Retrieving data from a server

• US 7,185,014 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PTC Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axeda (PTC Inc.)
• Inventors: Hansen, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Yicun
• Application Number:
  US09/667,737
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/7, 707/8, 707/9, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707/200, 707/201, 707/202, 707/203, 700/9, 700/83, 709/230, 710/13, 714/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A system includes a server and a controller embedded in a device. Both the server and the embedded controller are capable of communicating over a computer network. The embedded controller sends a command to the server over the computer network that identifies an instance of the device. In response, the server identifies the instance of the device based on the command, retrieves data that is specific to the instance of the device, and sends the data to the embedded controller over the computer network.

Claims

1. A method performed by a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the method comprising:

polling a server by sending a message to the server periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receiving, from the server and in response to the message, one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and

using one or more of the instructions to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an operational parameter for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message comprises plural operational parameters for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

using one or more of the instructions comprises;

parsing the operations from the list; and

performing the operations from the list.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the message identifies the apparatus by a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the message comprises an HTTP command that contains Extensible Markup Language code.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

10. A method performed by a server for sending instructions over a network to a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a message from the controller periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which instructions are sent;

identifying the apparatus from the information in the message;

retrieving one or more instructions that are specific to the apparatus, the one or more instructions comprising one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and

sending the one or more instructions from the server to the controller, the one or more instructions for affecting at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the information in the message comprises a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the apparatus is identified based on the type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

parsing the type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the message prior to identifying the apparatus.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the message comprises an operational parameter for the device; and

the one or more instructions comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the apparatus.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving data specific to the apparatus; and

storing the data in memory as part of the plural instructions;

wherein the one or more instructions are retrieved from the memory.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data specific to the apparatus is received via a Web page generated by the server.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

20. A system comprising:

a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the controller being capable of communicating over a computer network; and

a server that is capable of communicating over the computer network;

wherein (A) the controller polls the server periodically by sending a message to the server over the computer network, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses; and

, in response to the message, (B) the server (i) identifies the apparatus based on the information in the message, (ii) retrieves one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller, and (iii) sends the one or more instructions to the controller over the computer network, the one or more instructions for affecting at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the server cannot initiate communication to the controller because the controller is not addressable from the computer network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the computer network comprises the Internet.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

25. A computer program stored on one or more machine-readable media, the computer program being executable by a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the computer program comprising code to cause the controller to:

poll a server by sending a message to the server periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receive, from the server and in response to the message, one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and

use one or more of the instructions to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

26. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the message comprises an operational parameter for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

27. The computer program of claim 26, wherein the message comprises plural operational parameters for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

28. The computer program of claim 25, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

wherein using at least one of the instructions comprises;

parsing the operations from the list; and

performing the operations from the list.

29. The computer program of claim 25, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

30. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the information in the message identifies the apparatus by a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

31. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message.

32. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

33. The computer program of claim 25, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

34. A computer program stored on one or more machine-readable media, the computer program being executable by a server to send instructions over a network to a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the computer program comprising code to cause the server to:

receive a message from the controller periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which instructions are sent;

identify the apparatus from the information in the message;

retrieve one or more instructions that are specific to the apparatus, the one or more instructions comprising one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and

send the one or more instructions to the controller, the one or more instructions for affecting at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

35. The computer program of claim 34, wherein:

the information in the message comprises a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the apparatus is identified based on the type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

36. The computer program of claim 35, further comprising code to cause the server to:

parse the type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the message prior to identifying the apparatus.

37. The computer program of claim 34, wherein:

the message comprises an operational parameter for the apparatus; and

the one or more instructions comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

38. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the apparatus.

39. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

40. The computer program of claim 34, further comprising code to cause the server to:

receive the data specific to the apparatus; and

store the data in memory as part of the plural instructions;

wherein the one or more instructions are retrieved from the memory.

41. The computer program of claim 40, wherein the data specific to the apparatus is received via a Web page generated by the server.

42. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

43. The computer program of claim 34, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

44. A device to monitor and/or control an apparatus, the device comprising:

a controller which is configured to execute code to;

poll a server by sending a message to the server periodically, the message containing information that distinguishes the apparatus from other like apparatuses, the message for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receive, from the server and in response to the message, one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the controller; and

use one or more of the instructions to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the server cannot initiate communication to the controller to send instructions to the controller.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein the message comprises an operational parameter for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises an updated value for the operational parameter.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the message comprises plural operational parameters for the apparatus and at least one of the instructions comprises updated values that differ from current values of the operational parameters.

47. The device of claim 44, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the controller;

and

wherein using at least one of the instructions comprises;

parsing the operations from the list; and

performing the operations from the list.

48. The device of claim 44, wherein at least one of the instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

49. The device of claim 44, wherein the information in the message identifies the apparatus by a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier.

50. The device of claim 44, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) message.

51. The device of claim 44, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

52. The device of claim 44, wherein the server cannot initiate communication because the controller has a network address that the server cannot resolve.

53. A device for sending data over a network to a remote controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the device comprising:

a local controller configured to execute code to;

identify the apparatus from the information in the message;

retrieve one or more instructions that are specific to the apparatus, the one or more instructions comprising one or more of plural instructions that are supported by the remote controller; and

send the one or more instructions to the remote controller, the one or more instructions for affecting at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the remote controller in response to an instruction that is configured to affect the operation of the controller;

wherein, due to network addressing, the local controller cannot initiate communication to the remote controller to send instructions to the controller.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein:

the information in the message comprises a type and/or one or more of a serial number and a universal unique identifier; and

the apparatus is identified based on the type and/or one or more of the serial number and the universal unique identifier.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the local controller executes code to:

parse the type and one or more of the serial number and universal unique identifier from the command prior to identifying the apparatus.

56. The device of claim 53, wherein:

the message comprises an operational parameter for the apparatus; and

the one or more instructions comprises an updated value of the operational parameter.

57. The device of claim 53, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a list of operations to be performed by the apparatus.

58. The device of claim 53, wherein the one or more instructions comprises a configuration file for the apparatus.

59. The device of claim 53, wherein:

the local controller executes code to;

receive data specific to the apparatus; and

store the data in memory as part of the plural instructions.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein the data specific to the apparatus is received via a Web page generated by the device.

61. The device of claim 53, wherein the message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) command that contains Extensible Markup Language (XML) code.

62. The device of claim 53, wherein the local controller cannot initiate communication because the remote controller has a network address that the local controller cannot resolve.

63. A method performed by a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the method comprising:

polling a server for messages periodically, wherein polling comprises initiating communication with the server by sending a first message to the server, the first message for identifying the apparatus and for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receiving a first reply message from the server in response to the first message, the first reply message identifying a parameter;

sending a second message to the server in response to the first reply message, the second message containing the parameter identified in the first reply message;

receiving a second reply message containing an updated version of the parameter; and

using the updated version of the parameter to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus if the parameter relates to the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus if the parameter relates to operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller if the parameter relates to operation of the controller;

wherein the server cannot initiate communication to the controller because the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising adjusting a time interval at which polling the server takes place.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller because the server and the controller are on different networks.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the first message and the second message comprise Hypertext Transfer Protocol commands.

67. A computer program stored on one or more machine-readable media, the computer program comprising code that is executable by a controller configured to monitor and/or control an apparatus, the code causing the controller to:

poll a server for messages periodically, wherein polling comprises initiating communication with the server by sending a first message to the server, the first message for identifying the apparatus and for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receive a first reply message from the server in response to the first message, the first reply message identifying a parameter;

send a second message to the server in response to the first reply message, the second message containing the parameter identified in the first reply message;

receive a second reply message containing an updated version of the parameter; and

use the updated version of the parameter to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus if the parameter relates to the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus if the parameter relates to operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller if the parameter relates to operation of the controller;

wherein the server cannot initiate communication to the controller because the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller.

68. The computer program of claim 67, further comprising code to cause the controller to adjust a time interval at which polling the server takes place.

69. The computer program of claim 67, wherein the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller because the server and the controller are on different networks.

70. The computer program of claim 67, wherein the first message and the second message comprise Hypertext Transfer Protocol commands.

71. A device comprising:

a controller that monitors and/or controls an apparatus, the controller executing code to;

poll a server for messages periodically, wherein polling comprises initiating communication with the server by sending a first message to the server, the first message for identifying the apparatus and for establishing a connection between the server and the controller through which the instructions are sent;

receive a first reply message from the server in response to the first message, the first reply message identifying a parameter;

send a second message to the server in response to the first reply message, the second message containing the parameter identified in the first reply message;

receive a second reply message containing an updated version of the parameter; and

use the updated version of the parameter to affect at least one of;

a configuration of the apparatus if the parameter relates to the configuration of the apparatus,

an operation of the apparatus if the parameter relates to operation of the apparatus, and

an operation of the controller if the parameter relates to operation of the controller;

wherein the server cannot initiate communication to the controller because the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller.

72. The device of claim 71, wherein the controller executes code to adjust a time interval at which polling the server takes place.

73. The device of claim 71, wherein the server cannot resolve a network address of the controller because the server and the controller are on different networks.

74. The device of claim 71, wherein the first message and the second message comprise Hypertext Transfer Protocol commands.