Network interface device
View Patent ↗A network interface device in a manufacturing system may receive communications from remote users in a database query language. The network interface device may translate or forward commands and queries in a pump-supported language. The network interface device may communicate the commands and queries to pumps and other components on the manufacturing process using the pump-supported language. The results of the command or query may be returned to the network interface device, which may send the information to a database. A GUI allows the remote user to check states of pumps or other functions.
1. A network interface device comprising:
one or more pump communication ports;
at least one computer network communication port;
a non-volatile computer memory for storing a set of computer-executable instructions; and
a processor for executing the set of computer-executable instructions operable to:
communicate with one or more pump controllers coupled to the network interface device using a command protocol supported by the one or more pump controllers via the one or more pump communication ports, wherein interacting with the one or more pump controllers includes obtaining information about one or more pumps coupled to the one or more pump controllers;
translate the information received from the one or more pump controllers into a query language supported by a database server;
communicate with the database server, which is external to the network interface device and is coupled to the network interface device via the at least one computer network communication port, wherein interacting with the database server includes forwarding the information received from the one or more pump controllers to the database server according to a the query language supported by the database server; and
initiate a push of the information received from the one or more pump controllers to the database server.
2. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pump communication ports comprise at least one serial port.
3. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer network communication port comprises an Ethernet port.
4. The network interface device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless network interface.
5. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions is further operable to provide remote access to the one or more pump controllers.
6. The network interface device of claim 5 , wherein the remote access is obtainable via a Web browser application running on a client machine coupled to the network interface device via the at least one computer network communication port.
7. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the information about the one or more pumps includes one or more of cycle number, device identifier, time stamp, recipe number, recipe volume, dispense confirmation score, dispense profile, or a combination thereof.
8. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface device is operable to communicate with the one or more pump controllers to configure the one or more pump controllers.
9. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface device is further operable to provide an alarm, an error message, a notification, or a combination thereof to a user device communicatively coupled to the network interface device.
10. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the database server is a part of a factory automation system and wherein the network interface device is further operable to provide an alarm, an error message, a notification, or a combination thereof to the factory automation system.
11. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface device is operable to interact with the database server in Structured Query Language (SQL).
12. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the network interface device is operable to support HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
13. The network interface device of claim 1 , wherein the set of computer-executable instructions is further operable to communicate with the one or more pump controllers coupled to the network interface device using at least two different command protocols, wherein each of the command protocols is supported by at least one of the one or more pump controllers.