Process control system with networked digital data processors and a virtual machine environment
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Abstract
A system for process control comprises a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor that are coupled by a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet. The server digital data processor, which is additionally coupled to a control/sensing device and any associated interface equipment (collectively, referred to as “process control apparatus”), includes a command processor that transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus. The client digital data processor includes an information client (e.g., a so-called Internet web browser) capable of requesting and receiving an applet from the server digital data processor. The information client, further, defines a hardware-independent and operating system-independent virtual machine environment within the client digital data processor. The client digital data processor executes, within that virtual machine environment, an applet for configuring the client digital data processor as a “process controller” that establishes communications over the network with the command processor and that monitors and/or controls the process control apparatus via those communications.
126 Citations
64 Claims
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1-48. -48. (canceled)
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49. A system for remote process control, comprising
A. a server digital data processor and a client digital data processor coupled to one another by a network that comprises at least one of an Intranet and Internet, B. the server digital data processor being coupled to a process control apparatus and comprising (i) an information server for transferring information with the network and (ii) a command processor for transferring information between the network and the process control apparatus, said process control apparatus comprising control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, C. the client digital data processor comprising a web browser for defining a virtual machine environment, D. the information server selectively transfers a JAVA applet to the information client, E. the client digital data processor executes a JAVA applet within the virtual machine environment, the JAVA applet configuring the client digital data processor as a process controller for establishing communications over the network with the command processor, at least one of remotely monitoring and remotely controlling the process control apparatus via those communications.
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50. A system for process control, comprising
A. a digital data processor coupled to a process control apparatus, said process control apparatus comprising control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, B. the digital data processor comprising a command processor for providing services for access to information regarding the process control apparatus, C. the digital data processor comprising a platform-independent virtual machine environment, and D. the digital data processor executing an applet within the virtual machine environment, the applet configuring the digital data processor as a process controller for generating requests for services provided by the command processor in order to at least one of monitor and control the process control apparatus.
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51. A system for process control, comprising
A. a first digital data processor executing a JAVA applet within a virtual machine environment, B. a command processor in communication coupling with a process control apparatus and with the first digital data processor, the command processor providing services for access to information regarding the process control apparatus, the process control apparatus comprising control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, B. the JAVA applet configuring the digital data processor to generate a message requesting services provided by the command processor in order to at least one of monitor and control the process control apparatus, at least one service including invoking a method in connection with at least one of monitoring and controlling a process control apparatus, and C. an command processor being coupled to an object manager that executes the method.
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56. A system for process control, comprising
A. a network, B. a server digital data processor coupled to the network and to a process control apparatus, the server digital data processor including a command processor for providing services for access to information regarding the process control apparatus, said process control apparatus comprising control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, C. a client digital data processor comprising an information client that establishes communications with the server digital data processor over the network, generates and transmits to the server digital data processor a request for an applet, and defines a virtual machine environment for execution of an applet received from the server digital data processor, D. the client digital data processor executing the applet within the virtual machine environment, the applet configuring the client digital data processor as a process controller for establishing communications over the network with the command processor and for generating requests for services provided by the command processor in order to at least one of monitoring and controlling the process control apparatus.
Specification