Abstract:
Disclosed are diagnostic utilities and complimentary interfaces that enable users to observe, from a remote location, the configuration and operation of data access servers and associated data source devices. The servers provide diagnostic data and server-specific diagnostic schema used by a diagnostic utility to analyze the received diagnostic data. Engines within servers supply data associated with diagnostic roots within each server. In an embodiment, the set of diagnostic root types is extensible. First, the diagnostic roots are extended by adding to the scope of data items provided by base diagnostic objects. Second, entirely new diagnostic object root types can be added for a particular server. A diagnostic utility development environment provides a set of class libraries for creating server-specific portions. Server developers use a class library to create customized diagnostic objects. The class library supports both pushing data to the diagnostic utility and serving requests from the diagnostic utility.
Abstract:
A system for motion control in which an application is developed that is independent from the actual motion control hardware used to implement the system. The system comprises a software system that employs an application programming interface comprising component functions and a service provider interface comprising driver functions. A system programmer writes an application that calls the component functions. Code associated with the component functions relates these functions to the driver functions. A hardware designer writes driver code that implements the driver functions on a given motion control hardware product. The driver functions are separated into core and extended driver functions. All software drivers implement the core driver functions, while the software drivers need not contain code for implementing the extended driver functions. If the software driver does not contain code to implement an extended driver function, the functionality of the extended driver function is obtained through a combination of core driver functions. The system programmer may also select one or more streams that allow the control commands to be communicated to, and response data to be communicated from, motion control hardware.
Abstract:
A system for motion control in which an application is developed that is independent from the actual motion control hardware used to implement the system. The system comprises a software system that employs an application programming interface comprising component functions and a service provider interface comprising driver functions. A system programmer writes an application that calls the component functions. Code associated with the component functions relates these functions to the driver functions. A hardware designer writes driver code that implements the driver functions on a given motion control hardware product. The driver functions are separated into core and extended driver functions. All software drivers implement the core driver functions, while the software drivers need not contain code for implementing the extended driver functions. If the software driver does not contain code to implement an extended driver function, the functionality of the extended driver function is obtained through a combination of core driver functions. The system programmer may also select one or more streams that allow the control commands to be communicated to, and response data to be communicated from, motion control hardware.
Abstract:
A method and process control data server system architecture are disclosed for providing process data to a variety of client applications via a plurality of differing data sharing standards. The system architecture incorporates a ready platform for subsequently added client application data exchange protocols. In an exemplary embodiment, a set of standard interface definitions between client application data exchange protocol-specific plugins and a data access server engine supports incorporating new client application data exchange protocols by means of plugins designed to interface with the data access server engine according to the standard interface definitions.
Abstract:
A system for controlling at least one selected motion control device selected from a group of supported motion control devices. The system comprises a set of software drivers, a selection component, and a software system. Each software driver in the set of software drivers is associated with one motion control device in the group of supported motion control devices, and a selected software driver is associated with at least one selected motion control device. The selection component identifies at least one selected software driver from the set of software drivers. The software system calls a series of component function calls to control the at least one selected motion control device associated with the at least one selected software driver based on the at least one selected software driver such that the at least one motion control device moves in a desired manner.
Abstract:
A system for communicating with at least one motion control device, comprising a set of software drivers, a motion control component, and a network protocol. At least one software driver is selectable and associated with at least one motion control device. The motion control component exposes component functions for commanding at least one selected motion control device based on at least one selected software driver and the exposed component functions. The component functions exposed by the motion control component may be used through the network protocol.
Abstract:
An automation tool for formulating an automation task to be solved, enabling the representation of automation functions in the form of objects on a display unit. These objects can be produced from a template and include at least one template-specific part and/or at least one object-specific part. The software tool is configured in such a way that a modification of template-specific parts (V1, V2, V3, Lv1, Lv2) in objects (Ob1null01, Ob2null01) is simplified, without any locally made adaptations being lost. The software tool modifies the template-specific parts (V1, V2, V3, Lv1, Lv2) in the objects (Ob1null01, Ob2null01) corresponding to the parts (Lv2, V5, Lv4, Lv5) modified in the template (Vo1) while preserving object specific parts (O1, O2, O3, O4, O5) that are specific to the objects (Ob1null01, Ob2null01), thereby producing modified objects (Obl_02, Ob2_02). Preferably, the software tool accomplishes this by assigning a modifiable part (V1, V2, V3, Lv1, Lv2) of the template (Vo1) a first identifier (Ka-Kh) and assigning the template (Vo1) and the objects (Ob1null01, Ob2null01) produced from this template (Vo1) a second identifier (K1, K2).
Abstract:
A remote configuration utility architecture is disclosed for a manufacturing/process control system data access server. Server agents, located on remote nodes, notify a configuration console of existing data access servers on the system. The configuration utility includes a control console from which a user selects one of the identified data access servers. Thereafter, the configuration console, via remote interfaces, obtains configuration parameters and associated rules associated with the selected data access server. The configuration utility thereafter displays the retrieved configuration information within a user interface faceplate defined for a type of configuration node selected for display/editing from the selected DAS. Using various faceplates for selected node types, the user creates, clears, examines and/or manipulates hierarchically arranged nodes for a configuration associated with the selected data access server.
Abstract:
The loadability of technology object types into a run time system of an industrial controller permits functional expansion of the basic system of the controller as well as technological scaling of the controller. The loaded technology object types are instantiable, and may be distributed, as needed. Technology object types may be loaded in the form of technology packages and a user may use the functionality of the invention directly in a user program with a separation between technological functionality and device functionality.
Abstract:
A system for moving an object comprising a motion control device, an application program, a computer processor, and a data exchange system. The application program identifies a predetermined set of data items associated with the motion control device. The computer processor is in communication with the motion control device and the application program to operate the motion control device by sending control commands to the motion control device. The data exchange system updates the application program when any of the data items in the predetermined set of data items changes.