Machine system, machine control computer, base software application, computer-readable recording medium, and machine control method for intercommunication with machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10114623-B2
Application number	US-201715444288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2017
Priority date	Feb 29, 2016
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A machine system includes two machines, a computer communicably connected to the machines, and a base software application and an operation software application installed in the computer. The base software application includes a first communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first machine information to be outputted from each machine and second command information to be outputted to each machine, and a second communication module that is a program portion to execute transmission and reception of first command information to be inputted from the operation software application to the base software application and second machine information to be outputted from the base software application to the operation software application.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine system, comprising:
a machine; and
a machine control computer communicatably connected to the machine and comprising one or more control processing units and one or more memory units, a base software application and an operation software application being installed in the machine control computer,
wherein the base software application includes:
a first communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to receive first machine information in a data format specific to the machine outputted from the machine to the machine control computer;
a second communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output second machine information in a data format specific to the operation software application to the operation software application;
a program portion to store the first machine information and the second machine information in a first memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer;
a program portion to identify a data model corresponding to the machine from the first memory unit based on identification information of the machine associated with the first machine information; and
a program portion to enable the machine control computer to convert the first machine information into the second machine information based on the identified data model,

wherein the machine has a function of outputting a state of the machine to the machine control computer as the first machine information, and
wherein the operation software application is a program using the second machine information outputted from the second communication module as input information.

2. The machine system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first memory unit stores in advance data models representing a subordination of a plurality of devices constituting the machine, and
when converting the first machine information into the second machine information by the base software application, the machine control computer performs a conversion based on the data models stored in advance in the first memory unit.

3. The machine system according to claim 1 , wherein
the base software application further includes a determination unit being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to determine whether the operation software application is appropriate or inappropriate, and
when the determination unit determines that the operation software application is inappropriate, the base software application disables the machine control computer from executing the second communication module.

4. The machine system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base software application and the operation software application further includes a billing processing unit being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to charge a fee based on usage of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

5. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit is a program portion to enable the machine control computer to monitor a duration of use of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application from a starting point, and, at established intervals, generate information about payment of the fee and output the information about payment of the fee to the first communication module.

6. The machine system according to claim 5 , wherein the starting point is a timing of installing at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

7. The machine system according to claim 5 , wherein the starting point is a date of purchase of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

8. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein
the operation software application further includes a third communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to communicate with an external device, and
the billing processing unit is a program portion to enable the machine control computer to monitor a duration of use of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application from a starting point, and, at established intervals, generate information about payment of the fee and output the information about payment of the fee to the third communication module.

9. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee in accordance with a communication traffic volume on at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

10. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee in accordance with a number of executions of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

11. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee in accordance with a number of machines connected to the machine control computer.

12. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee in accordance with at least one of an information throughput when processing the first machine information by the base software application and an information throughput when processing the second machine information by the operation software application.

13. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to charge the fee in accordance with a number of people who have used the machine control computer.

14. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to determine a duration of use of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application in accordance with a payment status of a usage fee predetermined for at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

15. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit disables the machine control computer from charging the fee, when a duration of use of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application from a starting point is within a certain time period.

16. The machine system according to claim 4 , wherein the billing processing unit enables the machine control computer to determine whether or not payment of the fee is completed.

17. The machine system according to claim 1 , wherein the base software application further includes a version management unit being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to manage a version number of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application.

18. The machine system according to claim 14 , wherein:
a second memory unit included in the one or more memory units of the machine control computer stores a latest version number of at least one of the base software application and the operation software application,
the base software application further includes a third communication module being a program portion to enable the machine control computer to check contents of the second memory unit, and
the version management unit is a program portion to enable the machine control computer to output the latest version number of a

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Oda Masaru
• Inaba kiyonori

Classifications

• G06F8/76

  Adapting program code to run in a different environment; Porting · CPC title

• G05B2219/31131

  Field device with gateway functions for communication with pc and other field devices · CPC title

• G05B19/41845

  characterised by system universality, reconfigurability, modularity · CPC title

• G05B2219/35565

  Communications adapter converts program to machine or controls directly machine · CPC title

• G05B19/0426

  Programming the control sequence · CPC title