Abstract: A network component for an industrial automation system. The component includes a network switch processor configured to implement a networking switching function, at least one communication port configured to provide a communication channel between the network switch processor and at least one industrial control device over a network, and a diagnostic module configured to be implemented by the network switch processor and configured to retrieve diagnostic information from the at least one industrial control device.

Abstract: An industrial automation system is provided. The system includes a link layer that includes one or more ports that can communicate via one or more communication protocols. An application layer communicates with one or more network objects and a core layer bridges the application layer and the link layer.

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 that is for controlling an industrial process and that can be accessed via the Internet is disclosed. The industrial control system includes a plurality of I/O devices exchanging signals with the industrial process, and a web access module including a web server coupled to a PLC. The web server is capable of being coupled to at least one remote device via the Internet, and the PLC is coupled to the I/O devices. The web access module further includes programming software that can be utilized to generate a controller program for at least one of the PLC and one of the I/O devices. The web server is capable of providing the programming software onto the Internet for transmission to the remote device, so that the remote device is able to generate the controller program.

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.

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: An industrial control system provides a programmable logic controller communicating with I/O modules which provide an electrical interface to controlled equipment and which support web servers for communication of I/O data directly with the Internet. The programmable logic controller communicates with the I/O modules over a control-network which may be separate from or shared with the Internet communications. A lock-out system prevents collisions between web clients writing to I/O and allows the programmable logic controller to limit web access to critical I/O points.

Abstract: A network component for an industrial automation system. The component includes a network switch processor configured to implement a networking switching function, at least one communication port configured to provide a communication channel between the network switch processor and at least one industrial control device over a network, and a diagnostic module configured to be implemented by the network switch processor and configured to retrieve diagnostic information from the at least one industrial control device.

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: 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 automation system is provided. The system includes a link layer that includes one or more ports that can communicate via one or more communication protocols. An application layer communicates with one or more network objects and a core layer bridges the application layer and the link layer.

Abstract: A gateway component for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes an agent component to process network interactions for a network device. An industrial protocol object facilitates interactions between an industrial automation component and the network device, where a mapping component translates between industrial control protocols associated with the industrial protocol object and network protocols associated with the agent component.

Abstract: A method for detecting and preventing the use of duplicate IP addresses is provided. The method involves sending ARP probes onto a network to determine whether an IP address that a device desires to employ is a duplicate IP address. The method further involves determining whether a probing entity is connected to an active network before identifying a potentially duplicate IP address as a non-duplicate IP address.

Abstract: An industrial control system that is for controlling an industrial process and that can be accessed via the Internet is disclosed. The industrial control system includes a plurality of I/O devices exchanging signals with the industrial process, and a web access module including a web server coupled to a PLC. The web server is capable of being coupled to at least one remote device via the Internet, and the PLC is coupled to the I/O devices. The web access module further includes programming software that can be utilized to generate a controller program for at least one of the PLC and one of the I/O devices. The web server is capable of providing the programming software onto the Internet for transmission to the remote device, so that the remote device is able to generate the controller program.

Abstract: An industrial control system provides a programmable logic controller communicating with I/O modules which provide an electrical interface to controlled equipment and which support web servers for communication of I/O data directly with the Internet. The programmable logic controller communicates with the I/O modules over a control-network which may be separate from or shared with the Internet communications. A lock-out system prevents collisions between web clients writing to I/O and allows the programmable logic controller to limit web access to critical I/O points.

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: 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.

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.