CPU operably connected to said first CPU;

a second memory operably connected to said second CPU for storing a service-portal database containing a first set of service-portal data and one or more links to a second set of service-portal data stored in a remote network server; and

a first network interface operably connected to said second CPU and to a gateway configured for enabling said second CPU to communicate with said remote network server.

2. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, further comprising:

a backplane interface operably connected to said first CPU;

an ACM backplane operably connected to said backplane interface; and

an interface module operably connected to said ACM backplane.

3. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, wherein said first memory stores a configuration file containing specific information on said service-portal ACM.

4. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, wherein said second CPU is configured for functioning as a network server.

5. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, wherein said first network interface supports one or more low-level protocols including TCP/IP protocol.

6. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, wherein said gateway is configured for enabling said second CPU to communicate with said remote network server via Internet.

7. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, further comprising:

a third CPU operably connected to said gateway and configured for communicating with said second CPU and said remote network server via said gateway;

a third memory operably connected to said third CPU and configured for loading at least one Web browser to open Web pages stored in said second memory; and

a user interface operably connected to said third CPU and configured for enabling a user to request said first set of service-portal data from said second memory and said second set of service-portal data from said remote network server.

8. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operably connected to said second CPU and configured for enabling a user to request said first set of service-portal data from said second memory and said second set of service-portal data from said remote network server.

9. The service-portal ACM of claim 8, wherein said second memory is configured for loading at least one Web browser to open Web pages stored in said second memory.

10. The service-portal ACM of claim 1, further comprising:

a third CPU operably connected to said gateway and configured for communicating with said second CPU and said remote network server via said gateway; and

a third memory operably connected to said third CPU and configured for loading at least one Web browser to open Web pages stored in said second memory.

11. A method for displaying service-portal data relevant to a user'"'"'s ACM in a Web browser, comprising the steps of:

opening said Web browser in a computer;

requesting service-portal data relevant to a user'"'"'s ACM;

determining whether said requested service-portal data is stored in a service-portal database stored in a memory operably connected to said computer;

retrieving said requested service-portal data from said service-portal database; and

displaying said requested service-portal data on said Web browser.

12. A method for displaying service-portal data relevant to a user'"'"'s ACM in a Web browser, comprising the steps of:

opening said Web browser in a computer;

requesting service-portal data relevant to a user'"'"'s ACM;

determining whether said requested service-portal data is stored in a service-portal database stored in a memory operably connected to said computer;

retrieving at least one link to said requested service-portal data from said service-portal database;

retrieving said requested service-portal data from an ACM-manufacturer network server; and

displaying said requested service-portal data on said Web browser.