System that provides for removal of middleware in an industrial automation environment
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJohn J. Baier, David W. Farchmin, Michael D. Kalan, Randall A. Marquardt, Richard A. Morse, Stephen C. Briant, Sujeet Chand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An industrial automation environment communication system comprises a component that receives a web-based request in an industrial automation environment, wherein the web-based request includes data relating to an automation device. An encapsulating component encapsulates the web-based request, wherein the encapsulation facilitates transmitting the data to the automation device via an industrial automation network protocol.
Claims20
A proxy device, comprising:
- a processor;
- a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored thereon computer-executable components configured to implement the proxy device, the proxy device configured to:
- maintain a directory of industrial devices configured to operate in conjunction as a server farm, wherein the proxy device acts as a client to the server farm;
- associate the industrial devices with a namespace;
- receive, from a requesting entity via a global area network, request data comprising a request directed to an industrial device of the industrial devices, wherein the request data conforms to a web-based protocol;
- perform a query of the directory based on the request data;
- retrieve location information from the directory in response to the query, wherein the location information specifies a location of the industrial device within an industrial system;
- generate an encapsulated request that conforms to an industrial communication protocol based on the request data and the location information;
- and
- send the encapsulated request to the industrial device via the industrial communication protocol based on the location information.
A method for exchanging data with an automation device, comprising:
- storing, in a proxy device comprising at least one processor, directory information relating to a set of industrial devices configured to operate in conjunction as a server farm, wherein the proxy device acts as a client to the server farm;
- providing a namespace for the set of industrial devices;
- receiving, from a requesting entity via a global area network, request data comprising a request directed to an industrial device of the set of industrial devices, wherein the request data conforms to a web-based protocol;
- performing a query of the directory based on the request data;
- retrieving location information from the directory information in response to the query, wherein the location information specifies a location of the industrial device within an industrial system;
- generating an encapsulated request capable of transmission via an industrial communication protocol based on the request data and the location information;
- and
- sending the encapsulated request to the industrial device via the industrial communication protocol based on the location information.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a proxy device comprising at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:
- maintaining a directory of industrial devices configured to operate in conjunction as a server farm, wherein the proxy device acts as a client to the server farm;
- associating the industrial devices with a namespace;
- receiving, from a requesting entity via a global area network, request data comprising a request directed to an industrial device of the industrial devices, wherein the request data conforms to a web-based protocol;
- initiating a query of the directory based on the request data;
- retrieving location information from the directory in response to the query, wherein the location information specifies a location of the industrial device within an industrial system;
- generating an encapsulated request that conforms to an industrial communication protocol based on the request data and the location information;
- and
- sending the encapsulated request to the industrial device via the industrial communication protocol based on the location information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.