Patents by Inventor Joseph Francis Mann
Joseph Francis Mann 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).
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Patent number: 10230784Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, such as objects configured in accordance with object-oriented programming concepts. A query from a general purpose viewer is received by the interface device, such as originating from a configuration station where the general purpose viewer is operative. The query is interpreted by server-side scripting executed in the interface device to identify the device elements and to display visual representations of the device elements in a design-time environment. The design-time environment and the visual representations are then transmitted to a configuration station. The device elements, their properties and functionalities may be altered by means of the design-time environment and the server-side scripting to create interface screens, alter device elements and their properties and functions, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 9927792Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating editing of editable code in an interface device or similar apparatus. Properties of device elements are enumerated by a general purpose engine resident on the interface device. The general purpose engine enumerates the properties in response to a query in a design-time environment. The device element includes a specific property type and editable code consistent with the property type. A server module on the device serves the editable code and an editing environment from the interface device to a configuration station. The code can be edited on the configuration station in the editing environment and restored to the interface device. The technique alleviates the need for separate editing software or storage of the editable code in any location other than on the interface device itself.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Clinton Duane Britt, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista K. Mann
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Patent number: 9740194Abstract: A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Krista Kummerfeldt Mann, Robert F. Lloyd, Steven Mark Cisler, Clinton D. Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 9292309Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring and interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, each having visual representation and a state engine defining a functionality. A server module in the interface device receives a query from a user viewable screen that includes the visual representations. The server module serves the user viewable screen to a general purpose viewer or browser, which may include a design-time environment. An access module, then, prompts each device to send an image defining its visual representation to a memory display context for inclusion in the user viewable screen. The access module works without reference to the respective functionality of the device elements.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Publication number: 20150193106Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. Individual device elements are stored on the interface device and each element includes a functionality and a visual representation. A general purpose engine resident on the interface device enumerates properties of the device elements in response to a query in a design-time environment. Design-time environment may be served to a general purpose computer working as a configuration station. The general purpose engine is independent of the device elements enumerated. A user viewable screen is then generated for viewing in the design-time environment, with the potential for altering properties of the enumerated device elements. The viewable screen and design-time environment may be displayed in a general purpose viewer or browser by collecting the visual representations associated with the device elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista Mann, Clinton Duane Britt
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Publication number: 20150081781Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, such as objects configured in accordance with object-oriented programming concepts. A query from a general purpose viewer is received by the interface device, such as originating from a configuration station where the general purpose viewer is operative. The query is interpreted by server-side scripting executed in the interface device to identify the device elements and to display visual representations of the device elements in a design-time environment. The design-time environment and the visual representations are then transmitted to a configuration station. The device elements, their properties and functionalities may be altered by means of the design-time environment and the server-side scripting to create interface screens, alter device elements and their properties and functions, and so forth.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 8984423Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. Individual device elements are stored on the interface device and each element includes a functionality and a visual representation. A general purpose engine resident on the interface device enumerates properties of the device elements in response to a query in a design-time environment. Design-time environment may be served to a general purpose computer working as a configuration station. The general purpose engine is independent of the device elements enumerated. A user viewable screen is then generated for viewing in the design-time environment, with the potential for altering properties of the enumerated device elements. The viewable screen and design-time environment may be displayed in a general purpose viewer or browser by collecting the visual representations associated with the device elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista Mann, Clinton Duane Britt
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Publication number: 20150045918Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating editing of editable code in an interface device or similar apparatus. Properties of device elements are enumerated by a general purpose engine resident on the interface device. The general purpose engine enumerates the properties in response to a query in a design-time environment. The device element includes a specific property type and editable code consistent with the property type. A server module on the device serves the editable code and an editing environment from the interface device to a configuration station. The code can be edited on the configuration station in the editing environment and restored to the interface device. The technique alleviates the need for separate editing software or storage of the editable code in any location other than on the interface device itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Clinton Duane Britt, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista K. Mann
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Patent number: 8918733Abstract: A technique is provided for enhancing the performance of an interface device. A collection of device elements having properties including a visual representation and a functionality are instantiated in a global container. The global container includes the device elements that are required for various screen views. Device elements that are not required in a currently displayed screen view are torn off in the global container so that memory and processing requirements are reduced, while increasing the speed and performance of the interface, particularly in switching between screen views.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 8898123Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, such as objects configured in accordance with object-oriented programming concepts. A query from a general purpose viewer is received by the interface device, such as originating from a configuration station where the general purpose viewer is operative. The query is interpreted by server-side scripting executed in the interface device to identify the device elements and to display visual representations of the device elements in a design-time environment. The design-time environment and the visual representations are then transmitted to a configuration station. The device elements, their properties and functionalities may be altered by means of the design-time environment and the server-side scripting to create interface screens, alter device elements and their properties and functions, and so forth.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 8875040Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating editing of editable code in an interface device or similar apparatus. Properties of device elements are enumerated by a general purpose engine resident on the interface device. The general purpose engine enumerates the properties in response to a query in a design-time environment. The device element includes a specific property type and editable code consistent with the property type. A server module on the device serves the editable code and an editing environment from the interface device to a configuration station. The code can be edited on the configuration station in the editing environment and restored to the interface device. The technique alleviates the need for separate editing software or storage of the editable code in any location other than on the interface device itself.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Clinton Duane Britt, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista Mann
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Patent number: 8819548Abstract: An operator interface system with respect to an industrial automation device comprises text/symbol translation strings persisted in a computer-readable medium for utilization with the operator interface system. An interface component relays the translation strings to a client device that includes fonts that enables the client device to graphically render text/symbols abstracted by the translation strings in a desired language. For example, the translation strings can be Unicode strings.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Clinton Duane Britt
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Patent number: 8639491Abstract: An emulator is provided for an interface device. The emulator includes all functional software of the physical interface device, including configuration software, operating system, design-time environment, run-time engine, and so forth. Device elements, which may be standard COM elements objects, may be configured via the emulator, as may particular interface screens, applications, and so forth. The emulator may be used to try interface devices before their specification for a particular product. The emulator may also be used to develop software and interface screens that will be downloaded to interface device hardware prior to product introduction, thereby facilitating and improving time-market for new product introductions.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, Clinton Duane Britt, Steven Mark Cisler, Robert F. Lloyd, Krista Mann
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Publication number: 20120240049Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring and interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, each having visual representation and a state engine defining a functionality. A server module in the interface device receives a query from a user viewable screen that includes the visual representations. The server module serves the user viewable screen to a general purpose viewer or browser, which may include a design-time environment. An access module, then, prompts each device to send an image defining its visual representation to a memory display context for inclusion in the user viewable screen. The access module works without reference to the respective functionality of the device elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 8200931Abstract: A software installation system comprises an interface component that receives a request to access data resident upon a flash memory card. An installation component compares a unique identifier associated with the data with a unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card, and the installation component determines whether to allow access to the data based at least in part upon the comparison. The installation component prohibits access to the data if the unique identifier associated with the data does not match the unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, William N. Schroeder
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Patent number: 8151196Abstract: A technique is provided for configuring and interface device. The interface device includes a plurality of device elements, each having visual representation and a state engine defining a functionality. A server module in the interface device receives a query from a user viewable screen that includes the visual representations. The server module serves the user viewable screen to a general purpose viewer or browser, which may include a design-time environment. An access module, then, prompts each device to send an image defining its visual representation to a memory display context for inclusion in the user viewable screen. The access module works without reference to the respective functionality of the device elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Clinton Duane Britt, Joseph Francis Mann
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Publication number: 20110231939Abstract: A software installation system comprises an interface component that receives a request to access data resident upon a flash memory card. An installation component compares a unique identifier associated with the data with a unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card, and the installation component determines whether to allow access to the data based at least in part upon the comparison. The installation component prohibits access to the data if the unique identifier associated with the data does not match the unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, William N. Schroeder
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Patent number: 7971017Abstract: A software installation system comprises an interface component that receives a request to access data resident upon a flash memory card. An installation component compares a unique identifier associated with the data with a unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card, and the installation component determines whether to allow access to the data based at least in part upon the comparison. The installation component prohibits access to the data if the unique identifier associated with the data does not match the unique identifier embedded within the flash memory card.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Francis Mann, William N. Schroeder
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Patent number: 7966427Abstract: An electrical device may be configured by coupling the device to a human machine interface (HMI) that is equipped with software for interacting with a configuration station. The software may include components that can enumerate properties of objects on the device to be configured. The device to be configured provides a file to the server-enabled HMI, such as a schema file. The server-enabled HMI then enumerates properties of the objects or otherwise provides an indication of the properties to the configuration station. The properties may be altered by a user at the configuration station. The reconfigured properties are then transmitted from the server-enabled HMI back to the device to be configured.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Francis Mann
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Patent number: 7962659Abstract: A configurable HMI is coupled to a configuration station and to one or more networked components, such as an industrial controller. Connections may be established with the networked component, such as to read from or write to registers within the component. A list of available connections or registers is accessed from the component by the HMI. The HMI then tabulates or otherwise presents the information in a listing to the configuration station. The configuration station may then be used to select a connection from the listing to alter programming of the HMI to establish the connection.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Joseph Francis Mann