US 8,818,757 B2Granted

Modular object and host matching

AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

InventorsKenneth Scott Plache, Daniel Baliey Seger, Raymond John Staron, Taryl Jon Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell William Brandes, Ronald Eric Bliss, Michael Dan Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Henry Hall, Douglas James Reichard, Robert John Kretschmann

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Abstract

An object can be used in an industrial control configuration in relation to performing a function or task. Matching can occur such that an object with operational requirements can bind with a host that has capabilities that meet those operational requirements—matching can occur automatically as well as through user operation. Once matched, different functionality can be presented to a user pertaining to the object. To assist the user, the object can include external references, logic, local or private data, as well as others in addition to resources. To facilitate operation, capabilities and resources can be published in a directory that can be accessed by different entities—sometimes with security constraints in order to protect configuration integrity. Likewise, a subscription system can be employed such that when a change to a related entity is made, a notice can transfer to related entities and operation can alter based upon the change.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a processor;
a memory storing computer executable components and communicatively coupled to the processor to facilitate operation of the computer executable components comprising:
an evaluation component configured to identify a first operational requirement of a first industrial modular object;
and
a group component configured to:
determine whether at least one host of a set of hosts has a capability to satisfy the first operation requirement;
in response to a determination that there is not at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
at least one of monitor the set of hosts for a modification of a host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, monitor the set of hosts for addition of another host to the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, or modify the host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
and
determine whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the host or other host;
and
in response to a determination that there is at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, determine whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the at least one host according to:
in response to a determination that there is only one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
determine whether the one host is available to be bound to the first industrial modular object:
in response to a determination that the one host is available to be bound with the first industrial modular object, bind the first industrial modular object with the one host;
and
in response to a determination that the one host is not available to be bound with the first industrial modular object:
identify a second industrial modular object having a second operational requirement and that is currently bound with the one host that also satisfies the second operational requirement;
identify another host of the set of hosts that has another capability to satisfy the second operational requirement;
unbind the second industrial modular object from the one host;
bind the second industrial modular object with the other host;
and
bind the first industrial modular object with the one host.

20 more elements

A method, comprising:

identifying, by a system including a processor, a first operational requirement of a first industrial modular object;
determining, by the system, whether at least one host of a set of hosts has a capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
in response to determining that there is not at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
at least one of monitoring, by the system, the set of hosts for a modification of a host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, monitoring, by the system, the set of hosts for addition of another host to the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, or modifying, by the system, the host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
and
determining, by the system, whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the host or other host;
and
in response to determining that there is at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, determining, by the system, whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the at least one host according to:
in response to determining that there is only one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
determining whether the one host is available to be bound to the first industrial modular object:
in response to determining that the one host is available to be bound with the first industrial modular object, binding the first industrial modular object with the one host;
and
in response to determining that the one host is not available to be bound with the first industrial modular object:
identifying a second industrial modular object having a second operational requirement and that is currently bound with the one host that also satisfies the second operational requirement;
identifying another host of the set of hosts that has another capability to satisfy the second operational requirement;
unbinding the second industrial modular object from the one host;
binding the second industrial modular object with the other host;
and
binding the first industrial modular object with the one host.

16 more elements

A system, comprising:

means for identifying a first operational requirement of a first industrial modular object;
means for determining whether at least one host of a set of hosts has a capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
means for, in response to determining that there is not at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
at least one of monitoring the set of hosts for a modification of a host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, monitoring the set of hosts for addition of another host to the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, or modifying, by the system, the host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
and
determining whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the host or other host;
and
means for, in response to determining that there is at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, determining whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the at least one host according to:
in response to determining that there is only one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
determining whether the one host is available to be bound to the first industrial modular object:
in response to determining that the one host is available to be bound with the first industrial modular object, binding the first industrial modular object with the one host;
and
in response to determining that the one host is not available to be bound with the first industrial modular object:
identifying a second industrial modular object having a second operational requirement and that is currently bound with the one host that also satisfies the second operational requirement;
identifying another host of the set of hosts that has another capability to satisfy the second operational requirement;
unbinding the second industrial modular object from the one host;
binding the second industrial modular object with the other host;
and
binding the first industrial modular object with the one host.

16 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause an apparatus to perform operations, comprising:

identifying a first operational requirement of a first industrial modular object;
and
determining whether at least one host of a set of hosts has a capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
in response to determining that there is not at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
at least one of monitoring the set of hosts for a modification of a host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, monitoring the set of hosts for addition of another host to the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, or modifying, by the system, the host of the set of hosts to include the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement;
and
determining whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the host or other host;
and
in response to determining that there is at least one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement, determining whether to bind the first industrial modular object with the at least one host according to:
in response to determining that there is only one host of the set of hosts that has the capability to satisfy the first operational requirement:
determining whether the one host is available to be bound to the first industrial modular object:
in response to determining that the one host is available to be bound with the first industrial modular object, binding the first industrial modular object with the one host;
and
in response to determining that the one host is not available to be bound with the first industrial modular object:
identifying a second industrial modular object having a second operational requirement and that is currently bound with the one host that also satisfies the second operational requirement;
identifying another host of the set of hosts that has another capability to satisfy the second operational requirement;
unbinding the second industrial modular object from the one host;
binding the second industrial modular object with the other host;
and
binding the first industrial modular object with the one host.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/241,319Filed 30 Sep 2008
Published: US 2010/0082123 A11 Apr 2010
Granted: 26 Aug 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G06Q 10/087
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling,…
G05B 19/0426
Using digital processors: programming the control sequence
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial
G05B
Control or regulating systems in general