Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Briant

Stephen C. Briant 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: 20250138513
    Abstract: A cloud-based industrial data services (IDS) architecture leverage smart tags, asset models, and data service applications to facilitate secure transaction and exchange of contextualized factory data between different parties as part of a combined technology and commerce platform, or to perform provide asset owners with insights into operation of their industrial assets. The IDS platform supports a set of services that connect providers of smart industrial devices to plant floor and systems owned by the end users of these devices. The cloud-based platform allows asset providers to publish data service applications for purchase and use by end users of their assets, and allows equipment owners to control remote access to selected sets of their industrial data via the cloud platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2025
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: JOACHIM THOMSEN, STEPHEN C. BRIANT, MANUEL SUKERMAN, JUERGEN K. WEINHOFER, SUJEET CHAND, SCOTT A. MILLER, NOEL HENDERSON, BRUCE E. HAMMON
  • Patent number: 12282798
    Abstract: A computing device for collecting and preserving data acquired from various devices in a data model with the respective context of acquired data. The computing device may provide a user interface to receive the context or information model associated with a dataset. By providing data with its context, different software platforms may synthesize or analyze the retrieved data more efficiently. Moreover, the computing device may include transaction conditions to define a workflow for transferring the datasets using data model associated with one or more datasets for transmission of data to a destination. The transaction conditions may detail a custom workflow for data communication through an industrial automation system using the data model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Briant, Deepa S. Bekal, Sonal R. Dubey, Sharath C. R. Baddam, Joshua W. Buck, Dale A. Hawthorne, Nicholas J. Marangoni, Alexander B. Cherpakov, Todd M. Smith, Derrick Awuah, Alexander K. Bergsneider, Jonathan D. Walter
  • Patent number: 12222706
    Abstract: An adapter of a common gateway platform associated with an industrial automation system is described for communicating data acquired from various devices using a data model of the common gateway platform with external components using various data models. The computing device may determine a relationship between datasets of the native data model and datasets of an external component based on obtaining an application programming interface (API) and/or software development kit (SDK) of the external component. Accordingly, the adapter may enable the common gateway platform to interact with the external component by providing functionalities of the external component as native functions of the computing device. That is, the adapter may provide functions to connect, create, read, write, update, delete, run commands and queries, and disconnect from the external component using native commands and actions of the common gateway platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Hawthorne, Stephen C. Briant, Nicholas J. Marangoni
  • Publication number: 20250036723
    Abstract: An industrial software management system uses subscription tokens to license industrial software to customers. According to an example licensing structure, a software customer can purchase subscription tokens that are shared among users within the customer's organization and that allow those users to check out and use industrial software products. The subscription tokens regulate the number of software product instances that may be used concurrently by the users. When a user checks out a software product for use, the customer's total number of available subscription tokens commensurate with a cost of the selected software product. When the user relinquishes use of the product, the subscription tokens are returned to the pool of available tokens. Users may only check out a software product for use is if a sufficient number of unused subscription tokens are available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Leo T. Kilfoy, Michael J. Tresh, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Daniel C. Rischar, Oliver C. Haya, Stephen C. Briant, Ryan P. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20250029139
    Abstract: An industrial software management system uses utility crediting to license industrial software to customers. According to an example licensing structure, a software customer can purchase utility credits that grant the customer use of a software product, limited by a usage metric defined by the utility credits. Depending on the type of software product, the usage metric may be a function of processing usage by the product, an amount of storage consumed by the product, a number of processing cores used, product utilization time, a number of times a specific feature of the product is used, or other such metrics. Utility credits can be as granular and scalable as necessary, and different usage drawdown rates can be defined depending on the type of software application, customer agreements, or other factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Leo T. Kilfoy, Michael J. Tresh, Bruce T. McCleave, JR., Daniel C. Rischar, Oliver C. Haya, Stephen C. Briant, Ryan P. Dunn
  • Patent number: 12204317
    Abstract: A cloud-based industrial data services (IDS) architecture leverage smart tags, asset models, and data service applications to facilitate secure transaction and exchange of contextualized factory data between different parties as part of a combined technology and commerce platform, or to perform provide asset owners with insights into operation of their industrial assets. The IDS platform supports a set of services that connect providers of smart industrial devices to plant floor and systems owned by the end users of these devices. The cloud-based platform allows asset providers to publish data service applications for purchase and use by end users of their assets, and allows equipment owners to control remote access to selected sets of their industrial data via the cloud platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joachim Thomsen, Stephen C. Briant, Manuel Sukerman, Juergen K. Weinhofer, Sujeet Chand, Scott A. Miller, Noel Henderson, Bruce E. Hammon
  • Publication number: 20250021078
    Abstract: A cloud-based digital twin modeling and testing system is capable of hosting multiple applications that can be used to simulate and test versions of a control design prior to deployment, including but not limited to control programming applications, controller emulation applications, machine simulation applications, or other such platforms. The digital twin modeling environment renders an interface display that allows a user to easily build a testable digital model of a control system by connecting components of a proposed control project to these applications. The system also allows the user to define inputs and test scenarios to be executed as a simulation. Based on the connections, inputs, and test scenarios defined by the user, the modeling system leverages the hosted applications as needed to execute the defined test scenarios and generate predicted metrics for the proposed control system design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Leo T. Kilfoy, Michael J. Tresh, Bruce T. McCleave, JR., Daniel C. Rischar, Stephen C. Briant, Ryan P. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20250004434
    Abstract: A cloud-based Industrial Development Hub (IDH) supports development and testing capabilities for industrial customers that are easy to use and offered as a service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools-collectively referred to as the Vault-which serves as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management. In addition, the IDH includes analytic tools that can analyze industrial control projects submitted by user and generate project telemetry data based on the analysis. The system can translate this project telemetry data to various types of relational maps that visualized dependencies between data producers and consumers from a control standpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Leo T Kilfoy, Michael J Tresh, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Daniel C. Rischar, Stephen C. Briant, Ryan P. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20250004454
    Abstract: A cloud-based Industrial Development Hub (IDH) supports development and testing capabilities for industrial customers that are easy to use and offered as a service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools—collectively referred to as the Vault—which serves as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management. In addition, the IDH includes analytic tools that can analyze industrial control projects submitted by user and generate project telemetry data based on the analysis. The system can translate this project telemetry data to various types of relational maps that visualized dependencies between data producers and consumers from a control standpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Leo T Kilfoy, Michael J Tresh, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Daniel C. Rischar, Stephen C. Briant, Ryan P. Dunn
  • Patent number: 12153396
    Abstract: An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Scott A Miller, Nathan Reynolds, Christopher Wayne Como, Nathaniel S Sandler, Ryan P Dunn, Bruce T McCleave, Jr., Kyle Reissner, Stephen C Briant
  • Patent number: 12055924
    Abstract: A state machine management component that executes on an edge device within an industrial facility is capable of discovering state machines defined on industrial controllers and translating the state machine definitions to information models that allow the state machines to be discovered and utilized by remote client applications. The edge-level information models allow the client applications to render or consume the state machine data generated by the controller, graphically render the state machines, submit commands, or set values, to the controller as state machine commands via the edge device. The edge-level system thus allows client applications with no prior knowledge of the control-level state machines to discover, retrieve, and interact with state machines defined on the industrial controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventors: Joachim Thomsen, Stephen C Briant, Martin Petrick, Frank Jordan, Manuel Sukerman, Daniel J Aardsma, John B Dart, Derrick Tapscott, James Butler
  • Patent number: 12045035
    Abstract: An industrial gateway device supports interactive feature engineering tools that guide a user through an intuitive process for configuring data analytics for key performance indicators (KPIs) of interest. A feature engineering interface renders an interactive model view that displays available data points such that the data points are organized hierarchically according to plant, machine, machine property, or other elements. The user can select, from this model view, data points having an impact on the KPI of interest. The interface also allows the user to define an executable script that defines a mathematical relationship between the selected data points and the KPI. This configuration yields an output model that defines a reduced set of data points to be collected and analyzed, as well as an executable script for assessing a state of the KPI as a function of the reduced data point values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Achim Thomsen, Cyril Perducat, Manuel Sukerman, Arvind Vijayanagar Rao, Chirayu Shah, Stephen C. Briant, Bijan SayyarRodsari
  • Publication number: 20240210922
    Abstract: An adapter of a common gateway platform associated with an industrial automation system is described for communicating data acquired from various devices using a data model of the common gateway platform with external components using various data models. The computing device may determine a relationship between datasets of the native data model and datasets of an external component based on obtaining an application programming interface (API) and/or software development kit (SDK) of the external component. Accordingly, the adapter may enable the common gateway platform to interact with the external component by providing functionalities of the external component as native functions of the computing device. That is, the adapter may provide functions to connect, create, read, write, update, delete, run commands and queries, and disconnect from the external component using native commands and actions of the common gateway platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Dale A. Hawthorne, Stephen C. Briant, Nicholas J. Marangoni
  • Patent number: 11953889
    Abstract: An adapter of a common gateway platform associated with an industrial automation system is described for communicating data acquired from various devices using a data model of the common gateway platform with external components using various data models. The computing device may determine a relationship between datasets of the native data model and datasets of an external component based on obtaining an application programming interface (API) and/or software development kit (SDK) of the external component. Accordingly, the adapter may enable the common gateway platform to interact with the external component by providing functionalities of the external component as native functions of the computing device. That is, the adapter may provide functions to connect, create, read, write, update, delete, run commands and queries, and disconnect from the external component using native commands and actions of the common gateway platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Hawthorne, Stephen C. Briant, Nicholas J. Marangoni
  • Patent number: 11899412
    Abstract: An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Miller, Nathan Reynolds, Christopher Wayne Como, Nathaniel S Sandler, Ryan P Dunn, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Kyle Reissner, Stephen C. Briant
  • Patent number: 11899434
    Abstract: An industrial development hub (IDH) supports industrial development and testing capabilities that are offered as a cloud-based service. The IDH comprises an enhanced storage platform and associated design tools that serve as a repository on which customers can store control project code, device configurations, and other digital aspects of an industrial automation project. The IDH system can facilitate discovery and management of digital content associated with control systems, and can be used for system backup and restore, code conversion, and version management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Miller, Nathan Reynolds, Christopher Wayne Como, Nathaniel S Sandler, Ryan P Dunn, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Kyle Reissner, Stephen C. Briant
  • Patent number: 11863560
    Abstract: An industrial information hub (IIH) and an industrial development hub (IDH) serve as an industrial ecosystem platform where multiple participants can deliver repeatable and standardized services relevant to their core competencies. The IIH system is centered around the development of an ecosystem that creates and delivers value to users—including industrial enterprises, OEMs, system integrators, vendors, etc.—through the aggregation of digital content and domain expertise. The IIH system serves as a trusted information broker between the ecosystem and the OT environments of plant facilities, and provides a platform for connecting assets, contextualizing asset data and providing secure access to the ecosystem. As part of this ecosystem, the IIH system uses a secure remote access architecture to allow users to remotely access data on their plant floor assets via a virtual private network connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Briant, Nathaniel S Sandler, Scott A. Miller, Ryan P Dunn, Bruce T. McCleave, Jr., Nabin Acharya, Julie Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20230418266
    Abstract: An industrial information hub (IDH) serves as a single industrial ecosystem platform where multiple participants can deliver repeatable and standardized services relevant to their core competencies. The IIH system is centered around the development of an ecosystem that creates and delivers value to users—including industrial enterprises, OEMs, system integrators, vendors, etc.—through the aggregation of digital content and domain expertise. The IIH system serves as a trusted information broker between the ecosystem and the OT environments of plant facilities, and provides a platform for connecting assets, contextualizing asset data and providing secure access to the ecosystem. Additionally, the IIH system provides tools and support to OEMs and other subject matter experts, allowing those experts to enable their digital assets for use in the ecosystem. The IIH system reduces the cost and risks for digital transformation of industrial assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Scott A. Miller, Nathan Reynolds, Christopher Wayne Como, Nathaniel S. Sandler, Ryan P. Dunn, Bruce T. McCleave, JR., Kyle Reissner, Stephen C. Briant
  • Patent number: 11822981
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software disclosed herein relate to a common gateway platform system. In an implementation, program instructions direct a computing system to execute a common gateway platform environment comprising an adapter comprising an adapter name identification, a broker connected to the adapter, and an application connected to the adapter. The application also generates an action configured according to a common gateway platform protocol, transmit the action to the broker, and receive a reaction from the broker. The broker is configured to identify the adapter based on the adapter identifier and transmit the action to the adapter. The broker also receives the reaction from the adapter and transmit the reaction to the application. The adapter is configured to acquire the data from the industrial automation environment based on an adapter instruction in the action, generate the reaction comprising the acquired data, and transmit the reaction to the broker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Reichard, Nicholas J. Marangoni, Stephen C. Briant, Sonal R. Dubey, Sharath Chander Reddy Baddam, Paul C. Whitten, Deepa S. Bekal
  • Publication number: 20230341840
    Abstract: A cloud-based industrial data services (IDS) architecture leverage smart tags, asset models, and data service applications to facilitate secure transaction and exchange of contextualized factory data between different parties as part of a combined technology and commerce platform, or to perform provide asset owners with insights into operation of their industrial assets. The IDS platform supports a set of services that connect providers of smart industrial devices to plant floor and systems owned by the end users of these devices. The cloud-based platform allows asset providers to publish data service applications for purchase and use by end users of their assets, and allows equipment owners to control remote access to selected sets of their industrial data via the cloud platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: JOACHIM THOMSEN, STEPHEN C. BRIANT, MANUEL SUKERMAN, JUERGEN K. WEINHOFER, SUJEET CHAND, SCOTT A. MILLER, NOEL HENDERSON, BRUCE E. HAMMON