Automatic deployment of manufacturing adapters

A method comprising:

• a) an adapter generating a data translation file for a manufacturing device by executing a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, wherein the set of computer executable instructions are operable to cause the adapter to perform a set of translation file creation steps comprising:
• i) determining, based on an adapter configuration file, a set of data items to include in a data stream for the manufacturing device;
• ii) determining a set of active components by interrogating the manufacturing device;
• and
• iii) for each active component from the set of active components:
• A) for each of one or more data items from the set of data items to include in the data stream for the manufacturing device, add an entry for that data item to the data translation file;
• b) sending the data stream for the manufacturing device to an agent, wherein the agent is configured to:
• i) interpret the data stream for the manufacturing device using the data translation file for the manufacturing device;
• and
• ii) provide a standard format encapsulating data from the data stream for the manufacturing device to one or more client applications;
• wherein:
• A) determining the set of active components by interrogating the manufacturing device comprises interrogating one or more paths on the manufacturing device for a number of active components on that path;
• B) for each active component from the set of active components and each of the one or more data items from the set of data items to include in the data stream for the manufacturing device, adding an entry for that data item to the data translation file comprises adding a plurality of pieces of data item information predefined in the adapter for that data item and active component;
• C) the adapter is programmed to perform the set of translation file creation steps on startup of a machine which is configured to execute the adapter;
• and
• D) the method comprises providing the machine configured to execute the adapter with a modified adapter configuration file.

A system comprising:

• a) a means for automatically generating a data translation file for a manufacturing device;
• and
• b) computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium encoding an agent operable to provide data for the manufacturing device to one or more client applications in a standard format based on the data translation file;
• wherein:
• A) the means for automatically generating the data translation file for the manufacturing device is configured to perform a set of translation file creation steps comprising determining a set of active components by interrogating the manufacturing device;
• B) determining the set of active components by interrogating the manufacturing device comprises interrogating one or more paths on the manufacturing device for a number of active components on that path;
• C) for each active component from the set of active components and each of the one or more data items from the set of data items to include in the data stream for the manufacturing device, adding an entry for that data item to the data translation file comprises adding a plurality of pieces of data item information predefined in the adapter for that data item and active component;
• D) the means for automatically generating the data translation file for the manufacturing device is programmed with instructions to perform the set of translation file creation steps based on an adapter configuration file at start up;
• and
• E) the means for automatically generating the data translation file for the manufacturing device is operable to be provided a modified adapter configuration file.