Method and system for remote control of a local system

A system for managing an industrial process at an industrial facility comprising:

• an input/output (I/O) unit, wherein the I/O unit is configured to communicate with a corresponding node in the industrial process and is capable of generating process data;
• a remote computer system configured to execute a desktop bound software application adapted with an ActiveX control to request, receive and manipulate said process data;
• a control system computer coupled between said unit and said remote computer system, said control system computer executing a local software application comprising:
• a data handler;
• an Internet server application program interface (ISAPI) configured to receive a request from the remote computer system for said process data and send the request to said data handler, said data handler being configured to retrieve said process data from said I/O unit in response to said request;
• and
• wherein said local software application is configured to send said process data to said remote computer system, and wherein said remote computer system is further configured to send control instructions to the control system computer, which effect changes in the industrial process.

A processor readable medium including computer executable instructions for communicating with a factory automation control system via a remote computers, the remote computer including an object container, the instructions including instructions for:

• requesting, via at least one of the remote computers, factory automation control system information wherein the factory automation control system is configured to control an industrial process, and wherein the requesting includes requesting a web page, the web page being hosted by the factory automation control system;
• receiving, from the factory automation control system, the factory automation control system information at the object container;
• running an ActiveX control within a web browser in the object container so as to enable a user at the at least one of the remote computers to view the received factory automation control system information via the web page;
• generating control instructions with the ActiveX control;
• and
• sending the control instructions to the control system, wherein the control instructions effect changes in the industrial process.

A method for obtaining industrial factory automation control system data, the industrial factory automation control system being controlled by a control program executed by a local control system, the method comprising:

• modifying a web browser so that the web browser includes an ActiveX control object;
• requesting, via a remote computer, the industrial factory automation control system data from the local control system, wherein the requesting includes requesting a web page, the web page being hosted by the local control system;
• receiving the industrial factory automation control system data at the remote computer;
• displaying the industrial factory automation control system data with the web browser;
• and
• sending, via the remote computer, control instructions to the industrial factory automation control system, wherein the control instructions effect changes in an industrial process.