Granted Patent B2

US 7,512,667 · App. 10/466,865 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A control system comprising:

a first network including a controller,

a second network including one or more controlled devices, and

a translator correlated with said first network and with said second network, wherein that said controlled device comprises a controlled device information management unit which manages controlled device information about the controlled devices and a controlled device information communication unit which sends said controlled device information with appropriate timing,

said translator comprises a controlled device information proxy creating means which creates controlled device information proxies based on said controlled device information acquired from said controlled devices, and an information managing means for registering and managing said controlled device information and said controlled device information proxies, and

said controller comprises a means for acquiring said controlled device information proxies from said translator and issuing operating instructions for operating said controlled devices.

2. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein that

said controlled device information contains operating instructions executable in said second network, and said controlled device information proxy is information containing operating instructions executable in said first network.

3. The control system according to claim 2 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the state of the controlled device itself;

a scheduling function for managing information about time when said self-diagnosis function is performed; and

a function of sending the result of self-diagnosis carried out by said self-diagnosis function to said controller.

4. The control system according to claim 2 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the state of the controlled device itself, and

said controller or said translator sends instructions to perform said self-diagnosis function to said controlled device with arbitrary timing.

5. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein that

said controlled device information includes operating instructions related to said controlled devices, information required for using the operating instructions, and support information for using said operating instructions

said controlled device information proxy corresponds to said controlled device information and contains operating instructions for operating said controlled devices through said controller; and

when an operating instruction for controlling said controlled device, contained in said controlled device information proxies, is sent from said controller, said translator translates the operating instruction contained in the controlled device information proxies into an operating instruction contained in said controlled device information corresponding thereto and sends the operating instruction to said controlled device.

6. The control system according to claim 5 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the state of the controlled device itself, and

said controller or said translator sends instructions to perform said self-diagnosis function to said controlled device with arbitrary timing.

7. The control system according to any of claims 1 to 5 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a downloading and uploading function for downloading and uploading any information, and

said controlled device information contains instructions to perform said downloading and uploading function.

8. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the state of the controlled device itself; a scheduling function for managing information about time when said self-diagnosis function is performed; and a function of sending the result of self-diagnosis carried out by said self-diagnosis function to said controller.

9. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein that

said controlled device is provided with a self-diagnosis function for diagnosing the state of the controlled device itself, and

said controller or said translator sends instructions to perform said self-diagnosis function to said controlled device with arbitrary timing.

10. The control system according to claim 1 , wherein that

said controller is provided with:

a function of reading frameworks which are arbitrary combinations of operating procedures described according to predetermined rules, and

a function of interpreting said frameworks and executing operating instructions corresponding to operating procedures described in the frameworks.

11. A controller for use in a control system including a first network including the controller, a second network including one or more controlled devices, and a translator correlated with said first network and with said second network, said controlled device comprising a controlled device information management unit which manages information about the controlled device and a controlled device information communication unit which timely sends controlled device information managed by the controlled device information management unit, said translator comprising a controlled device information proxy means which creates controlled device information proxies based on said controlled device information acquired from said controlled devices and an information managing means for registering and managing said controlled device information and said controlled device information proxies, and said controller comprising a means for acquiring said controlled device information proxies from said translator or said controlled device and issuing operating instructions for operating said controlled devices, the controller further comprising:

a controlled device operating means for operating said controlled devices;

a compiling means which information required for the operation of said controlled devices into such a format as the controlled device operating means can utilize the information, based on information acquired from said translator; and

a means for issuing appropriate controlled device control instructions according to input from an operator.

12. A controlled device for use in a control system including a first network including a controller, a second network including one or more of the controlled devices, and a translator correlated with said first network and with said second network, the said controlled device comprising a controlled device information management unit which manages information about the controlled device and a controlled device information communication unit which timely sends controlled device information managed by the controlled device information management unit, said translator comprising a controlled device information proxy means which creates controlled device information proxies based on said controlled device information acquired from said controlled devices and an information managing means for registering and managing said controlled device information and said controlled device information proxies, and said controller comprising a means which acquires said controlled device information proxie from said translator or said controlled devices and issues operating instructions for operating said controlled devices, the controlled device further having objects containing at least any of:

operating instructions related to the controlled device, information required for using the operating instructions, and support information for using said operating instructions.

13. The controlled device according to claim 12 , wherein that operating instructions and information contained in said objects are classified on a function-by-function basis.

Assignments (6)