Apparatus and method for electronic labeling of electronic equipment

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an industrial automation input/output (I/O) module having a plurality of data channels each having a respective type of analog input (AI), analog output (AO), discrete input (DI), or discrete output (DO), a request that includes electronic label information for reprogramming a label paired to the industrial automation I/O module to identify one or more of the plurality of data channels of the industrial automation I/O module, wherein the label is identified by a first ID, wherein the request has a second ID, wherein the electronic label information includes configuration information representative of a configuration of the industrial automation I/O module, and wherein the label is configurable and capable of displaying an image or text without any power required to maintain the image or text;

transmitting, by the industrial automation I/O module, the electronic label information to the label wirelessly or across a wired connection;

when the second ID matches the first ID, reprogramming the label with the electronic label information, and

when the first ID of the label does not match an ID of the electronic module, issuing, by the label, an alert for display on the label.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the electronic label information is made via at least one of a wired connection and a wireless connection.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic label information further includes a wiring diagram of the industrial automation I/O module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the label comprises a display that renders images using e-ink.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the rendered image comprises product technical support.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the display is configured to render images in color.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

an industrial automation input/output (I/O) module operating in an industrial control system, the industrial automation I/O module having a plurality of data channels each having a respective type selected from analog input (AI), analog output (AO), discrete input (DI), or discrete output (DO); and

a label paired to the industrial automation I/O module to identify one or more of the plurality of data channels of the industrial automation I/O module, wherein the label is identified by a first ID;

wherein the industrial automation I/O module is configured to (a) receive a request that includes electronic label information for reprogramming the label, the request having a second ID, (b) transmit the electronic label information to the label wirelessly or across a wired connection, and (c) cause the electronic label information to be displayed at the label when the second ID matches the first ID, the label being configurable and capable of (i) displaying an image or text without any power required to maintain the image or text and (ii) issuing an alert to a user when the first ID of the label does not match an ID of the industrial automation I/O module to which the label is paired,

wherein the electronic label information includes configuration information representative of a configuration of the industrial automation I/O module.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the industrial automation I/O module receives the electronic label information via a wired connection.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 where the industrial automation I/O module receives the electronic label information via a wireless connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the label comprises a display that renders images using e-ink.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving updated electronic label information;

displaying the updated electronic label information at the label automatically without user intervention.

12. A method comprising:

providing in an industrial control system a universal input/output (I/O) module able to be configured to have any of the I/O types (i) analog input (AI), (ii) analog output (AO), (iii) discrete input (DI), (iv) discrete output (DO), wherein the universal I/O module includes a label identified by a first ID, and wherein the universal I/O module is an I/O module operating within the industrial control system;

replacing a failed I/O module with the universal I/O module within the industrial control system, the failed I/O module configured one of (i) an analog input (AI), (ii) an analog output (AO), (iii) a discrete input (DI), or (iv) a discrete output (DO), the universal I/O module assuming a configuration of the failed I/O module;

receiving, by the universal I/O module, electronic label information in a request, wherein the request has a second ID;

transmitting, by the universal I/O module, the electronic label information to the label wirelessly or across a wired connection;

automatically updating the label with the electronic label information to identify the universal I/O module when the second ID matches the first ID, the label being configurable and capable of (i) displaying an image or text without any power required to maintain the image or text and (ii) issuing an alert to a user when the first ID of the label does not match an ID of the universal I/O module to which the label is paired, wherein the electronic label information includes configuration information representative of the configuration of the failed module.