Patents by Inventor Rainer Hessmer

Rainer Hessmer 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: 9709978
    Abstract: A cloud-based virtualization generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial automation systems of multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. A virtualization management component (VMC) generates a virtualized industrial automation system of an industrial automation system based on data analysis results. The VMC facilitates remotely controlling the industrial automation system based on user interactions with the virtualized industrial automation system, and updates the virtualized industrial automation system based on collected data relating to the industrial automation system. The VMC customizes a user's view of the virtualized industrial automation system based on a user's role, authorization, location, or preferences, wherein different views of the virtualized industrial automation system with different data overlays are presented on different communication devices of different users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Patent number: 9703902
    Abstract: A cloud-based simulation generation service collects industrial data from multiple industrial customers for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service employs a simulation generator component that analyzes data to facilitate generating a simulation model that simulates an industrial automation system, including simulating or emulating industrial devices, industrial processes, other industrial assets, or network-related assets or devices, and their respective interrelationships with each other. The simulation generator component also analyzes modification data to facilitate generating a modified simulation model that simulates the industrial automation system based on the modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juan Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Nawalaniec, Bradford H. Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Sal Conti
  • Publication number: 20170103137
    Abstract: A cloud-based industrial application provisioning system is provided. The industrial application provisioning system can reside on a cloud platform and be made available to developers and end users with access privileges to the cloud platform. Application developers can publish industrial applications to an application library on the cloud platform, where the application is cataloged within an industry-specific search hierarchy. A search engine allows a user to access the cloud platform and search for a desired industrial application. The library's hierarchical catalog allows the user to search for applications according to industry type, equipment in use, automation system type, or other suitable criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9568909
    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: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9568908
    Abstract: A cloud-based industrial application provisioning system is provided. The industrial application provisioning system can reside on a cloud platform and be made available to developers and end users with access privileges to the cloud platform. Application developers can publish industrial applications to an application library on the cloud platform, where the application is cataloged within an industry-specific search hierarchy. A search engine allows a user to access the cloud platform and search for a desired industrial application. The library's hierarchical catalog allows the user to search for applications according to industry type, equipment in use, automation system type, or other suitable criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9565275
    Abstract: A cloud-compatible industrial device is provided. The industrial device generates or collects raw industrial data in connection with monitoring and/or controlling an automation system, and includes a cloud interface that couples the industrial device to one or more cloud-based services running on a cloud platform. To reduce consumption of cloud-based resources such as bandwidth and storage utilization, the industrial device can transform the raw industrial data into refined data that is amenable for cloud-based storage, computing, or analysis. Exemplary transformations include filtering, pruning, re-formatting, compressing, summarizing. In one or more embodiments, the industrial device can also add contextual metadata to the raw data prior to delivery to the cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Publication number: 20170019317
    Abstract: A cloud-based operator interface system is provided that runs as a cloud service on a cloud platform. The cloud-based operator interface system collects industrial data from one or more industrial systems via respective cloud gateway devices. A set of predefined operator interface screens are stored on cloud storage associated with the operator interface system, and delivered to authorized Internet-capable client devices upon request. The industrial data received from the cloud gateways can be delivered to the client devices from the cloud platform via the operator interface screens. Additional cloud-side services can correlate and analyzes the industrial data on the cloud platform to facilitate additional reporting, alarming, and notification features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
  • Publication number: 20160330291
    Abstract: Cloud-aware industrial devices feed robust sets of data to a cloud-based data analyzer that executes as a service in a cloud platform. In addition to industrial data generated or collected by the industrial devices, the devices can provide device profile information to the cloud-based analyzer that identifies the device and relevant configuration information. The industrial devices can also provide customer data identifying an owner of the industrial devices, contact information for the owner, active service contracts, etc. The cloud-based data analyzer leverages this information to perform a variety of custom analytics on the data and generate reports or notifications catered to the particular industrial assets' optimal performance and business goals of the owner's industrial enterprise, as well as perform real-time decision making and control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Juan L. Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Thomas Nawalaniec, Bradford Henry Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Salvatore T. Conti
  • Publication number: 20160323392
    Abstract: A cloud-compatible industrial device is provided. The industrial device generates or collects raw industrial data in connection with monitoring and/or controlling an automation system, and includes a cloud interface that couples the industrial device to one or more cloud-based services running on a cloud platform. To reduce consumption of cloud-based resources such as bandwidth and storage utilization, the industrial device can transform the raw industrial data into refined data that is amenable for cloud-based storage, computing, or analysis. Exemplary transformations include filtering, pruning, re-formatting, compressing, summarizing. In one or more embodiments, the industrial device can also add contextual metadata to the raw data prior to delivery to the cloud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9477936
    Abstract: A cloud-based operator interface system is provided that runs as a cloud service on a cloud platform. The cloud-based operator interface system collects industrial data from one or more industrial systems via respective cloud gateway devices. A set of predefined operator interface screens are stored on cloud storage associated with the operator interface system, and delivered to authorized Internet-capable client devices upon request. The industrial data received from the cloud gateways can be delivered to the client devices from the cloud platform via the operator interface screens. Additional cloud-side services can correlate and analyzes the industrial data on the cloud platform to facilitate additional reporting, alarming, and notification features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    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: 9438648
    Abstract: Cloud-aware industrial devices feed robust sets of data to a cloud-based data analyzer that executes as a service in a cloud platform. In addition to industrial data generated or collected by the industrial devices, the devices can provide device profile information to the cloud-based analyzer that identifies the device and relevant configuration information. The industrial devices can also provide customer data identifying an owner of the industrial devices, contact information for the owner, active service contracts, etc. The cloud-based data analyzer leverages this information to perform a variety of custom analytics on the data and generate reports or notifications catered to the particular industrial assets' optimal performance and business goals of the owner's industrial enterprise, as well as perform real-time decision making and control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Juan L. Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Thomas Nawalaniec, Bradford Henry Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Salvatore T. Conti
  • Publication number: 20160246292
    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: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • Patent number: 9413852
    Abstract: A cloud-capable industrial device that provides time-stamped industrial data to a cloud platform is provided. The industrial device collects or generates industrial data in connection with monitoring and/or controlling an automation system, and includes a cloud interface that couples the industrial device to one or more cloud-based services running on a cloud platform. The industrial device can apply time stamps to respective items of industrial data reflecting a time that the data was measured or generated prior to providing the data to the cloud platform. To accurately reflect temporal relationships between data sets provided to the cloud platform from different locations and time zones, the industrial device can synchronize its internal clock with a clock associated with the cloud platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
  • 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: 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: 9143563
    Abstract: A distributed and scalable data historian framework is provided that allows historian functionality to be efficiently incorporated at various levels of an industrial enterprise. The framework includes a historian data interface system that provides a single interface and common protocol for configuring, managing, and viewing historian data located throughout a network of historian distributed across the industrial enterprise. The historian data interface system leverages a data model that models the enterprise and sources of historian data to facilitate fast and efficient retrieval of desired historian data. By unifying the distributed historians under a common framework, the data model can facilitate enterprise-level management of historian data collection and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jan Pingel, Michael John Pantaleano, Chirayu Shah, Todd M. Smith, Matthew C. Giordano, Rainer Hessmer, Kermit George Peters, Neville Patrick van der Merwe
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20150074749
    Abstract: A remote asset server allows an industrial asset (e.g., a controller, motor drive, etc.) to be remotely and securely monitored and managed by an owner of the industrial asset as well as other relevant entities, such as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The remote asset server acts as a network infrastructure device that regulates access to the industrial asset by different entities in accordance with security policies defined by an end user. These defined security policies are implemented in a cloud platform as role-specific portals by a connectivity broker, the portals serving as secure connection pipelines to the industrial asset via the remote asset server. Using this architecture, an end user can define which aspects of an industrial asset are allowed to be remotely viewed, accessed, or modified by outside entities such as OEMs or system integrators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: David A. Vasko, Sujeet Chand, Salvatore T. Conti, Rainer Hessmer, Edward Alan Hill, Taryl J. Jasper, Joseph Alan Kann, Juan L. Asenjo, Clifford J. Whitehead, JR., John Strohmenger
  • Publication number: 20140379626
    Abstract: An apparatus to predict future behavior of devices in an industrial automation environment is provided. The apparatus includes a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store program instructions, and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The program instructions direct a processor within a stream-based processing system to receive a first raw data stream from a first manufacturing data source, and to analyze the first raw data stream with respect to behavior data corresponding to the first manufacturing data source. The program instructions also direct the processor to predict future behavior of one or more device associated with the first manufacturing data source, based on the analysis of the first raw data stream and the behavior data corresponding to the first manufacturing data source, and to perform an action based on the predicted future behavior of the one or more device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Rainer Hessmer
  • Publication number: 20140337086
    Abstract: A cloud-based risk assessment service collects industrial data from multiple relevant and connected sources for storage and analysis on a cloud platform. The service analyzes gathered data from internal and external sources and customers across different industries to identify operational trends as a function of industry type, application type, equipment in use, device configurations, and other such variables. Based on the analysis, the risk assessment service identifies risk factors inherent in a customer's particular industrial enterprise. The cloud-based system generates a risk profile for the customer that identifies the determined risks and recommends risk aversion strategies based on the customer's specific profile, compared to industry standards, product information, internal business expectations, external regulatory bodies, and/or past performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwell Authomation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan L. Asenjo, John Strohmenger, Stephen Thomas Nawalaniec, Bradford Henry Hegrat, Joseph A. Harkulich, Jessica Lin Korpela, Jenifer Rydberg Wright, Rainer Hessmer, John Dyck, Edward Alan Hill, Salvatore T. Conti