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).

  • Publication number: 20160179090
    Abstract: An automation control and monitoring system includes a server configured to receive a subscription request from a client component. The subscription request provides one or more criteria to the server. The server is configured to provide a set of data, via a first notification, to the client component based upon the one or more criteria in the subscription request. The server is configured to provide, via additional notifications based on the subscription request, additional sets of data, modifications to the set of data, or both, when additional data or modifications corresponding to the one or more criteria are available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Plache, Joseph Bronikowski, Taryl J. Jasper, Michael D. Kalan, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 9363336
    Abstract: A cloud-aware smart device that facilitates automated configuration and integration of the device within an automation system is provided. Upon installation within the automation system, the smart device determines its geographical location, identifies other devices on the system, and determines its role within the system. The smart device then establishes communication with a cloud platform running one or more cloud-based applications or services and sends a device profile containing the gathered information to the cloud platform. The device profile can be used to automatically configure the device for operation within the system or to add the smart device to an existing cloud-based application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Publication number: 20160132595
    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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald E. Bliss, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Jonathan D. Walter, Jessica L. Korpela
  • Publication number: 20160132538
    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 indexing system also discovers and records interdependencies between data items, which can be used to improve relevancy of search results returned to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Ronald E. Bliss, Douglas J. Reichard, Scott N. Sandler, Michael J. Pantaleano, Ryan Cahalane, Mohit Singhai, Bruce T. McCleave
  • Patent number: 9285800
    Abstract: An automation control and monitoring system includes a server configured to receive a subscription request from a client component. The subscription request provides one or more criteria to the server. The server is configured to provide a set of data, via a first notification, to the client component based upon the one or more criteria in the subscription request. The server is configured to provide, via additional notifications based on the subscription request, additional sets of data, modifications to the set of data, or both, when additional data or modifications corresponding to the one or more criteria are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Plache, Joseph Bronikowski, Taryl J. Jasper, Michael D. Kalan, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 9261877
    Abstract: Aspects describe multiple machine interfaces that provide automated implementations of a host that executes at least one service. The service comprises internal aspects, which include a reusable definition and a specification, which are hidden from a user or selectively exposed but not modifiable by the user. Functional connections and controls are provided for the automated implementations of the host. Platform configurations, which include the at least one service, interact with the automated implementation of the host. One or more functionalities of the functional connections can be selectively exposed based on a user credential. The automated implementation of the host comprises execution of the at least one service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 9250897
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods that facilitate display, selection, and management of context associated with execution of add-on instructions. The systems and methods track add-on instruction calls and provide a user with call and data context, wherein the user can select a particular add-on instruction context from a plurality of contexts in order to observe values and/or edit parameters associated with the add-on instruction. The add-on instruction context can include information such as instances of data for particular lines of execution, the add-on instruction called, a caller of the instruction, a location of the instruction call, references to complex data types and objects, etc. The systems and methods further provide a technique for automatic routine selection based on the add-on instruction state information such that the add-on instruction executed corresponds to a current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Jarrett, John E. Belcher, Russell W. Brandes, Jeffery W. Brooks, Bruce A. Christensen, Keith M. Hogan, Michael D. Kalan, Douglas J. Reichard, Diane N. Ritchie, Thomas G. Rodano, Mark E. Taylor, Rae M. White
  • Patent number: 9239573
    Abstract: A mechanism for mapping data between different hierarchies within an industrial automation system facilitates the user of the different hierarchies. For example, the mechanism can include at least: locating an instance of data within a first hierarchical tree; and mapping the instance of the data within the first hierarchical tree to an instance of the data within a second hierarchical tree. The first hierarchical tree and the second hierarchical tree include instances of the same data arranged in different structural organizations. Utilizing the mechanism, when an instance of data in the first hierarchical tree is changed, a corresponding instance of the data in the second hierarchical tree can be updated according to the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 9217998
    Abstract: System(s), apparatus(es) and method(s) are provided for to managing and developing an industrial system included in the industrial environment. Intelligence related to a configuration of the industrial system is collected and processed to generate information related to operational condition(s) of the industrial system. Intelligence can be collected actively or passively: In active collection, a platform that collects the intelligence retrieves configuration record(s) from the industrial system, whereas in passive collection, the platform received one or more configuration records from the industrial automation system. Collected intelligence is cast into a set of configuration units that defines industrial system and functionality thereof. In addition, a set of services configured to convey specific functionality associated with at least one configuration unit is composed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Publication number: 20150341469
    Abstract: A library of cloud templates for configuring cloud-based industrial solutions is provided. A cloud template provisioning system provides a platform for location and retrieval of a variety of cloud templates that facilitate configuration of cloud-based industrial applications, including control panel templates, dashboard templates, data historian templates, virtual machine management templates, and other such templates. The cloud templates can be installed and executed on a client device to provide an intuitive interface for configuring various aspects of the cloud-based solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9128479
    Abstract: An automation control and monitoring system includes an operating system and a data model. The operating system is configured to receive a request for instantiation of an object representing an attribute of the automation control and monitoring system. The operating system is also configured to generate an object identifier when the request for instantiation is received, wherein the object identifier is unique from any other object identifiers employed by the operating system. The data model is configured to store and associate the object with the generated object identifier such that any component of the automation control and monitoring system may access the object by referencing the object identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Douglas W. Reid, Kenneth S. Plache, Michael D. Kalan, Taryl J. Jasper, Joseph Bronikowski
  • Patent number: 9128472
    Abstract: A library of cloud templates for configuring cloud-based industrial solutions is provided. A cloud template provisioning system provides a platform for location and retrieval of a variety of cloud templates that facilitate configuration of cloud-based industrial applications, including control panel templates, dashboard templates, data historian templates, virtual machine management templates, and other such templates. The cloud templates can be installed and executed on a client device to provide an intuitive interface for configuring various aspects of the cloud-based solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9058032
    Abstract: Aspects describe an apparatus, method and system for constructing an application in an industrial automation system. An identification component can receive at least one requirement of the application. Based upon the at least one requirement, the identification component can select at least one service that satisfies the at least one requirement. The at least one service can be associated with at least one operational requirement. The identification component can match at least one host to the at least one service by matching the at least one operational requirement with at least one capability of the at least one service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Publication number: 20140343696
    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: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20140310730
    Abstract: Aspects describe multiple interface support that provides dynamic switching between new and old interface revisions. A first interface application is selected from a set of alternative interface applications for an industrial automation system. Support for each interface application included in the set of alternative interface applications is provided. A second interface application is downloaded and associated with the first interface application. The second interface application is enabled during runtime. If needed, the second interface application can be selectively disabled and an operation resumed with the first interface application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 8798775
    Abstract: System(s), device(s), and method(s) provide bi-directional mechanisms for binding graphic element definitions to industrial automation data types in an industrial control system. Moreover, a system that automatically provides data searching and filtering of an item based on user interactions with either the graphic element definition or a controller data type is provided. 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: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    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
  • Patent number: 8776092
    Abstract: Aspects describe multiple interface support that provides dynamic switching between new and old interface revisions. A first interface application is selected from a set of alternative interface applications for an industrial automation system. Support for each interface application included in the set of alternative interface applications is provided. A second interface application is downloaded and associated with the first interface application. The second interface application is enabled during runtime. If needed, the second interface application can be selectively disabled and an operation resumed with the first interface application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Patent number: 8732658
    Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for implementing a set of interface components across a set of layers of an industrial environment, and for managing at least one interface component or at least one layer of the industrial environment. To implement an interface component in at least one layer in the set of layers, a specification that defines the interface component is acquired and, based at least on the specification, a service is generated. Execution of the service implements the interface component. The managing includes deploying or discovering the at least one interface component or the at least one layer of the industrial environment. The managing also includes indexing specific functional feature(s) of the at least one interface component and searching across the set of layers for one or more interface components that satisfy specific functional criteria. Moreover, the managing can include supplying metadata related to interface component(s) or layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Plache, Daniel B. Seger, III, Raymond Staron, Robert J. Kretschmann, Taryl Jasper, James Harry Jarrett, Russell Brandes, Ronald Bliss, Michael Kalan, Subbian Govindaraj, Kenwood Hall, Douglas J. Reichard
  • Publication number: 20130297050
    Abstract: A manager (or master) application can facilitate navigation between different slave applications used in connection with an industrial automation system and manipulation of the different applications. For example, the manager application can at least: display the first application and the second application at different organizational locations within the manager application and provide a common menu to the first application and the second application. According to an input to the common menu, a variety of actions can be performed by the first application or the second application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Juergen Weinhofer
  • Publication number: 20130275908
    Abstract: A mechanism for mapping data between different hierarchies within an industrial automation system facilitates the user of the different hierarchies. For example, the mechanism can include at least: locating an instance of data within a first hierarchical tree; and mapping the instance of the data within the first hierarchical tree to an instance of the data within a second hierarchical tree. The first hierarchical tree and the second hierarchical tree include instances of the same data arranged in different structural organizations. Utilizing the mechanism, when an instance of data in the first hierarchical tree is changed, a corresponding instance of the data in the second hierarchical tree can be updated according to the change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas J. Reichard