Abstract: A method and system for use with an enterprise operation and at least one processor linked to the operation, the method for requesting service from a most optimal enterprise user when at least one interesting condition related to the operation occurs, the method comprising the steps of providing a wireless information device (WID) to each enterprise user, monitoring the operation for at least one diagnostically interesting condition, when at least one diagnostically interesting condition is identified, identifying at least one of the enterprise users as the most optimal user to address the diagnostically interesting condition and suggesting, via the user's WID, an appointment to address the interesting condition that may be added to the schedule of the most optimal user.

Abstract: A method and system for providing information related to a set of automated resources that may cooperate in an environment to perform an automated process, the method comprising the steps of associating a specific environment location with the automated process, determining the locations of resources with respect to the specific location and, where resources are proximate the specific location, providing information related to the automated process. Also a method for facility communication between distributed resources where location or an attribute akin thereto is used to tag data and to monitor network data for specific required data.

Abstract: The invention employs systems and methods to provide addressing for appropriate access to data in automation devices. Data attributes can be related to a number of various factors in a data driven architecture such as the source of the data, the data subscriber and/or the path employed to convey the data from the source to the subscriber. In addition, data attributes can refer to the format, scale, units, length, visualization and transactional capabilities of the data. The subject invention can point to the appropriate address of the requested data wherein the data can have desired attributes associated therewith. In this manner, data can be selected based on the requirements of the requestor and/or the loading demands of network communication.

Abstract: A security system that relates to industrial automation security comprises a component that receives a request to modify security relating to a zone of a factory floor, the zone being less than an entirety of the factory floor. A zonal security component generates security procedures for the zone, the security procedures differ from security procedures implemented on the factory floor outside the zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods that support object oriented access to information at multiple levels in a control architecture, for example. Such data access can be facilitated as a layer adjacent to or part of an MES system or as a white box cooperating to encapsulate data such as in the controller or the MES layer, for example. In addition, such object oriented data access can be built into a controller as a standard behavior of controller data types and tags of those data types. In this manner, data can be encapsulated as a data object to expose properties and/or methods related to the data utilizing a common interface with each data consumer. Thus, the data consumer can employ object oriented concepts, such as properties, methods, scope qualifiers, access qualifiers (private, protected, public enterprise), polymorphism, inheritance and the like directly with their automation system components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling resources integrated to perform a process on a work product within an environment where at least one of a first of the resources and the work product is a moveable item that moves during the process, the method comprising the steps of providing an information device on the moveable item, ascertaining the location of the information device and controlling at least a first of the resources as a function of the location of the information device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a plurality of resources integrated within a space for performing a process and a program run by a processor for controlling the process, the method for associating the program with the resources and comprising the steps of identifying at least a first reference point within the space, identifying the relative juxtaposition of at least a first resource with respect to the first reference point and associating the first resource with the program as a function of the relative juxtaposition of the resource to the reference point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a component assembly that forms part of an enterprise and at least one processor, the processor programmed to perform at least one diagnostic process on the assembly and to at least periodically perform at least one summary process on the assembly, the method for commencing the at least one summary process and comprising the steps of specifying at least one triggering relationship between at least a first enterprise user and the assembly that is to initiate the at least one summary process, determining when the at least one triggering relationship occurs and, when the at least one triggering relationship occurs, causing the processor to perform the at least one summary process.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a portable wireless information device (WID) and a plurality of receivers spaced apart within a facility having a space, the receivers and WID cooperating to generate position information indicative of the distances of signal paths between the receivers and the WID, the apparatus comprising at least a first processor linked to the receivers for receiving signal strength information therefrom, the at least a first processor running at least first and second position estimating programs on signal strength information associated with first and second sub-sets of the receivers, respectively, for identifying first and second position estimates of the WID within the space, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in an automated environment including at least a first automated assembly including components that facilitate an automated process, at least one portable wireless information device (WID) and a controller for controlling the assembly, the apparatus comprising a first component that is one of the plurality of components and that is linked to the controller to facilitate at least a sub-process associated with the automated process, the first component including at least a first wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals from the at least one WID and a processor receiving signals from the first receiver and running location determining software for determining the location of the at least one WID as a function of the signals received therefrom.