IP Library › Patent Application 11143782
Patent Application
App. No. 11/143,782

Method for accessing and browsing a PLC provided within a network

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/143,782
Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: recognizing, by a PLC, that a memory device has been connected to the PLC; and configuring the PLC via a PLC executable software program resident on the memory device. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, comprising: via a PLC network interface: presenting a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of an operating system of a non-PLC information device; and searching the PLC network for at least one item corresponding to one or more search parameters.

Claims (64)

1 . A method, comprising:

via a PLC network interface:

presenting, to a non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network to which the non-PLC information device is connected.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

managing the PLC network interface.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, polling addresses of the PLC network to identify devices connected to the PLC network.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, providing communications parameters for an information device connected to the PLC network.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, communicatively connecting the non-PLC information device to an information device connected to the PLC network.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, providing a PLC network address for each device connected to the PLC network.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, allowing browsing of the PLC network.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, providing access to information stored on the PLC network.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, transferring information between the non-PLC information device and an information device connected to the PLC network.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, providing multiple instances of the PLC network.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder containing an item for each information device connected to the PLC network.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder containing an item for each information device connected to the PLC network, the items ordered by PLC network address.

14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder containing an item for each information device connected to the PLC network, the items ordered by PLC network address, each PLC network address a Profibus address.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder containing an item for each device connected to the PLC network, the items ordered by PLC network address, each PLC network address a PPI address.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a folder containing an item for each device connected to the PLC network, the items ordered by PLC network address, each PLC network address an Ethernet address.

17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a PLC of the PLC network as a folder item.

18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network as an icon associated with a volume.

19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network as a folder item.

20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a program stored on a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network as a folder item.

21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network as a folder item.

22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a hierarchical structure comprising at least two of: the PLC network, a plurality of PLC's of the PLC network, a memory device connected to a PLC from the plurality of PLC's, and a plurality of files stored on the memory device.

23 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a hierarchical structure comprising at least two of: the PLC network, a plurality of PLC's of the PLC network, a memory device connected to a PLC from the plurality of PLC's, and a plurality of files stored on the memory device.

24 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a hierarchical structure comprising at least two of: the PLC network, a PLC of the PLC network, a memory device connected to the PLC, and a file stored on the memory device.

25 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to the user of the non-PLC information device, a path comprising at least two of: the PLC network, a PLC of the PLC network, a memory device connected to the PLC, a block item stored on the memory device, and a file stored on the memory device.

26 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, receiving at a PLC of the PLC network, a command to manage a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network.

27 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, a response to a command to manage a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network.

28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

via the PLC network interface, rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, a graphical response to a command to manage a file stored on a memory device connected to a PLC of the PLC network.

29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the running operating system of the non-PLC information device is a personal computer operating system.

30 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the running operating system of the non-PLC information device is a member of the Windows family of operating systems.

31 . A machine-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for activities comprising:

via a PLC network interface:

presenting, to a non-PLC information device, a PLC network as a namespace shell extension of a running operating system of the non-PLC information device; and

rendering, to a user of the non-PLC information device, the PLC network as a node of a network to which the non-PLC information device is connected.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded May 19, 2010
From: SIEMENS ENERGY AND AUTOMATION; SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
Reel/Frame 024427/0113 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2005
From: KARKLINS, GREGORY; RITTENHOUSE, JAMES C.; CORNETT, JAMES W.
To: SIEMENS ENERGEY & AUTOMATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 016826/0767 →