Automatic control system

• US 6,405,099 B1
• Filed: 06/24/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Shiomi, Hiroyuki, Nagai, Shigekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US09/331,187
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/4, 700/11, 700/20, 700/159, 700/160, 700/180, 707/501, 709/201, 709/203, 709/302
• US Class Current: 700/159
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An automatic control system comprising a server offered by a service provider that stores control applets to control a particular control object device, a control device including a control object device and a computer device to control the control object device, and a network to connect the server with the control device; the computer device includes a browser function, and an interpreter to execute the control applets, and the computer device accessing the server through the network to download and execute a desired control applet, whereby making control of the control object device.

Claims

1. An automatic control system comprising:

a server offered by a service provider that stores control applets to control a particular control object device;

a control device comprising a control object device and a computer device to control said control object device, wherein said control object device comprises an actuator; and

a network to connect said server with said control device,

said computer device comprising a browser function, and an interpreter environment to execute at least one of said control applets in said control device, and

said computer device being configured for accessing said server through said network to download and execute a desired control applet in said control device for controlling operation of said actuator.

2. An automatic control system according to claim 1, wherein an accounting system for said control applets used is connected to said network.

3. An automatic control system according to claim 1, wherein said control applets stored in said server are JAVA applets stated in the JAVA language.

4. An automatic control system according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises:

a virtual machine which is connected to said network, and to which a desired control applet is downloaded by using the browser function;

an FA network connected to said virtual machine;

a plurality of controllers connected to said FA network; and

a plurality of control object devices controlled by said each controller,

each of said controllers being configured for accessing said virtual machine through said FA network to download and execute the desired control applet, whereby making control each of said control object devices.

5. An automatic control system according to claim 1, wherein said control applets are control programs, such as drivers to control respective actuators, said actuators being selected from the group consisting of machine tools, motor operated actuators, and pneumatically operated actuators.

6. An automatic control system comprising:

a server offered by a service provider that stores control applets to control a particular control object device;

a control device comprising a control object device and a computer device to control said control object device; and

a network to connect said server with said control device;

said computer device comprising a browser function, and an interpreter environment to execute said control applets, and

said computer device being configured for accessing said server through said network to download and execute a desired control applet, whereby making control said control object device, wherein said control device comprises;

a virtual machine which is connected to said network, and to which a desired control applet is downloaded by using the browser function;

an FA network connected to said virtual machine;

a plurality of controllers connected to said FA network; and

a plurality of control object devices controlled by said each controller, each of said controllers being configured for accessing said virtual machine through said FA network to download and execute the desired control applet, whereby making control each of said control object devices.