Internet-based remote monitoring, configuration and service (RMCS) system capable of monitoring, configuring and servicing a planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based network

1. An Internet-based remote monitoring, configuration and service (RMCS) system capable of monitoring, configuring and servicing a planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based network having one or more nodes and performing object identification and attribute acquisition functions, each said node being a PLIIM-based subsystem operably connected to a digital communications network interconnectable to the infrastructure of the Internet, said Internet-based RMCS system comprising:

monitoring means for remotely monitoring a set parameters associated with said PLIIM-based network, said set of parameters relating to network, system and/or subsystem characteristics of said PLIIM-based network;

analyzing means for remotely analyzing said parameters to diagnose performance failures in said PLIIM-based network, as well as the operation and performance of said PLIIM-based network; and

control means for remotely controlling one or more of said parameters so as to modify the operation and/or performance of said PLIIM-based network and/or provide service thereto from a remote location; and

wherein each said PLIIM-based subsystem includes

an image formation and detection module having imaging optics with a field of view (FOV) focused at an image detecting array, and

a planar laser illumination array having a plurality of planar laser illumination modules for producing a plurality of substantially planar laser beam components which are combine to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through said field of view so that laser light reflected off an object illuminated by said composite substantially planar laser illumination beam is focused along said field of view and onto said image detecting array to form an image of said illuminated object.

2. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 1 , wherein said Internet-based RMCS further comprises a network management station (NMS), and wherein one or more Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agents are built into each node in said PLIIM-based network, and (ii) one or more SNMP managers are built into said network management station (NMS).

3. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 2 , wherein said NMS comprises an Internet server or an Internet-enabled client computing machine.

4. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 2 , wherein the simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used to enable network management and communication between (i) said one or more SNMP agents built into each node in said PLIIM-based network installation, and (ii) said one or more SNMP managers built into said network management station (NMS).

5. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 2 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for triggering SNMP agent operations within devices managed within said PLIIM-based network.

6. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 5 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking multiple methods on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to monitor (i.e. read) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in each said node, and then process these monitored parameters for subsequent storage in a central MIB in a database in said PLIIM-based network, and/or for display.

7. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 6 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said PLIIM-based network.

8. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 5 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said PLIIM-based network.

9. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 5 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to determine which variables a managed device supports and to sequentially gather information from variable tables for processing and storage in a central MIB in a database in said PLIIM-based network.

10. The Internet-based RMCS system of claim 5 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to detect and asynchronously report certain events to said RCMS management console.

11. A planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) based network comprising:

one or more nodes installed in a work environment, for performing object identification and attribute acquisition functions therein, each said node including a PLIIM-based subsystem operably connected to a digital communications network interconnectable to the infrastructure of the Internet; and

an Internet-based remote monitoring, configuration and service (RMCS) system capable of monitoring, configuring and servicing the nodes in said PLIIM-based network, said RMCS system including

monitoring means for remotely monitoring a set parameters associated with said PLIIM-based network, said set of parameters relating to network, system and/or subsystem characteristics;

analyzing means for remotely analyzing said parameters to diagnose performance failures in said PLIIM-based network, as well as the operation and performance of said PLIIM-based network; and

control means for remotely controlling one or more of said parameters so as to modify the operation and/or performance of said PLIIM-based network and/or provide service thereto from a remote location; and

wherein each said PLIIM-based subsystem includes

an image formation and detection module having imaging optics with a field of view (FOV) focused at an image detecting array, and

a planar laser illumination array having a plurality of planar laser illumination modules for producing a plurality of substantially planar laser beam components which are combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through said field of view so that laser light reflected off an object illuminated by said composite substantially planar laser illumination beam is focused along said field of view and onto said image detecting array to form an image of said illuminated object.

12. The PLIIM-based system of claim 11 , wherein said Internet-based RMCS system further comprises a network management station (NMS), and wherein one or more Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agents are built into each node in said PLIIM-based network, and (ii) one or more SNMP managers are built into said network management station (NMS).

13. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , wherein said NMS comprises an Internet server or an Internet-enabled client computing machine.

14. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , wherein the simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used to enable network management and communication between (i) said one or more SNMP agents built into each node in said PLIIM-based network, and (ii) said one or more SNMP managers built into said network management station (NMS).

15. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for triggering SNMP agent operations within devices managed within said PLIIM-based network.

16. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking multiple methods on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to monitor (i.e. read) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in each said node, and then process these monitored parameters for subsequent storage in a central MIB in a database in said PLIIM-based network, and/or for display.

17. The PLIIM-based system of claim 16 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said PLIIM-based network.

18. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said PLIIM-based network.

19. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to determine which variables a managed device supports and to sequentially gather information from variable tables for processing and storage in a central MIB in a database in said PLIIM-based network.

20. The PLIIM-based system of claim 12 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said PLIIM-based network, to detect and asynchronously report certain events to said RCMS management console.

21. An object identification and attribute acquisition network comprising:

one or more nodes installed in a work environment, for performing object identification and attribute acquisition functions therein, each said node including a PLIIM-based object identification subsystem operably connected to a digital communications network interconnectable to the infrastructure of the Internet; and

an Internet-based remote monitoring, configuration and service (RMCS) system capable of monitoring, configuring and servicing the nodes in said object identification and attribute acquisition network, said Internet-based RMCS system including

monitoring means for remotely monitoring a set parameters associated with said object identification and attribute acquisition network, said set of parameters relating to network, system and/or subsystem characteristics of said object identification and attribute acquisition network;

analyzing means for remotely analyzing said parameters to diagnose performance failures in said object identification and attribute acquisition network, as well as the operation and performance of said object identification and attribute acquisition network; and

control means for remotely controlling one or more of said parameters so as to modify the operation and/or performance of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, and/or provide service thereto from a remote location;

wherein each said PLIIM-based object identification subsystem includes

an image formation and detection module having imaging optics with a field of view (FOV) focused at an image detecting array, and

a planar laser illumination array having a plurality of planar laser illumination modules for producing a plurality of substantially planar laser beam components which are combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through said field of view so that laser light reflected off an object illuminated by said composite substantially planar laser illumination beam is focused along said field of view and onto said image detecting array to form an image of said illuminated object.

22. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 21 , wherein said Intenet-based RMCS system further comprises a network management station (NMS), and wherein one or more SNMP agents are built into each node in said object identification and attribute acquisition network, and (ii) one or more SNMP managers are built into said network management station (NMS).

23. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , wherein said NMS comprises an Internet server or an Internet-enabled client computing machine.

24. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , wherein the simple network management protocol (SNMP) is used to enable network management and communication between (i) said one or more SNMP agents built into each said node, and (ii) said one or more SNMP managers built into said network management station (NMS).

25. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for triggering SNMP agent operations within devices managed within said object identification and attribute acquisition network.

26. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , wherein said NMS comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking multiple methods on the server side of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, to monitor (i.e. read) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in each said node, and then process these monitored parameters for subsequent storage in a central MIB in a database in said object identification and attribute acquisition network, and/or for display.

27. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 26 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said object identification and attribute acquisition network.

28. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, to control (i.e. write) particular variables (e.g. parameters) in a particular device being managed within said object identification and attribute acquisition network.

29. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, to determine which variables a managed device supports and to sequentially gather information from variable tables for processing and storage in a central MIB in a database in said object identification and attribute acquisition network.

30. The object identification and attribute acquisition network of claim 22 , which further comprises an HTML-encoded RMCS management console embodying one or more servlets for invoking a method on the server side of said object identification and attribute acquisition network, to detect and asynchronously report certain events to said RCMS management console.

31. The PLIIM-based system of claim 1 , wherein each said planar laser illumination module comprises a visible laser diode (VLD), a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith to produce one of said plurality of substantially planar laser illumination beam components.

32. The PLIIM-based system of claim 11 , wherein each said planar laser illumination module comprises a visible laser diode (VLD), a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith to produce one of said plurality of substantially planar laser illumination beam components.

33. The PLIIM-based system of claim 21 , wherein each said planar laser illumination module comprises a visible laser diode (VLD), a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arrange therein to produce one of said plurality of substantially planar laser illumination beam components.