Patents by Inventor Douglas C. Lawson
Douglas C. Lawson 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: 11714097Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for aligning process data to a flow of material in a manufacturing process. That is, the disclosed embodiments enable tracking of material as that material travels (e.g., via a transportation mechanism such as a conveyor belt) between various processing devices in the manufacturing process. Each processing device may include one or more sensors. For example, the disclosed system and method enable tracking the same material over different manufacturing steps.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: THINKIQ, INC.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Niels Andersen
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Patent number: 11610181Abstract: A system tracks material flow during a production process. In particular, the system receives, from a materials container, a plurality of sensor readings. The materials container comprises a plurality of sensors at one or more intake locations and one or more outlet locations. The system generates an input data set and an output data set from the plurality of sensor readings. The system stores a first electronic ledger entry on an electronic ledger. The first electronic entry comprises the input data set and a time that sensor readings corresponding to the one or more intake locations were taken. The system stores a second electronic ledger entry on the electronic ledger. The second electronic entry comprises the output data set and a time that sensor readings corresponding to the one or more outlet locations were taken. The system generates display data associate with the first and second electronic ledger entries.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: ThinkIQ, Inc.Inventors: Niels Andersen, Douglas C. Lawson
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Publication number: 20220326272Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for aligning process data to a flow of material in a manufacturing process. That is, the disclosed embodiments enable tracking of material as that material travels (e.g., via a transportation mechanism such as a conveyor belt) between various processing devices in the manufacturing process. Each processing device may include one or more sensors. For example, the disclosed system and method enable tracking the same material over different manufacturing steps.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Douglas C. LAWSON, Niels ANDERSEN
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Patent number: 11470157Abstract: A cloud gateway for coupling an industrial system to a cloud platform is provided. The cloud gateway collects data from one or more industrial controllers, meters, sensors, or other devices comprising an industrial automation system. The cloud gateway optionally performs additional transformations on the data to add context, summarize, filter, reformat, and/or encrypt the data. The cloud gateway then sends data to a cloud platform for use by one or more cloud-based applications or services. The cloud gateway can facilitate cloud-based data collection from both fixed-location and mobile industrial systems. The cloud gateway can also support store-and-forward logic, allowing industrial data to be temporarily stored in local storage in the event that communication between the cloud gateway and the cloud platform is disrupted.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Publication number: 20210350314Abstract: A system tracks material flow during a production process. In particular, the system receives, from a materials container, a plurality of sensor readings. The materials container comprises a plurality of sensors at one or more intake locations and one or more outlet locations. The system generates an input data set and an output data set from the plurality of sensor readings. The system stores a first electronic ledger entry on an electronic ledger. The first electronic entry comprises the input data set and a time that sensor readings corresponding to the one or more intake locations were taken. The system stores a second electronic ledger entry on the electronic ledger. The second electronic entry comprises the output data set and a time that sensor readings corresponding to the one or more outlet locations were taken. The system generates display data associate with the first and second electronic ledger entries.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Niels Andersen, Douglas C. Lawson
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Patent number: 10965760Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Publication number: 20200314186Abstract: A cloud gateway for coupling an industrial system to a cloud platform is provided. The cloud gateway collects data from one or more industrial controllers, meters, sensors, or other devices comprising an industrial automation system. The cloud gateway optionally performs additional transformations on the data to add context, summarize, filter, reformat, and/or encrypt the data. The cloud gateway then sends data to a cloud platform for use by one or more cloud-based applications or services. The cloud gateway can facilitate cloud-based data collection from both fixed-location and mobile industrial systems. The cloud gateway can also support store-and-forward logic, allowing industrial data to be temporarily stored in local storage in the event that communication between the cloud gateway and the cloud platform is disrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Patent number: 10749962Abstract: A cloud gateway for coupling an industrial system to a cloud platform is provided. The cloud gateway collects data from one or more industrial controllers, meters, sensors, or other devices comprising an industrial automation system. The cloud gateway optionally performs additional transformations on the data to add context, summarize, filter, reformat, and/or encrypt the data. The cloud gateway then sends data to a cloud platform for use by one or more cloud-based applications or services. The cloud gateway can facilitate cloud-based data collection from both fixed-location and mobile industrial systems. The cloud gateway can also support store-and-forward logic, allowing industrial data to be temporarily stored in local storage in the event that communication between the cloud gateway and the cloud platform is disrupted.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Publication number: 20190014180Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Patent number: 10139811Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Patent number: 10116532Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Patent number: 10018993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Patent number: 9965562Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Publication number: 20170223110Abstract: A cloud gateway for coupling an industrial system to a cloud platform is provided. The cloud gateway collects data from one or more industrial controllers, meters, sensors, or other devices comprising an industrial automation system. The cloud gateway optionally performs additional transformations on the data to add context, summarize, filter, reformat, and/or encrypt the data. The cloud gateway then sends data to a cloud platform for use by one or more cloud-based applications or services. The cloud gateway can facilitate cloud-based data collection from both fixed-location and mobile industrial systems. The cloud gateway can also support store-and-forward logic, allowing industrial data to be temporarily stored in local storage in the event that communication between the cloud gateway and the cloud platform is disrupted.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Publication number: 20170103137Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2016Publication date: April 13, 2017Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Patent number: 9568908Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Patent number: 9568909Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Patent number: 9565275Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin
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Publication number: 20170019317Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin, Michael John Pantaleano
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Publication number: 20160323392Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Douglas C. Lawson, Douglas J. Reichard, Joseph A. Harkulich, Rainer Hessmer, Sujeet Chand, David W. Farchmin