Abstract: An advertisement selection and delivery system for selecting advertisements based on profile information and rendering the advertisements as accessible to a user operating a network-capable appliance connected to a data-packet-network is provided. The system comprises, a first server node connected to the network, the first server node functioning as a user access point on the network, a mass storage repository accessible to the first server node, the repository for storing and serving user profile data, a second server node connected to the network, the second server node for generating user preference data, at least one advertisement server connected to the network, the advertisement server for serving advertisement data, a software application for generating user preference lists and performing advertisement selection and at least one network-capable appliance connected to the network the network-capable appliance for receiving the advertisement data.

Abstract: A method to control a unit of a technical apparatus, where the apparatus can be operated in a plurality of operating circumstances in which the unit is controlled with a control command belonging to respective operating circumstance in order to active an operating mode associated with the operating circumstance The apparatus comprises a control unit having a program installed, this control program defining a framework comprising fundamental logical components with which information to describe the operating circumstances are prepared. A file describing the unit is present that comprises a logic unit comprising a logical expression as well as the associated control command, the logical expression defining one of the operating circumstances. The logical expression is read from the file into the control unit; a query of the logical expression identifies the operating circumstance, the logical expression defining one of the operating circumstances. The corresponding control command is subsequently output.

Abstract: A monitor with an adjustable angle and operating method thereof. The monitor includes a rotation component to control display angle, an OSD (On Screen Display) module, a microprocessor and a motor. The OSD module provides an interface from which a target angle can be selected, and the OSD module transmits a first control signal corresponding to the target angle to the microprocessor. The microprocessor transmits a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal to the motor. The motor drives the rotation component to automatically adjust angle of the monitor to the target angle according to the second control signal.

Abstract: The invention may be broadly conceptualized as an approach in which a coffeemaker (116) receives a plurality of timer settings from a network and communicates the state of the coffeemaker (116) to another network device while keeping a real-time clock (1112) synchronized and correctly set by receiving period time synchronization messages.

Abstract: In a method of adjusting a process control device wherein a closed loop system comprising a control subject and external compensator is approximated by a transfer function expressed by the time constant of a first-order delay filter and a dead time, adjustment is effected by displaying the step response of the closed loop system as a first response, displaying the step response of a model transfer function of the closed loop system as a second response in superimposed fashion with the first response, adjusting the respective parameters so that the difference of the first response and the second response is within a prescribed evaluation standard range, and performing prescribed conversion and setting of this model parameter as a control parameter of the controller, so that the response of the process control device is within a prescribed evaluation standard range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus providing, controlling and managing a dynamically sized, highly scalable and available server farm are disclosed. A Virtual Server Farm (VSF) is created out of a wide scale computing fabric (“Computing Grid”) which is physically constructed once and then logically divided up into VSFs for various organizations on demand. Each organization retains independent administrative control of a VSF. A VSF is dynamically firewalled within the Computing Grid. Allocation and control of the elements in the VSF is performed by a control plane connected to all computing, networking, and storage elements in the computing grid through special control ports. The internal topology of each VSF is under control of the control plane. A request queue architecture is also provided for processing work requests that allows selected requests to be blocked until required human intervention is satisfied.

Abstract: A system and method for programming a plurality of agents onto a distributed control system are disclosed. The system includes a terminal that displays a graphical user interface having a plurality of images. The plurality of images includes a first image showing a plurality of selectable templates and at least a first mechanism by which first user input signals can be received concerning the templates, where the templates include agent-type programming, and a second image showing a representation of controllable devices and at least a second mechanism by which second user input signals can be received concerning associations between the templates and the representation. The system further includes a processing device that generates executable programming to be performed by the distributed control system based upon the templates and the associations, where the executable programming at least partly governs agent-type behavior of the distributed control system.

Abstract: A method of operating a control device having a setpoint value, an error signal, and a control output is disclosed. The error signal is representative of a difference between a controlled variable and the setpoint value, the control output operable to affect the controlled variable. The method includes generating the control output based at least in part on the error signal and holding the control output at a held value independent of the error signal when the error signal is within a dead zone. The method also includes causing an integrating portion within the control device to track the error signal and the held value when the error signal is within the dead zone.

Abstract: A process data management system (1) has a number of modules (2 –6) each of which can operate independently to capture, process, and record process data from machines (P1–P6). The modules also communicate with each other via a messaging service (21, 40) so that data can be routed between components (22 –24, 42, 43, 45) of different modules using the Push mechanism. A Graphical data object (GDO) server (25, 45, 46) downloads applet instances to user browsers in response to the browser addressing a URL. The applet generates an output display in chart form of real time processed data.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer fabrication system that includes at least a track system and a scanner system compensates for deviations from nominal periodicity in the scanner system by dynamically introducing time delays when such deviations are detected. Preferably prior art static wait states are also introduced into the wafer recipe to reduce probability of resource conflicts. The resultant semiconductor wafer fabrication system can enjoy enhanced wafer throughput in that synchronization of wafer flow is maintained, despite such deviations.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for real-time monitoring and control of field assets. A monitoring device may be coupled to a field asset to determine the occurrence of one or more error conditions. Error conditions may be detected either as they occur or by testing the field asset at timed intervals. Upon detection of one or more error conditions, the monitoring device may initiate one or more corrective sequences to resolve the error condition. Alternatively, the monitoring device may notify a network operations center of the detected error condition. Users may access the network operations center via an Internet-enabled remote device. From the Internet-enabled remote device, the user may view status information concerning one or more field assets. The user may also use the Internet-enabled remote device to instruct the network operations center to issue commands to be executed by the monitoring device such that the error conditions on the field asset may be corrected.

Abstract: A communications interface system and method for a plasma generator is provided. The communications interface system includes a power delivery system component that has a standard POD interface for communicating information that complies with a first protocol. A portable device is coupled between the standard POD interface and a second communication interface for communicating information therebetween. The second communication interface communicates information in a format that complies with a second protocol. The portable device is detachable from the standard POD interface and the second communication interface. A first communication link couples the standard POD interface to the portable device. A second communication link couples the portable device to the second communication interface.

Abstract: Power line monitoring is disclosed. The monitoring can be performed in conjunction with an automation system designed to control and monitor devices and sensors. Model-based power line monitoring uses a model of acceptable power line activity. Activity that does not conform to the model is tagged as indicating a potential problem. Pattern-based power line monitoring uses patterns of unacceptable power line activity. Activity that matches one of the patterns is also tagged as indicating a potential problem.

Abstract: A single-input multi-output control system particularly useful to equally distributing the noise effects and/or the parametric variations among the multiple outputs, comprising two or more control sub-systems, each of said two or more control sub-systems having a corresponding error node (Nei) and an output (Yi) coincident with one of said multiple outputs, and an auxiliary node (Nc) adapted to connect said error nodes (Nei) with one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for programming an automation system. To avoid conversion errors and to guarantee data during the programming of an automated system, a graphic description by means of pulse timing diagrams is used to generate a program of the automation system, in particular the program of a memory programmable control. Modifications of the pulse timing diagrams thus lead directly to modifications of the program of the memory programmable control, without the need for a renewed conversion that potentially contains errors.

Abstract: A system for providing technical support for remote automation or remote control devices, the system including: a device identifier (35), for determining components of pre-determined automation or control devices, such as for example programmable logic controllers, indicated in a device database (33), by periodically querying the devices for component hardware, software, and firmware, and for providing thereby the device database (33) with component identifications for the predetermined devices; and a device configuration manager (36), responsive to the component identifications and further responsive to available device components in a database (34) of available device components, for comparing the installed and available device components and for providing an offer to upgrade installed device components; and also typically including a system diagnostics manager (32), responsive to the component identifications, and further responsive to diagnostics information in a diagnostics database (31), for providing d

Abstract: A method and a corresponding system for enabling the sending of messages to a recipient via any of a number of messaging systems of different types are disclosed. In the method addresses for said recipient are stored. Furthermore, recipient availability information is received from the messaging systems. The recipient availability information is interpreted so as to determine in which of the messaging systems the recipient is currently available. Furthermore, an originator input including an identification of the recipient is received and an address among the stored addresses that are associated with messaging systems in which the recipient is currently available is chosen. Finally, the messaging system associated with the chosen address is identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control any one of a plurality of devices. The method comprises, for each device of the plurality, receiving a definition language. The definition language including a command description to be associated with the device. The method further comprises accepting input from a user. The method further comprises generating one or more control signals for at least one of the devices of the plurality. The generating is to control the at least one of the devices according to the accepted input. The generating uses the definition language and the accepted input.

Abstract: The loadability of technology object types into a run time system of an industrial controller permits functional expansion of the basic system of the controller as well as technological scaling of the controller. The loaded technology object types are instantiable, and may be distributed, as needed. Technology object types may be loaded in the form of technology packages and a user may use the functionality of the invention directly in a user program with a separation between technological functionality and device functionality.

Abstract: A multivariable control system provides regulation for a plurality of control variables of interest based on selecting a particular one of the variables for regulation relative to a corresponding setpoint, while continuing to monitor the other variables and switching regulation control over to another one of the variables as needed to maintain all of them within their allowed ranges. The system includes one or more PID regulators that tune themselves for the particular variables selected for regulation control. In an exemplary embodiment, the control system is configured for controlling an alternative energy system, wherein it includes one or more power flow devices that control power flow between electrical energy storage devices (EESDs) and a common dc bus and/or power flow between the dc bus and an external ac electrical system.