Instant messaging for event notification and exchanging data in an industrial controller environment

A method to facilitate real time communications in an industrial controller environment, comprising:

• installing a web messenger service on an industrial controller;
• establishing communications with the web messenger service;
• and
• adapting an interface dialog with the web messenger service to facilitate substantially real time communications between the industrial controller and a remote system of the industrial controller based on an instant message sent from the industrial controller to the remote system, regarding at least one of a detected fault and diagnostic problem, the remote system modifies at least one process associated with the industrial controller in real time via the web messenger service in according to decision taken by multiple users in collaboration via the web messenger service.

A system to facilitate multi-party communications in an industrial controller environment, comprising:

• means for initiating event-driven real-time communications by an industrial controller via an instant messenger service installed on the industrial controller;
• means for solving a pending problem in collaboration by multiple users in a chat room session via the instant messenger service;
• means for interfacing to the instant messenger service;
• and
• means for facilitating remote control of an industrial process associated with the industrial controller in real time by at least one other entity in accordance with decision taken by multiple users via the instant messenger service.

A system for establishing a communications session associated with an industrial control system, comprising:

• at least one industrial controller comprising an interface to facilitates communication with an entity wherein the industrial controller establishes a chat room session with the entity to notify the entity of a pending problem or other status via an instant messenger service installed on the industrial controller;
• at least one network server to support the interface;
• and
• a chat room service associated with the interface to allow the entity to modify at least one industrial operation via the at least one industrial controller in accordance to a decision taken by multiple users in collaboration in the chat room session.