Machine system, machine control computer, base software application, computer-readable recording medium, and machine control method for intercommunication with machines

A machine system, comprising:

• at least two machines;
• and
• a machine control computer communicatably connected to the at least two machines and comprising one or more control processing units and one or more memory units, a base software application and an operation software application being installed in the machine control computer,
• wherein the base software application includes:
• a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to each machine of the at least two machines outputted from each machine of the at least two machines in association with identification information of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer;
• a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• a program portion to store the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• and
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to each machine of the at least two machines from the memory unit,
• wherein each machine of the at least two machines has a function of outputting a state of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer as the first machine information in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information.

A machine system, comprising:

• a machine;
• and
• a machine control computer communicatably connected to the machine and comprising one or more control processing units and one or more memory units, a base software application and an operation software application being installed in the machine control computer,
• wherein the base software application includes:
• a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer, and transmit second command information in the data format specific to the machine to the machine;
• a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to input first command information in a data format specific to the operation software application from the operation software application, and output second machine information in the data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• a program portion to store the first machine information, the second machine information, the first command information, and the second command information in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer;
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit;
• and
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first command information into the second command information based on the identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit,
• wherein the machine has functions of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the machine based on the second command information, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the machine based on the second machine information inputted from the second communication module, and output the first command information to the second communication module.

A machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, the machine control computer comprising:

• one or more control processing units;
• one or more memory units;
• a base software application installed in the machine control computer;
• and
• an operation software application installed in the machine control computer,
• wherein the base software application includes:
• a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;
• a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• a program portion to store the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer;
• and
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit,
• wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information.

A machine control computer communicatably connected to at least two machines, comprising:

• one or more control processing units;
• one or more memory units;
• a base software application installed in the machine control computer;
• and
• an operation software application installed in the machine control computer,
• wherein the base software application includes:
• a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to each machine of the at least two machines outputted from each machine of the at least two machines in association with identification information of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer;
• a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• a program portion to store the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• and
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to each machine of the at least two machines from the memory unit,
• wherein each machine of the at least two machines has a function of outputting a state of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer as the first machine information in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information.

A machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, comprising:

• one or more control processing units;
• one or more memory units;
• a base software application installed in the machine control computer;
• and
• an operation software application installed in the machine control computer,
• wherein the base software application includes:
• a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer, and transmit second command information in the data format specific to the machine to the machine;
• a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to input first command information in a data format specific to the operation software application from the operation software application, and output second machine information in the data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• a program portion to store the first machine information, the second machine information, the first command information, and the second command information in a memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer;
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit;
• and
• a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first command information into the second command information based on the identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit,
• wherein the machine has functions of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the machine based on the second command information, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the machine based on the second machine information inputted from the second communication module, and output the first command information to the second communication module.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for storing a base software application to be installed in a machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, together with an operation software application, the base software application enabling the machine control computer to execute the steps of:

• receiving first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;
• outputting second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• storing the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the machine control computer;
• converting the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit;
• and
• outputting the second machine information to the operation software application as input information,
• wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for storing a base software application to be installed in a machine control computer communicatably connected to at least two machines, together with an operation software application, the base software application enabling the machine control computer to execute the steps of:

• receiving first machine information in a data format specific to each machine of the at least two machines outputted from each machine of the at least two machines in association with identification information of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer;
• outputting second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• storing the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the machine control computer in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines;
• converting the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to each machine of the at least two machines from the memory unit;
• and
• outputting the second machine information to the operation software application in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines as input information,
• wherein each machine of the at least two machines has a function of outputting a state of each machine of the at least two machines to the machine control computer as the first machine information in association with the identification information of each machine of the at least two machines.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for storing a base software application to be installed in a machine control computer communicatably connected to a machine, together with an operation software application, the base software application enabling the machine control computer to execute the steps of:

• receiving first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;
• transmitting second command information in the data format specific to the machine to the machine;
• inputting first command information in a data format specific to the operation software application from the operation software application;
• outputting second machine information in the data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• storing the first machine information, the second machine information, the first command information, and the second command information in a memory unit included in the machine control computer;
• converting the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit;
• and
• converting the first command information into the second command information based on the identified data model corresponding to the machine from the memory unit,
• wherein the machine has functions of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the machine based on the second command information, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the machine based on the second machine information.

A machine control method for controlling at least one machine by a machine control computer having a base software application and an operation software application installed therein, the machine control method comprising the following steps performed by the machine control computer:

• receiving first machine information in a data format specific to the at least one machine outputted from the at least one machine to the machine control computer;
• outputting second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• storing the first machine information and the second machine information in a memory unit included in the machine control computer;
• converting the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the at least one machine from the memory unit;
• and
• outputting the second machine information to the operation software application as input information,
• wherein the at least one machine has a function of outputting a state of the at least one machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information.

A machine control method for controlling at least one machine by a machine control computer having a base software application and an operation software application installed therein, the machine control method comprising the following steps performed by the machine control computer:

• receiving first machine information in a data format specific to the at least one machine outputted from the at least one machine to the machine control computer;
• transmitting second command information in the data format specific to the at least one machine to the at least one machine;
• inputting first command information in a data format specific to the operation software application from the operation software application;
• outputting the second machine information in the data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
• storing the first machine information, the second machine information, the first command information, and the second command information in a memory unit included in the machine control computer;
• converting the first machine information into the second machine information based on an identified data model corresponding to the at least one machine from the memory unit;
• and
• converting the first command information into the second command information based on the identified data model corresponding to the at least one machine from the memory unit,
• wherein the at least one machine has functions of outputting a state of the at least one machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and determining an operation to be performed by the at least one machine based on the second command information, and
• wherein the operation software application is a program to enable the machine control computer to generate the first command information for the at least one machine based on the second machine information.