Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Reichard

Douglas J. Reichard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10749962
    Abstract: A cloud gateway for coupling an industrial system to a cloud platform is provided. The cloud gateway collects data from one or more industrial controllers, meters, sensors, or other devices comprising an industrial automation system. The cloud gateway optionally performs additional transformations on the data to add context, summarize, filter, reformat, and/or encrypt the data. The cloud gateway then sends data to a cloud platform for use by one or more cloud-based applications or services. The cloud gateway can facilitate cloud-based data collection from both fixed-location and mobile industrial systems. The cloud gateway can also support store-and-forward logic, allowing industrial data to be temporarily stored in local storage in the event that communication between the cloud gateway and the cloud platform is disrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
  • Patent number: 10713307
    Abstract: A multi-platform industrial search system facilitates indexing and searching of plant-wide data residing on multiple different data platforms. The industrial search system automatically inventories industrial devices and other data sources located throughout a plant, and identifies available data items on each data source. The search system indexes the discovered data items in a federated data model that can subsequently be searched to locate data items or tags of interest. The federated data model records references to data items found on different types of data sources, including but not limited to industrial controller programs, human-machine interface applications, data historians, device documentation stores, inventory tracking systems, and other such data sources. The search system can also initiate automated searches of the federated data model in response to detected performance issues and deliver notifications and contextual information to plant personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Bliss, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jonathan D. Walter, Jessica L. Korpela
  • Publication number: 20200065170
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software disclosed herein relate to a common gateway platform system. In an implementation, program instructions direct a computing system to execute a common gateway platform environment comprising an adapter comprising an adapter name identification, a broker connected to the adapter, and an application connected to the adapter. The application also generates an action configured according to a common gateway platform protocol, transmit the action to the broker, and receive a reaction from the broker. The broker is configured to identify the adapter based on the adapter identifier and transmit the action to the adapter. The broker also receives the reaction from the adapter and transmit the reaction to the application. The adapter is configured to acquire the data from the industrial automation environment based on an adapter instruction in the action, generate the reaction comprising the acquired data, and transmit the reaction to the broker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Nicholas J. Marangoni, Stephen C. Briant, Sonal R. Dubey, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Paul C. Whitten, Deepa S. Bekal
  • Patent number: 10571879
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software to facilitate management of industrial operations are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a portable HMI device is connected to a display system via a video interface, wherein the video interface provides interchangeability between a plurality of different display systems. A plurality of applications is stored in the portable HMI device. A remote navigation interface of the portable HMI device receives a selection transmitted from a remote navigation device, wherein the selection is associated with an industrial operation application of the applications displayed on the display system. The portable HMI device processes the selection of the industrial operation application and responsively executes the industrial operation application to communicate with an application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Subbian Govindaraj
  • Patent number: 10571898
    Abstract: An automation control system is provided that includes a distributed automation component that receives and processes delta scripts describing state changes to one or more objects of a persistent object model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Reid, Joseph Bronikowski, Subbian Govindaraj, Taryl Jasper, Michael Kalan, Steven John Kowal, Kenneth Plache, Douglas J. Reichard, Charles Rischar, Christopher E. Stanek
  • Patent number: 10545492
    Abstract: An industrial data indexing system facilitates discovery and indexing of plant-wide data residing on multiple different data platforms. The indexing system automatically inventories industrial devices and other data sources located throughout a plant, and identifies available data items on each data source. The indexing system indexes the discovered data items in a federated data model that can subsequently be searched to locate data items or tags of interest. The federated data model records references to data items found on different types of data sources, including but not limited to industrial controller programs, human-machine interface applications, data historians, device documentation stores, inventory tracking systems, and other such data sources. The search system also caches selected portions of the data model to a user's personal device to allow these portion of the model to be accessed locally on the user's device without being online with the higher level indexing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi-Duran, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10528021
    Abstract: A multi-platform industrial search and notification system performs automated and manually initiate information searches across multiple disparate industrial data platforms. The search system is built on a search platform that unifies plant-wide control system information from multiple diverse sources under a common namespace, or federated data model. The system can monitor this federated data model for conditions that may warrant attention by plant personnel, and deliver proactive notifications and operational data to selected users via their personal devices. The system can customize presentation of this data based on the user's role, location, and/or other contextual information. To this end, the system can automatically generate user-specific and context-specific dashboards, widgets, or other visualizations, and render these custom visualizations to the user at appropriate times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave
  • Publication number: 20190339668
    Abstract: Blockchain-enabled industrial devices and associated systems are configured to support the use of industrial blockchains in connection with product and machine tracking, subscription-based industrial services, device lifecycle management, and other functions. Collections of industrial devices can collectively serve as an industrial blockchain system, with multiple such systems within a supply chain yielding an industrial blockchain ecosystem. This architecture can create distributed, decentralized, tamper-proof records of manufacturing statistics for a product, a product's history within the larger supply chain, industrial asset usage histories that can be leveraged in connection with lifecycle management, machine usage history for use in connection with subscription-based machine operation, and other such information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Tim S. Biernat, Juergen K. Weinhofer, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Douglas J. Reichard, Subbian Govindaraj
  • Publication number: 20190339678
    Abstract: Blockchain-enabled industrial devices and associated systems are configured to support the use of industrial blockchains in connection with product and machine tracking, subscription-based industrial services, device lifecycle management, and other functions. Collections of industrial devices can collectively serve as an industrial blockchain system, with multiple such systems within a supply chain yielding an industrial blockchain ecosystem. This architecture can create distributed, decentralized, tamper-proof records of manufacturing statistics for a product, a product's history within the larger supply chain, industrial asset usage histories that can be leveraged in connection with lifecycle management, machine usage history for use in connection with subscription-based machine operation, and other such information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Tim S. Biernat, Juergen K. Weinhofer, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Douglas J. Reichard, Subbian Govindaraj
  • Publication number: 20190340269
    Abstract: Blockchain-enabled industrial devices and associated systems are configured to support the use of industrial blockchains in connection with product and machine tracking, subscription-based industrial services, device lifecycle management, and other functions. Collections of industrial devices can collectively serve as an industrial blockchain system, with multiple such systems within a supply chain yielding an industrial blockchain ecosystem. This architecture can create distributed, decentralized, tamper-proof records of manufacturing statistics for a product, a product's history within the larger supply chain, industrial asset usage histories that can be leveraged in connection with lifecycle management, machine usage history for use in connection with subscription-based machine operation, and other such information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Tim S. Biernat, Juergen K. Weinhofer, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Douglas J. Reichard, Subbian Govindaraj
  • Patent number: 10467072
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software disclosed herein relate to a common gateway platform system. In an implementation, program instructions direct a computing system to execute a common gateway platform environment comprising an adapter comprising an adapter name identification, a broker connected to the adapter, and an application connected to the adapter. The application also generates an action configured according to a common gateway platform protocol, transmit the action to the broker, and receive a reaction from the broker. The broker is configured to identify the adapter based on the adapter identifier and transmit the action to the adapter. The broker also receives the reaction from the adapter and transmit the reaction to the application. The adapter is configured to acquire the data from the industrial automation environment based on an adapter instruction in the action, generate the reaction comprising the acquired data, and transmit the reaction to the broker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Nicholas J. Marangoni, Stephen C. Briant, Sonal R. Dubey, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Paul C. Whitten, Deepa S. Bekal
  • Patent number: 10401839
    Abstract: An industrial workflow tracking and identification system captures optimal employee workflows for addressing maintenance issues or operating industrial systems, and renders these workflows at appropriate times in order to guide operators and maintenance personnel through optimal sequences for carrying out operations or addressing maintenance issues. The system monitors and indexes both plant-wide system data as well as employee behaviors, and identifies correlations between operational outcomes and user workflows. In this way, the system tracks and captures optimal employee workflows for addressing particular maintenance issues, performing certain procedures, or achieving preferred production outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi-Duran, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica L. Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190258863
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to industrial automation systems, and, more particularly, to collecting video streams from a variety of video devices in an industrial environment, identifying and analyzing potential problems in the industrial environment using the video streams, and presenting the video streams and data associated with the potential problem to appropriate recipients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi, Christopher Wayne Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael John Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica L. Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave
  • Publication number: 20190204805
    Abstract: An automation control system is provided that includes one or more components. The components include an embedded execution engine that is configured to execute one or more commands based upon data communicated to the one or more components from another component of the automation control system. The data is representative of a change to an object in the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph Bronikowski, Michael D. Kalan, Steven John Kowal, Subbian Govindaraj, Taryl J. Jasper, Kenneth S. Plache, Douglas w. Reid, Charles Rischar
  • Patent number: 10325155
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to industrial automation systems, and, more particularly, to collecting video streams from a variety of video devices in an industrial environment, identifying and analyzing potential problems in the industrial environment using the video streams, and presenting the video streams and data associated with the potential problem to appropriate recipients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi, Christopher Wayne Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael John Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica L. Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave
  • Patent number: 10319128
    Abstract: A industrial visualization system generates augmented reality presentations for rendering on a user's wearable computer as the user traverses an industrial facility. The system can leverage data indexed in a federated data model that unifies plant-wide data from multiple diverse sources under a common namespace. By leveraging the unified plant data and interacting with a wearable computer worn by a user, the augmented reality presentation system provides automation system data, notifications, and proactive guidance to a user via modification of the user's view of his or her immediate surroundings. Such modifications can include superimposing data values or indicators on the user's view of a machine or automation system through the user's wearable computer. The system can customize presentation of this information based on the user's role, location, line of sight, type of wearable device, and/or other contextual information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi-Duran, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica L. Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10318570
    Abstract: An industrial search and diagnosis system discovers available data items across heterogeneous data platforms that make up an industrial enterprise and indexes the data items in a unified searchable namespace. The system also indexes non-textual or multimedia input, including image data, video data, and audio data. This multimedia data can be indexed by the system in association with the relevant industrial systems (e.g., machines, automation systems, devices, production lines, etc.) so that the system can provide the multimedia data to the user when the relevant industrial systems are searched or invoked. The system also accepts and processes multimedia data from as search criteria or for diagnostic analysis. In an example analysis, users can submit images, audio, or video of an industrial machine or automation system, and the diagnosis system can identify an operational abnormality based on comparative analysis performed on the multimedia information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi-Duran, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica L. Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190171342
    Abstract: Techniques to facilitate interactions with industrial devices in an industrial automation environment are disclosed herein. In at least one implementation, a realtime communication connection is established through a common gateway platform to an industrial controller. A realtime notification message is received comprising industrial data and display instructions encoded into a text string generated by the industrial controller, the display instructions comprising display properties for the industrial data that specify how to display the industrial data on a computing device. The text string is processed to generate and render a display of the industrial data for display on the computing device according to the display properties provided in the display instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Deepa S. Bekal, Nicholas J. Marangoni, Ike C. Mao, Dan W. Guendelsberger, Brian J. Gelly
  • Patent number: 10313281
    Abstract: An automated industrial notification platform creates a link between a given industrial asset and one or more people or support entities qualified to provide support for the asset. An industrial device or machine stores electronic expert tag information that records and catalogs one or more support people or entities to be notified in response to detection of various types of performance or maintenance issues. The tag can include the experts' identities, contact information, roles relative to the industrial asset, event priorities, and other relevant information. Since the tag is stored in a memory location of the industrial asset, the tag travels with the asset so that experts are globally associated with the asset regardless of the asset's location. Notification components integrated with the industrial asset detect conditions that may require expert assistance, and send an automated notification to one or more experts identified by the tag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharon M. Billi, Christopher W. Como, Edward A. Gray, Kyle K. Reissner, Jonathan D. Walter, Mohit Singhai, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Ronald E. Bliss, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jessica Korpela, Bruce T. McCleave
  • Patent number: 10281894
    Abstract: Graphic element definitions are bound to industrial automation data types in an industrial control system. Moreover, a system provides automatic data searching and filtering of an item based on user interactions with either the graphic element definition or a controller data type. Further, a graphic element definition is associated with a data source type information, to simplify configuration of an instance of that graphic element and populate suitable data source fields based on instances of the associated data source type. In addition, a system to automatically generate the graphic element based on data from a logic controller is provided. Moreover, the graphic element can be updated to reflect a change in the data, without a manual refresh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Scott Plache, Steven John Kowal, Michael D. Kalan, Joseph Bronikowski, Douglas J. Reichard, Christopher E. Stanek, Reginald W. Sprecher