초록 ▼

In an Internet Based Distributed Control System, communication between one or more Clients and one or more controllers is managed by an Internet Hub. A small, inexpensive Web Server reduces the hardware and software resources required to remotely manage controllers through the Internet. One or more

In an Internet Based Distributed Control System, communication between one or more Clients and one or more controllers is managed by an Internet Hub. A small, inexpensive Web Server reduces the hardware and software resources required to remotely manage controllers through the Internet. One or more Internet Hubs maintain control of the human-machine interface of the system's controllers, increasing security and reducing system cost. Controllers only accept data packets from authorized Internet Hubs and send regular status update information to those Hubs. If alarms are generated, the system is capable of generating and transmitting human readable messages or alarms via e-mail, fax, SMS, or telephone. Controllers are grouped into Local Control Systems in either Peer-to-Peer networks or Master-Slave configurations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An Internet based distributed control system, comprising:at least one client with an algorithmic device and an Internet compatible interface;at least one local control system with at least one master controller that includes a web server; andat least one Internet hub with a router whereby communi

1. An Internet based distributed control system, comprising:at least one client with an algorithmic device and an Internet compatible interface;at least one local control system with at least one master controller that includes a web server; andat least one Internet hub with a router whereby communications between said at least one client and said at least one local control system are transmitted over the Internet and are controlled by said at least one Internet hub. 2. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) server for converting transport layer protocol data packets into XML format messages. 3. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 2, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a message server for converting XML format messages into human readable messages for transmission to users. 4. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 3, wherein said human readable messages are e-mails, faxes, SMS messages, or phone calls. 5. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 3, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a client server for converting XML format messages into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) messages. 6. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 3, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a database for storing keys. 7. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises:an Extensible Markup Language (XML) server for converting transport layer protocol data packets into XML format messages;a message server for converting XML format messages into human readable messages for transmission to users, wherein said human readable messages are e-mails, faxes, SMS messages, or phone calls;a client server for converting said XML format messages into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) messages; anda database for storing controller descriptors. 8. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one local control system comprises at least one slave controller. 9. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 8, wherein said at least one local control system further comprises a first Local Area Network (LAN) for connecting a plurality of master controllers to each other and to the Internet. 10. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 9, wherein said at least one local control system further comprises a second Local Area Network for connecting said at least one slave controller to said at least one master controller. 11. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 10, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises:a main processor; anda web server including a shared memory for efficient and secure transmission of information from the at least one Internet hub to the at least one master controller and from the at least one master controller to the at least one Internet hub. 12. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 11, wherein said web server further comprises:an Ethernet chip for connecting the web server to the first Local Area Network;a web server processor; anda web server program memory including an Internet protocol stack and a parameter and variable memory space. 13. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 11, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises a master flash memory device which contains a table of authorized IP addresses corresponding to said at least one Internet hub from which the at least one master controller will accept authorized data packets. 14. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 13, wherein said authorized data packets are encrypted. 15. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 14, wherein human-machine interfaces for controllers in said at least one local control system are controlle d by said at least one Internet hub. 16. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 15, wherein requests originated by said at least one client for programming said controllers, changing parameters of said controllers, and monitoring parameters or variables of said controllers must be sent to said at least one Internet hub. 17. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein only said at least one Internet hub is authorized to send requests to said at least one local control system for programming controllers, changing parameters of said controllers, and monitoring parameters or variables of said controllers. 18. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein a request issued by said at least one client to monitor a controller creates an open session between said at least one Internet hub and said controller and, while the session remains open, the controller provides regular status information to the at least one Internet hub. 19. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein controllers are programmed with parameters and, if said parameters are exceeded, either alert messages or alarm messages are transmitted to said at least one Internet hub. 20. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein alert messages or alarm messages received by said at least one Internet hub from said at least one local control system generate human readable messages which are transmitted to said at least one client or to a user. 21. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master controller may communicate with other master controllers in other local control systems by transmitting messages through the at least one Internet hub. 22. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master controller transmits a periodic heart-beat message to said at least one Internet hub, said heart-beat message including the unique serial number and the current IP address of the at least one master controller. 23. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 22, wherein said heart-beat message further comprises a message. 24. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 22, wherein said heart-beat message further comprises an alarm. 25. The Internet based distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises:an Internet Protocol (IP) stack wherein said IP stack maintains an IP entry representing the IP address of each at least one Internet hub which has established an open session with said at least one master controller; anda period stack wherein said period stack maintains a period entry associated with each IP entry in said IP stack. 26. A method of communicating with and controlling at least one local control system comprising the steps of:providing at least one local control system with at least one master controller including a web server;connecting said web server, through the Internet, to at least one Internet hub which includes a router;connecting said at least one Internet hub, through the Internet, to at least one client;transmitting communications from the at least one client to the at least one Internet hub; andtransmitting said communications from the at least one Internet hub to the web server. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises an Extensible Markup Language (XML) server for converting transport layer protocol data packets into XML format messages. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a message server for converting XML format messages into human readable messages for transmission to users. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a client server for converting XML format messages into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) messages. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one Internet hub further comprises a database for storing keys. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one local control system further comprises at least one slave controller. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises:a main processor; anda web server including a shared memory for efficient and secure transmission of information from the at least one Internet hub to the at least one master controller and from the at least one master controller to the at least one Internet hub. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises a master flash memory device which contains a table of authorized IP addresses corresponding to said at least one Internet hub from which the at least one master controller will accept authorized data packets. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said authorized data packets are encrypted. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein human-machine interfaces for controllers in said at least one local control system are controlled by said at least one Internet hub. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein requests originated by said at least one client for programming said controllers, for changing parameters of said controllers, and for monitoring parameters or variables of said controllers must be sent to said at least one Internet hub. 37. The method of claim 26, wherein only said at least one Internet hub is authorized to send requests to said at least one local control system for programming controllers, for changing parameters of said controllers, and for monitoring parameters or variables of said controllers. 38. The method of claim 26, wherein a request issued by said at least one client to monitor a controller creates an open session between said at least one Internet hub and said controller and, while the session remains open, the controller provides regular status information to the at least one Internet hub. 39. The method of claim 26, wherein controllers are programmed with parameters and, if said parameters are exceeded, either alert messages or alarm messages are transmitted to said at least one Internet hub. 40. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one master controller communicates with other master controllers in other local control systems by transmitting messages through the at least one Internet hub. 41. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one master controller transmits a periodic heart-beat message to said at least one Internet hub, and said heart-beat message includes a unique serial number and a current IP address of the at least one master controller. 42. The method of claim 26, wherein said at least one master controller further comprises:an Internet Protocol (IP) stack that maintains an IP entry representing an IP address of each of said at least one Internet hub which has established an open session with said at least one master controller; anda period stack that maintains a period entry associated with each IP entry in said IP stack.