EP0266784A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Database access machine for factory automation
Assignee: Allen Bradley Co LLC
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Filing: 1987-11-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A cell controlling computer (40) is interfaced to a group of station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) through an access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) which stores a database (62) of data that is continually being updated from the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) in response to conditions on machines and industrial process equipment. The access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) communicates with the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) using messages addressed to each respective station. The access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) communicates with the cell controlling computer (40) through database operations messages that allow data to be communicated for many stations at once. During on-line reconfiguration, new data items in the station-level computers (10, 11, 57, 58, 59, 60) can be added to the database (62) in the access machine (ACCESS MACHINE 1, ACCESS MACHINE 2) using other database operations messages.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Miller
- 👤 Robert E. Horton
- 👤 Peter J. Hayward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:29
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4185; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/33; G05B2219/33125; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34345; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine controlling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the addresses which are assigned to the data items for reference by the respective machine controlling computers; first communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a first communication link to and from the cell controlling computer via messages in which the information is organized as a portion of the database; second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via messages which include station-related blocks of information that are organized according to addresses of the station of the respective machine controlling computers; and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine controlling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the addresses which are assigned to the data items for reference by the respective machine controlling computers; first communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a first communication link to and from the cell controlling computer via messages in which the information is organized as a portion of the database; second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via messages which include station-related blocks of information that are organized according to addresses of the station of the respective machine controlling computers; and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The access machine of claim 1 in which each data item includes a field of tag data that is unique within the factory automation cell and in which the data items are accessed via the tag data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The access machine of claim 1, wherein the first communication link is first local area network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The access machine of claim 1, wherein the second communication link is a second local area network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The access machine of claim 1, further comprising means coupled to the first communciation means to receive and load the database into the database means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
255 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine cosntrolling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: a data access processor module including database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the stations of their respective machine controlling computers, first communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a communication link to and from the cell controlling computer via messages in which the information is organized as a portion of the database, second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via meassages which include station-related blocks of information that are organized according to the stations of the respective machine controlling computers, and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database; a communication link interface module including third communication means for communicating the messages with blocks of information associated with the respective machine through the second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers; and means for coupling the messages with blocks of information associated with the respective machine controlling computers between the data access processor module and the communication link interface module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
255 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine cosntrolling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: a data access processor module including database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the stations of their respective machine controlling computers, first communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a communication link to and from the cell controlling computer via messages in which the information is organized as a portion of the database, second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating the data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via meassages which include station-related blocks of information that are organized according to the stations of the respective machine controlling computers, and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database; a communication link interface module including third communication means for communicating the messages with blocks of information associated with the respective machine through the second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers; and means for coupling the messages with blocks of information associated with the respective machine controlling computers between the data access processor module and the communication link interface module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The access machine of claim 6, wherein the first communication link is a first local area network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The access machine of claim 6, wherein the second communication link is a second local area network and wherein the communication link interface module is a local network interface module.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The access machine of claim 6 in which each data item includes a field of tag data that is unique within the factory automation cell and in which the data items are accessed via the tag data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine controlling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the addresses which are assigned to the data items for reference by the respective machine controlling computers; first communication means coupled to the database means for receiving a configuration message through a first communication link from the cell controlling computer, wherein the configuration message includes a new data item to be added to the database; database on-line configuration means responsive to receipt of the configuration message through the first communication link for incorporating the new data item in the database; second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via messages which include station-related block of information that are organized according to addresses of the stations of the respective machine controlling computers; and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
221 words
An access machine for connection in a factory automation cell that includes a cell controlling computer and a plurality of machine controlling computers located at a corresponding plurality of stations, the access machine comprising: database means for storing a database in which data items associated with respective machine controlling computers are organized for access on a basis that is independent of the addresses which are assigned to the data items for reference by the respective machine controlling computers; first communication means coupled to the database means for receiving a configuration message through a first communication link from the cell controlling computer, wherein the configuration message includes a new data item to be added to the database; database on-line configuration means responsive to receipt of the configuration message through the first communication link for incorporating the new data item in the database; second communication means coupled to the database means for communicating data items through a second communication link to and from the machine controlling computers via messages which include station-related block of information that are organized according to addresses of the stations of the respective machine controlling computers; and database interface means interfacing the database means to the second communication means for translating the organization of data items between the station-related blocks of information and the station-independent organization of the database.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The access machine of claim 10, wherein the first communication link is a first local area network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The access machine of claim 10, wherein the second communication link is a second local area network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The access machine of claim 10 in which each data item includes a field of tag data that is unique within the factory automation cell and in which the data items are accessed via the tag data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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