Multiple language development environment using shared resources

Abstract

An operator interface system with respect to an industrial automation device comprises text/symbol translation strings persisted in a computer-readable medium for utilization with the operator interface system. An interface component relays the translation strings to a client device that includes fonts that enables the client device to graphically render text/symbols abstracted by the translation strings in a desired language. For example, the translation strings can be Unicode strings.

1 . An operator interface system with respect to an industrial automation device, comprising:
 text/symbol translation strings persisted in a computer-readable medium for utilization with the operator interface system; and   an interface component that relays the translation strings to a client device that includes fonts that enables the client device to graphically render text/symbols abstracted by the translation strings in a desired language.   
   
   
       2 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , the client device is a personal computer. 
   
   
       3 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , the translation strings are Unicode strings. 
   
   
       4 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , the interface component relays the translation strings to a web browser within the client device. 
   
   
       5 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising a security component that ensures that a user of the industrial automation device is authorized to access the industrial automation device. 
   
   
       6 . The operator interface system of  claim 5 , the security component analyzes one or more of a username, a password, a personal identification number, and biometric indicia in connection with determining an identity of the user. 
   
   
       7 . The operator interface system of  claim 5 , further comprising a filter component that selectively provides a subset of the text/symbol translation strings based at least in part upon the determined identity of the user. 
   
   
       8 . The operator interface system of  claim 7 , the filter component selectively provides the subset of the text/symbol translation strings based at least in part upon a role associated with the user. 
   
   
       9 . The operator interface system of  claim 8 , the filter component selectively provides the subset of the text/symbol translation strings based at least in part upon received contextual data. 
   
   
       10 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , the interface component relays the text/symbol translation strings to the client device by way of a Universal Serial Bus connection. 
   
   
       11 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising an instruction generator component that provides instructions to the client device relating to graphically rendering the text/symbol translation strings. 
   
   
       12 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , further comprising an interrogator component that determines display parameters associated with the client device. 
   
   
       13 . The operator interface system of  claim 12 , further comprising a provision component that selectively provides operator interface data to the client device based at least in part upon display parameters determined by the interrogator component. 
   
   
       14 . The operator interface system of  claim 13 , the interrogator component determines one or more of screen size of the client device, processing capabilities of the client device, resolution associated with a display of the client device, and software packages retained upon the client device. 
   
   
       15 . A combined controller/human-machine interface comprising the operator interface of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       16 . The operator interface system of  claim 1 , the interface component relays the translation strings and graphical data to create an operator interface at the client device that enables one or more of creation and modification of human-machine interface screens. 
   
   
       17 . An industrial automation device, comprising:
 a data store that retains text/symbol translation strings that abstract text/symbols; and   an interface component that determines that the industrial automation device is communicatively coupled to a client device and provides the client device with a subset of the text/symbol translation strings.   
   
   
       18 . The industrial automation device of  claim 17 , the interface component determines that the industrial automation device is communicatively coupled to the client device by way of a Universal Serial Bus connection. 
   
   
       19 . The industrial automation device of  claim 17  being a combined controller/human-machine interface device. 
   
   
       20 . A method for displaying an operator interface, comprising:
 determining that an industrial automation device has been communicatively coupled to a client device with display capabilities; and   relaying Unicode strings from the industrial automation device to the client device to enable display of the operator interface at the client device in a desired language.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining that the industrial automation device has been communicatively coupled to the client device by way of a Universal Serial Bus connection. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining parameters associated with the client device; and   selectively relaying Unicode strings to the client device based at least in part upon the determined parameters.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , the industrial automation device is a combined controller/human-machine interface. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising utilizing a web browser at the client device to graphically render text/symbols abstracted by the Unicode strings. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 determining an identity of a user that is to be provided with the operator interface; and   determining whether the user is authorized to receive the operator interface.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising selectively providing Unicode strings to the client device based at least in part upon a role of the user. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising utilizing resources on the client device to graphically render text/symbols abstracted by the Unicode strings. 
   
   
       28 . A combined controller/human-machine interface, comprising:
 means for retaining translation strings that abstract text/symbols; and   means for determining that the combined controller/human-machine interface has been communicatively coupled to a client device and relaying the translation strings to the client device for graphical rendering thereon.