Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the creation of maintenance plans. The maintenance plans are created by determining the service requirements for equipment, and normalizing the service requirements. These service requests are formalized in the language of XML Schema and semantic heterogeneity between different plans resolved with the use of ontologies. The matched service requests are combined to form the global service plan. Finally, resources may then be allocated to execute the created maintenance plans and appropriate maintenance schedules are identified based in the created maintenance plans.

Abstract: A method and system for generating programming code and/or configuration data for programmable controller and the networks on which they operate is disclosed. In one embodiment, programming code is generated on a centralized server having a web-enabled engineering tool. The engineering tool operates on client devices that are in communication with the server over a network, such as the Interntet. Preferably, the engineering tool runs in a browser application (or other network-interfacing-application) on the client device and a user generates the programming code on the server with the aid of the client device. By centralizing the engineering tool, which may contain a configuration editor and a configuration management tool having version management functionality, a new business paradigm for providing engineering tool services to customers having programmable controllers. In addition, new methods and tools for collaborative engineering of programming code are enabled.