Programmable controller

Abstract

A programmable controller suitable for use in a globally distrihaired automation network. In addition, a universal management engineering and information system for such a globally distributed automation network is described. It is used in a globally distributed automation network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A programmable controller adapted for controlling an industrial process and coupled to an internet, to which a plurality of devices remote from the programmable controller are also coupled, the controller comprising: 
 a processor for running control programs;    computer memory coupled to the processor for storing control programs to be run on the processor; and    an internet communications interface coupled to the processor and adapted to permit TCP/IP protocol communication over the internet with one of the plurality of remote devices.    
     
     
         2 . A programmable controller adapted for controlling an industrial process and coupled to a network, to which a plurality of devices remote from the programmable controller are also coupled, the controller comprising: 
 a processor for running control programs;    computer memory coupled to the processor for storing control programs to be run on the processor; and    an internet communications interface coupled to the processor and adapted to permit two-way TCP/IP protocol communication over the internet with one of the plurality of remote devices.    
     
     
         3 . A programmable controller adapted for controlling an industrial process and coupled to a network, to which a plurality of devices remote from the programmable controller are also coupled, the controller comprising: 
 a processor for running control programs;    computer memory coupled to the processor for storing control programs to be run on the processor;    an internet communications interface coupled to the processor and adapted to permit TCP/IP protocol communication over the internet with one of the plurality of remote devices; and    an execution system running on the processor for interpreting object-oriented information received over the internet from at least one of the plurality of remote devices.    
     
     
         4 . A programmable controller according to    claim 3   , wherein the execution system comprises a Java byte code interpreter and the object-oriented information received over the internet comprises Java function blocks, and wherein the Java byte code interpreter is configured for processing the received Java function blocks.  
     
     
         5 . A programmable controller according to    claim 3   , wherein the execution system comprises a Java processor for processing Java function blocks received by the programmable controller over the internet from at least one of the plurality of remote devices.  
     
     
         6 . An industrial automation network comprising a plurality of devices each coupled to an internet, plurality of devices comprising: 
 at least one programmable controller; and    at least one of the group consisting of programming units, operating and monitoring devices and workstations;    each of the plurality of devices comprising an internet communications interface adapted to permit the device to communicate via the TCP/IP protocol communication with at least one of the other devices; and    the programmable controller comprising a processor having an execution system for interpreting object-oriented information received over the internet from any of the plurality of devices.    
     
     
         7 . The industrial automation network according to    claim 6   , wherein the execution system comprises a Java byte code interpreter adapted for processing Java function blocks received by the programmable controller from any of the plurality of devices.  
     
     
         8 . The industrial automation network according to    claim 6   , wherein the execution system comprises a Java processor that can process Java function blocks received by the programmable controller from any of the plurality of devices.