Method for searching across a PLC network

• US 7,860,874 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cornett, James W., Karklins, Gregory, Rittenhouse, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stevens; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/143,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/758, 707/999.3, 710/100, 700/1, 700/83, 711/100, 711/111, 711/154
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: recognizing, by a PLC, that a memory device has been connected to the PLC; and configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to one or more search parameters.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

via a PLC network interface of a non-PLC information device;

presenting, to the non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device, wherein the PLC network is one of a Profibus network and a Point to Point Interface network;

receiving at least one search parameter at the PLC network interface of the non-PLC information device, said at least one search parameter specified by a user of the non-PLC information device;

searching, in response to receiving said at least one search parameter, the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter specified by a said user of the non-PLC information device;

rendering to the user of the non-PLC information device said at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter wherein at least a portion of said at least one item is identified as conforming to said at least one search parameter; and

rendering said at least one item in an order based on a rank of the at least one item;

wherein the non-PLC information device is adapted to poll all possible network addresses of the PLC network to identify PLC devices coupled to the PLC network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, receiving the at least one search parameter, the at least one search parameter adapted for use by the non-PLC information device to search for files on one of the Profibus network and the Point to Point Interface network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, identifying the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user, the at least one item a file on one of the Profibus network and the Point to Point Interface network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, highlighting the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, previewing the at least one item corresponding to the at least one search parameter specified by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item comprises a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC connected to the PLC network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item comprises a content of a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC connected to the PLC network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a property of the item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises at least a portion of a file name.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file type.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises file creation temporal information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises file modification temporal information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file storage location.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a file size.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a textual content of the item.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a graphical content of the item.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an image content of the item.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an audio content of the item.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises a video content of the item.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one search parameter comprises an animation content of the item.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one item is a portable configuration of a PLC, the portable configuration adapted to configure a device for use on a central processor unit of the PLC.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one item is PLC control source file.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one item is a programmable logic controller memory cartridge.

25. A machine-readable memory storing a plurality of instructions for activities comprising:

via a PLC network interface of a non-PLC information device;

presenting, to the non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device, wherein the PLC network is one of a Profibus network and a Point to Point Interface network;

receiving at least one search parameter at the PLC network interface of the non-PLC information device, said at least one search parameter specified by a user of the non-PLC information device;

searching, in response to receiving said at least one search parameter, the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter, relating to a criteria, specified by said user of the non-PLC information device;

rendering to the user of the non-PLC information device said at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter wherein at least a portion of said at least one item is identified as conforming to said at least one search parameter; and

rendering said at least one item in an order based on a rank of the at least one item;

wherein the non-PLC information device is adapted to poll all possible network addresses of the PLC network to identify PLC devices coupled to the PLC network.

26. A method, comprising:

via a programmable logic controller (PLC) network interface of a non-PLC information device, receiving at least one search parameter at the PLC network interface of the non-PLC information device, said at least one search parameter specified by a user of the non-PLC information device;

searching, in response to receiving said at least one search parameter, a Profibus network for at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter specified by said user of the non-PLC information device, the non-PLC information device adapted to present the Profibus network as a namespace shell extension of a running system of the non-PLC information device;

rendering to the user of the non-PLC information device said at least one item corresponding to said at least one search parameter wherein at least a portion of said at least one item is identified as conforming to said at least one search parameter; and

rendering said at least one item in an order based on a rank of the at least one item;

wherein the non-PLC information device is adapted to poll all possible network addresses of the Profibus network to identify PLC devices coupled to the Profibus network.