Method and apparatus for E-mail based communication with automated facilities and devices

US6725104B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• George Lo · Plainsboro, US
• Ronald Lange · Glendale, US
• Jurgen Schmoll · Treuchtlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 21, 2001
• Grant date: Apr 20, 2004
• Expiry date: May 13, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05B2219/33209
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method and system for communicating and controlling remotely devices in an automated facility exchanges electronic messages (“E-mails”) between a server that controls the devices and an operator having a client device that has E-mail capabilities. An automation controller overseeing devices and stations within the facility is configured to send and receive over a network, such as the Internet, E-mail messages containing instructions and information. Accordingly, an operator may be alerted to alarm information, fault codes, and other operational parameters via E-mail, and after correcting the fault code or other problem, the operator may send an E-mail message to the automation controller that the situation has been corrected. The operator may also send and receive other information to and from the devices within the facility. Thus, not only human-to-machine and machine-to-human E-mail communication is facilitated, but also machine-to-machine communications via E-mail.