Patents by Inventor David A. Johnston

David A. Johnston 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: 20250251715
    Abstract: A method includes generating, via a containerized control application executing in a container running on computing infrastructure, a command that defines at least one characteristic of an operation of an industrial automation device in performance of an industrial automation process, transmitting the command from the containerized control application to an input/output (I/O) proxy, wherein the I/O proxy is configured to interface between the containerized control application and a physical I/O, transmitting the command from the I/O proxy to the physical I/O, wherein the physical I/O is configured to receive data from the industrial automation device and provide commands to the industrial automation device, transmitting the command from the physical I/O to the industrial automation device, and implementing, via the industrial automation device, the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2024
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Michael J. Anthony, David A. Johnston, Kyle E. Neet, Paul Brooks, Clark L. Case, Douglas B. Sumerauer, Kevin A. Fonner, Steven J. Pinard, Taryl J. Jasper, Charles M. Rischar
  • Patent number: 12066804
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also involve retrieving an image file that includes containers from a registry, such that the pod detail an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The method then involves generating a package based on the one or more containers and one or more mapped commands implementable by a control system in an operational technology (OT) domain. The mapped commands correspond to operations performable by the control system that corresponds to commands specified in the containers. The method may then involve storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Patent number: 11789794
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node, a first pod from a second computing node. The method may also include retrieving a first image file that may include a first set of containers from a registry based on the first pod. The first set of containers may cause a control system to halt operations. The method may then involve generating a first package based on the first set of containers and storing the first package in a filesystem, receiving a second pod from the second computing node, and retrieving a second image file having a second set of containers from the registry. The second pod may include the second set of containers may cause the control system to update software components. The method may also involve generating a second package based on the second set of containers and storing the second package in the filesystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Patent number: 11789785
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also include retrieving an image file comprising one or more containers from a registry, such that the pod may include an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The one or more containers may include one or more pre-analytic operations for a control system of a plurality of control systems to perform. The method may then involve generating a package based on the one or more containers and storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Patent number: 11599081
    Abstract: An industrial controller that integrates execution of a control program on the industrial controller with execution of additional functions on an external processing device is disclosed. Integrating the external processing device provides an improved system for third party development of control functions which may be unique to specific applications. The system manages communication between the industrial controller and the external processing device, manages access to data stored in the industrial controller, and makes the details of the integration transparent to the programmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Johnston, Michael J. Viste, Ryan L. Schnell
  • Publication number: 20230050765
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node, a first pod from a second computing node. The method may also include retrieving a first image file that may include a first set of containers from a registry based on the first pod. The first set of containers may cause a control system to halt operations. The method may then involve generating a first package based on the first set of containers and storing the first package in a filesystem, receiving a second pod from the second computing node, and retrieving a second image file having a second set of containers from the registry. The second pod may include the second set of containers may cause the control system to update software components. The method may also involve generating a second package based on the second set of containers and storing the second package in the filesystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Publication number: 20230018586
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to industrial controller firmware. More specifically, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for developing, deploying, and executing loadable embedded software extensions that expand controller functionality beyond that of what is available in a controller's base firmware. Systems and methods described herein provide for a firmware extension development environment, a firmware extension repository, a firmware extension deployment interface, and various firmware extension executions models. During execution of a control program within an industrial controller, when directed by the logic of the control program to perform an external function, industrial controller firmware may call an external component provided by an extension developed in accordance with the present disclosure to perform the external function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel W. Clark, Robert B. Meeker, David A. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20220391259
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also include retrieving an image file comprising one or more containers from a registry, such that the pod may include an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The one or more containers may include one or more pre-analytic operations for a control system of a plurality of control systems to perform. The method may then involve generating a package based on the one or more containers and storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Patent number: 11513877
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node, a first pod from a second computing node. The method may also include retrieving a first image file that may include a first set of containers from a registry based on the first pod. The first set of containers may cause a control system to halt operations. The method may then involve generating a first package based on the first set of containers and storing the first package in a filesystem, receiving a second pod from the second computing node, and retrieving a second image file having a second set of containers from the registry. The second pod may include the second set of containers may cause the control system to update software components. The method may also involve generating a second package based on the second set of containers and storing the second package in the filesystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Publication number: 20220334749
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive, via the processor, a command to perform a memory purge; retrieve, from non-volatile memory, via the processor, code of a purging firmware package; store, in volatile memory, via the processor, the code; execute, via the processor, the code from the volatile memory, thereby causing the processor to purge the non-volatile memory; and cycle power to the industrial automation component, wherein cycling the power comprises purging the volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Johnston, Dennis M. Wylie, James R. Copus
  • Patent number: 11474873
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also include retrieving an image file comprising one or more containers from a registry, such that the pod may include an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The one or more containers may include one or more pre-analytic operations for a control system of a plurality of control systems to perform. The method may then involve generating a package based on the one or more containers and storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Patent number: 11340588
    Abstract: Embodiments of this present disclosure may include industrial components in an industrial environment and a control system. The control system may receive a request to perform a control operation using the industrial components and may access a reference array associated with the industrial components. The reference array may include rows and columns, where each row may correspond to a respective industrial component of the industrial components. The control system may identify or program set points in the reference array associated with completing the control operation and may detect current motion components of the plurality of industrial components. The control system may generate control commands for the industrial components based on the current motion components, the set points, and/or the reference array. The industrial components may perform the control operation in response to receiving the control commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Johnston, Jeffery W. Brooks, Michael J. Viste, Jatin P. Bhatt
  • Publication number: 20220100177
    Abstract: Embodiments of this present disclosure may include industrial components in an industrial environment and a control system. The control system may receive a request to perform a control operation using the industrial components and may access a reference array associated with the industrial components. The reference array may include rows and columns, where each row may correspond to a respective industrial component of the industrial components. The control system may identify or program set points in the reference array associated with completing the control operation and may detect current motion components of the plurality of industrial components. The control system may generate control commands for the industrial components based on the current motion components, the set points, and/or the reference array. The industrial components may perform the control operation in response to receiving the control commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: David A. Johnston, Jeffery W. Brooks, Michael J. Viste, Jatin P. Bhatt
  • Publication number: 20220091583
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node, a first pod from a second computing node. The method may also include retrieving a first image file that may include a first set of containers from a registry based on the first pod. The first set of containers may cause a control system to halt operations. The method may then involve generating a first package based on the first set of containers and storing the first package in a filesystem, receiving a second pod from the second computing node, and retrieving a second image file having a second set of containers from the registry. The second pod may include the second set of containers may cause the control system to update software components. The method may also involve generating a second package based on the second set of containers and storing the second package in the filesystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Publication number: 20220091572
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also involve retrieving an image file that includes containers from a registry, such that the pod detail an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The method then involves generating a package based on the one or more containers and one or more mapped commands implementable by a control system in an operational technology (OT) domain. The mapped commands correspond to operations performable by the control system that corresponds to commands specified in the containers. The method may then involve storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Publication number: 20220091899
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, via a first computing node of a cluster of computing nodes in a container orchestration system, a pod from a second computing node in the cluster of computing nodes. The method may also include retrieving an image file comprising one or more containers from a registry, such that the pod may include an indication of a location of the image file in the registry. The one or more containers may include one or more pre-analytic operations for a control system of a plurality of control systems to perform. The method may then involve generating a package based on the one or more containers and storing the package in a filesystem shared with the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tim Biernat, Nathaniel S. Sandler, James J. Kay, David A. Johnston, Karl Staas
  • Publication number: 20200150614
    Abstract: An industrial controller that integrates execution of a control program on the industrial controller with execution of additional functions on an external processing device is disclosed. Integrating the external processing device provides an improved system for third party development of control functions which may be unique to specific applications. The system manages communication between the industrial controller and the external processing device, manages access to data stored in the industrial controller, and makes the details of the integration transparent to the programmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: David A. Johnston, Michael J. Viste, Ryan L. Schnell
  • Patent number: 10558191
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate receipt of tag requests from one or more interfaces, based upon which a single tagset is compiled at a controller comprising all the requested tags for a given update rate, whereupon the single compiled tagset is subsequently forwarded to the one or more interfaces. A controller generates a superset of tags associated with an industrial process. Each interface can request a copy of the superset, from which the required tags are selected. The controller receives the requested tags from all of the interfaces and combines the requested tags into a single tagset, for a given update rate, comprising the various parameters associated with the tags. At the selected update rate, the tagset is forwarded to the interfaces. A masterset can be utilized to identify the sequence of tags in a tagset and check code can ensure continuity of the tags in the tagset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Kucharski, Charles M. Rischar, Michael Kalan, David Van Gompel, Brian A. Batke, Joseph P. Izzo, David A. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20180246488
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate receipt of tag requests from one or more interfaces, based upon which a single tagset is compiled at a controller comprising all the requested tags for a given update rate, whereupon the single compiled tagset is subsequently forwarded to the one or more interfaces. A controller generates a superset of tags associated with an industrial process. Each interface can request a copy of the superset, from which the required tags are selected. The controller receives the requested tags from all of the interfaces and combines the requested tags into a single tagset, for a given update rate, comprising the various parameters associated with the tags. At the selected update rate, the tagset is forwarded to the interfaces. A masterset can be utilized to identify the sequence of tags in a tagset and check code can ensure continuity of the tags in the tagset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Paul G. Kucharski, Charles M. Rischar, Michael Kalan, David Van Gompel, Brian A. Batke, Joseph P. Izzo, David A. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9989951
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate receipt of tag requests from one or more interfaces, based upon which a single tagset is compiled at a controller comprising all the requested tags for a given update rate, whereupon the single compiled tagset is subsequently forwarded to the one or more interfaces. A controller generates a superset of tags associated with an industrial process. Each interface can request a copy of the superset, from which the required tags are selected. The controller receives the requested tags from all of the interfaces and combines the requested tags into a single tagset, for a given update rate, comprising the various parameters associated with the tags. At the selected update rate, the tagset is forwarded to the interfaces. A masterset can be utilized to identify the sequence of tags in a tagset and check code can ensure continuity of the tags in the tagset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul G. Kucharski, Charles M. Rischar, Michael Kalan, David Van Gompel, Brian A. Batke, Joseph P. Izzo, David A. Johnston