Remote monitoring of factory automation users
AssigneeSchneider Automation Inc.
InventorsAlain Marbach, Richard A. Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for monitoring a factory automation product via a communications network. The factory automation product is installed at an installation site having an installation site address and includes identifiable information such as a product number, a version number, a serial number and a MAC address. By obtaining the installation site address and the identifiable information, it is possible to associate the installation site address to the factory automation product based on the identifiable information. Based on the installation site address, it is possible to determine whether the factory automation product is used in violation of licenses.
Claims28
A method of monitoring a factory automation product via a communications network, wherein the factory automation product includes identifiable information associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:
- installing the factory automation product at an installation site having an installation site address;
- searching for the identifiable information at a plurality of site addresses on the communications network by a monitoring mechanism;
- obtaining the identifiable information;
- identifying the installation site address;
- and,
- associating the installation site address to the factory automation product based on the identifiable information.
A system for monitoring a factory automation product over a communications network, said system comprising:
- an installation site having an installation site address, the factory automation product being installed at the installation site, wherein the factory automation product includes identifiable information associated therewith;
- a search mechanism for searching the communications network for the installation site address by a monitoring mechanism;
- means for providing data indicative the identifiable information;
- means, responsive to the data, for associating the installation site address to the factory automation product based on the provided identifiable information;
- and,
- means for searching over the communications network for an additional unit of the factory automation product which is used in violation of a product license.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.