Method and system for communicating between an embedded device and relational databases

Abstract

Techniques for communicating between an embedded device and at least one remote database for a wide variety of applications, including human machine interface and supervisory control and data acquisition and B2B applications. An application program interface interfaces an application program seeking access to a predetermined database and which operates on an operating system not operating a database driver program. A parser translates communications with the application program interface into and from commands and formatted data of an operating system independent form. A protocol stack formats the commands and formatted data into header formatted communications signals to accord with a predetermined protocol. Another protocol stack receives the header formatted communications signals and removes header data from the header formatted communications signals for generating database communications signals. Another parser receives the database communications signals, generates a plurality of database formatted SQL commands, and communicates the database formatted SQL commands. A database interface interfaces the predetermined database and communicates the database formatted SQL commands with the predetermined database.

1 . A database communications system for enabling communications between a plurality of applications and a predetermined database, comprising:
 an application program interface for interfacing with at least one application program, said at least one application program seeking access to a predetermined database and operating on an operating system not operating a database driver program;   a first parser for translating communications with said application program interface into commands and formatted data, said commands and formatted data of a operating system independent form;   a first protocol stack for formatting said commands and formatted data into header formatted communications signals, said header formatted communications signals formatted to accord with a predetermined protocol, said protocol stack further for communicating said header formatted communications signals;   a second protocol stack for receiving said header formatted communications signals and removing header data from said header formatted communications signals for generating database communications signals;   a second parser for receiving said receiving said database communications signals, generating from said database communications a plurality of database formatted SQL commands, and communicating said database formatted commands; and   a database interface for interfacing said predetermined database and communicating said database formatted SQL commands with said predetermined database.   
     
     
         2 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program comprises a human machine interface application program. 
     
     
         3 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program comprises a supervisory control and data acquisition application program. 
     
     
         4 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said database formatted communications signals comprise open database connectivity formatted communications signals. 
     
     
         5 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said database formatted communications signals comprise structured query language relational database formatted communications signals. 
     
     
         6 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said database formatted communications signals comprise ActiveX® database object formatted communications signals. 
     
     
         7 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said operating system supporting said an application program interface comprises a Windows CEO operating system. 
     
     
         8 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said operating system supporting said an application program interface comprises a Linux® operating system. 
     
     
         9 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said operating system supporting said an application program interface embedded operating system. 
     
     
         10 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program determines alarm conditions associated with an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program determines events associated with an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program determines operational trends associated with an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program associated with recipes for the operation of an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program controls operational characteristic viewer functions associated with the operation of an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one application program controls web-based functions relating to the operation of an industrial apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communications path between said first protocol stack and said second protocol stack. 
     
     
         17 . The database communications system of  claim 1 , further comprising a TCP/IP communications path between said first protocol stack and said second protocol stack. 
     
     
         18 . A method for communicating between a plurality of applications and a predetermined database, comprising:
 interfacing with at least one application program seeking access to a predetermined database and operating on an operating system not operating a database driver program;   translating communications with said application program interface into commands and formatted data, said SQL commands and formatted data of a operating system independent form;   formatting said commands and formatted data into header formatted communications signals, said header formatted communications signals formatted to accord with a predetermined protocol and communicating said header formatted communications signals;   receiving said header formatted communications signals and removing header data from said header formatted communications signals for generating database communications signals;   receiving said receiving said database communications signals, generating from said database communications a plurality of database formatted communications signals, and communicating said database formatted communications signals; and   interfacing said predetermined database and communicating said database formatted communications signals with said predetermined database.   
     
     
         19 . The communications method of  claim 18 , wherein step of interfacing said at least one application program further comprises the step of interfacing a human machine interface application program. 
     
     
         20 . The communications method of  claim 18 , wherein step of interfacing said at least one application program further comprises the step of interfacing a supervisory control and data acquisition application program. 
     
     
         21 - 37 . (canceled)