Patent US6640140B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6640140B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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PLC executive with integrated web server
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 2000-10-10
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Granted: 2003-10-28
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Expires: 2020-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A programmable logic controller for use as part of an industrial control system or as part of an automated system and a corresponding method, the controller including an interface to the Internet, and including a web server allowing a remote computer to access web pages maintained by the controller providing information relevant to the control function of the controller such as control sensor readings and, optionally, information about the status of the control system. The web server is implemented as part of the controller in such a way that the controller scan rate (the rate at which the ladder logic for all associated control system devices is repeated) is unaffected by execution of the web server.
Inventors
- 👤 David T. Lindner
- 👤 Andrew G. Swales
- 👤 Merrill W. Harriman
- 👤 James W. McGlaughlin, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:11
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/042; G05B19/0421; G05B19/05; G05B19/052; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/10; G05B2219/12; G05B2219/1214; G05B2219/1216; G05B2219/15; G05B2219/15081; G05B2219/20; G05B2219/23; G05B2219/23217; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/31; G05B2219/31186; G05B2219/34; G05B2219/34038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A controller for use as part of an industrial control system or as part of an automated system, the controller for controlling at least one input/output device, the controller capable of interacting with a remotely located computer via a network, the controller comprising: a) means for executing a controller scan including solving ladder logic associated with the at least one controlled input/output device, the controller scan having a predetermined scan rate; b) a web server for gathering data relevant to a control function, the web server being responsive to a request for the data from the remotely located computer; and c) web pages comprising data and associated instructions retrievable and executable by the remotely located computer, the instructions causing the remotely located computer to present the data for display in a predetermined format; wherein in response to a request for data, the web server provides one or more web pages in which the requested data are displayed, and further wherein the web server and the means for executing a controller scan are hosted by a same programmable logic controller device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A controller for use as part of an industrial control system or as part of an automated system, the controller for controlling at least one input/output device, the controller capable of interacting with a remotely located computer via a network, the controller comprising: a) means for executing a controller scan including solving ladder logic associated with the at least one controlled input/output device, the controller scan having a predetermined scan rate; b) a web server for gathering data relevant to a control function, the web server being responsive to a request for the data from the remotely located computer; and c) web pages comprising data and associated instructions retrievable and executable by the remotely located computer, the instructions causing the remotely located computer to present the data for display in a predetermined format; wherein in response to a request for data, the web server provides one or more web pages in which the requested data are displayed, and further wherein the web server and the means for executing a controller scan are hosted by a same programmable logic controller device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The controller of claim 1 wherein the web server executes as a background task.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The controller of claim 1 wherein the web server executes in parallel with the means for executing the controller scan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The controller of claim 1 wherein in response to a request for data from the remote computer, the web server provides no more than a predetermined maximum number of bytes of combined data and instructions per scan by the means for executing the controller scan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The controller of claim 4 , wherein the maximum number of bytes per scan is predetermined to be a number of bytes that can be communicated to the network for delivery to the remote computer in less than the time required for one scan by the means for executing the controller scan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data are resident on a different controller, the data-gathering means being configured to access and obtain the data from the different controller via a computer network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a transmission control program (TCP)/Internet protocol (IP) stack customized to communicate any MODBUS command or message as a single TCP/IP packet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The controller of claim 7 , wherein the web server comprises a file server for providing the web pages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The controller of claim 8 , wherein the web server further comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) server providing file get functionality.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The controller of claim 9 , wherein the web server further comprises a file transfer protocol (FTP) server for receiving new or replacement web pages over the network via the TCP/IP stack and provides them to the file server.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The controller of claim 7 , wherein the means for executing the controller scan is coupled to a MODBUS handler, which in turn is interfaced to the TCP/IP stack, thereby coupling the means for executing a controller scan to the network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The controller of claim 7 , wherein the means for executing the controller scan is coupled to a local network input/output interface thereby coupling the means for executing the controller scan to a local network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
The controller of claim 1 , further wherein the web server checks for a request for the data, and if a request is present, then the web server services the request, but does not service the request for more than a predetermined length of message, the predetermined length of message such that the web server is able to service a message of the predetermined length in less time than is required for a single controller scan, thereby maintaining the predetermined scan rate as the rate of scanning.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of controlling at least one input/output device of an industrial control system or automated system and of interacting with a remotely located computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of: a) executing a controller scan including solving ladder logic associated with the at least one controlled input/output device, the controller scan having a predetermined scan rate; b) gathering data relevant to a control function; c) storing web pages comprising data and associated instructions retrievable and executable by the remotely located computer, the instructions causing the remotely located computer to present the data for display in a predetermined format; d) checking for a request for the data; and e) if a request for the data is present, then responding to a request for the data from the remotely located computer by providing one or more of the web pages used to display the requested data; wherein all of the steps are performed according to instructions hosted by a same programmable logic controller device.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of controlling at least one input/output device of an industrial control system or automated system and of interacting with a remotely located computer via a network, the method comprising the steps of: a) executing a controller scan including solving ladder logic associated with the at least one controlled input/output device, the controller scan having a predetermined scan rate; b) gathering data relevant to a control function; c) storing web pages comprising data and associated instructions retrievable and executable by the remotely located computer, the instructions causing the remotely located computer to present the data for display in a predetermined format; d) checking for a request for the data; and e) if a request for the data is present, then responding to a request for the data from the remotely located computer by providing one or more of the web pages used to display the requested data; wherein all of the steps are performed according to instructions hosted by a same programmable logic controller device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of gathering data and the step of responding to a request for the data are executed as background tasks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of gathering data and the step of responding to a request for the data execute in parallel with the step of executing the controller scan.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein in responding to a request for data from the remote computer, no more than a predetermined maximum number of bytes of combined data and instructions per scan are provided.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the maximum number of bytes per scan is predetermined to be a number of bytes that can be communicated to the network for delivery to the remote computer in less than the time required for one scan.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of communicating over the network MODBUS commands or messages, wherein any MODBUS command or message is communicated over the network as a single TCP/IP packet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein in responding to a request for the data, the request is serviced, but it is not serviced for more than a predetermined length of message, the predetermined length of message such that the a message of the predetermined length is able to be serviced in less time than is required for a single controller scan, thereby maintaining the predetermined scan rate as the rate of scanning.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-27 | 2007-04-28 | 2007-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-04-28 | 2011-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-27 | 2015-04-28 | 2015-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |