Abstract: An autonomous Web server may be connected to an industrial control system to provide direct access to input and output points through connections between the Web server and the input and output points. Coordination with the programmable logic controller is implemented through a set of lock flags which prevent conflicts either between multiple Web connections or between Web connections and the control produced by the programmable logic controller.

Abstract: A new industrial control system and method are disclosed allowing for communication between multiple control devices of the system and remote devices via the Internet. The system includes a web access interface that is capable of being coupled to the remote devices via the Internet, and is coupled to the control devices by way of a network. A program executed by the interface receives an Internet signal having socket API data and formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, and extracts the data from the Internet signal. Another program executed by the interface receives the data and transmits a network signal, which includes the data but is not formatted in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol, to an appropriate one of the control devices, each of which has a respective web server program. The data is processed by the server program at the appropriate control device.

Abstract: An industrial control system includes a plurality of control devices providing control signals to direct an industrial process and a web access module including a web server, an Internet interface and a control network interface. Each of the control devices includes web page data concerning a respective web page associated with the respective control device. The Internet interface is couplable to a remote device via the Internet, and the control network interface is coupled to the control devices. The web access module is able to receive requests from the remote device to access the web pages associated with the control devices. In response to the requests, the web access module obtains the web page data concerning the web pages for which access has been requested, processes the data at the server, and sends data signals related to the data onto the Internet to be received by the remote device.