Dynamic representation of component configuration method and system

Abstract

A technique is provided for configuring an interface device. Individual device elements are stored on the interface device and each element includes a functionality and a visual representation. A general purpose engine resident on the interface device enumerates properties of the device elements in response to a query in a design-time environment. Design-time environment may be served to a general purpose computer working as a configuration station. The general purpose engine is independent of the device elements enumerated. A user viewable screen is then generated for viewing in the design-time environment, with the potential for altering properties of the enumerated device elements. The viewable screen and design-time environment may be displayed in a general purpose viewer or browser by collecting the visual representations associated with the device elements.

1 . A configurable industrial automation interface method comprising:
 enumerating properties of a plurality of device elements by a processing engine resident on an industrial automation component in response to a query in an environment that permits configuration of the device elements of the industrial automation component that affects run-time operation of the industrial automation component, each device element comprising a software component having a visual representation and an industrial automation functionality, the processing engine being independent of the device elements enumerated, the query being sent to the industrial automation component from a remote configuration component;   generating a user viewable screen for viewing in the environment by collecting the visual representations associated with the device elements; and   serving the generated user viewable screen from the industrial automation component to a general purpose viewer resident on the remote configuration component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising serving the environment that permits configuration of the device elements from the industrial automation component to the remote configuration component. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising enumerating properties of a selected one of the device elements and generating a property screen area including indicia of the enumerated properties for viewing in the environment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user viewable screen is generated by instantiating the device elements on the industrial automation component. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user viewable screen is generated by storing images associated with the enumerated device elements to a memory display context. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user viewable screen includes dynamic content for display by the general purpose viewer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the dynamic content is served as a markup language page. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dynamic content of the user viewable screen includes a display screen area for displaying and modifying the visual representations associated with the enumerated device elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the dynamic content of the user viewable screen includes a property screen area for displaying and modifying enumerated properties of a device element. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising changing an enumerated property of a device element based upon user interaction with the user viewable screen, and rebuilding the user viewable screen based upon the property change. 
     
     
         11 . A configurable interface method comprising:
 enumerating a plurality of device elements by a processing engine resident on an industrial automation component having a human machine interface in response to a query in an environment that permits configuration of the device elements of the industrial automation component that affects run-time operation of the industrial automation component, each device element comprising a software component having a visual representation and an industrial automation functionality, the processing engine being independent of the device elements enumerated, the query being sent to the industrial automation component from a remote configuration component;   generating a user viewable screen for viewing in the environment by collecting the visual representations associated with device elements, the user viewable screen being viewable on the human machine interface of the industrial automation component; and   serving the generated user viewable screen from the industrial automation component to a general purpose viewer resident on the remote configuration component.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising enumerating properties of a selected device element, and wherein the user viewable screen includes indicia representative of the enumerated properties of the selected device element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising changing an enumerated property of the selected device element based upon user interaction with the user viewable screen, and rebuilding the user viewable screen based upon the property change. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising serving the environment that permits configuration of the device elements from the industrial automation component to the remote configuration component. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the user viewable screen includes dynamic content for display by the general purpose viewer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dynamic content is served as a markup language page. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dynamic content of the user viewable screen includes a display screen area for displaying and modifying the visual representations associated with the enumerated device elements. 
     
     
         18 . An configurable industrial automation component comprising:
 a plurality of device elements, each device element comprising a software component having properties including a visual representation and an industrial automation functionality;   an environment that permits configuration of the device elements of the industrial automation component that affects run-time operation of the industrial automation component;   processing engine resident on an industrial automation component and configured to enumerate the device elements in response to a query in the environment, the processing engine being independent of the device elements enumerated;   a communications subsystem configured to receive the query from a remote configuration component; and   a server module resident on the industrial automation component for processing the query and for serving a user viewable screen including data derived from the enumerated device elements to the remote configuration component.   
     
     
         19 . The configurable industrial automation component of  claim 18 , wherein the query is processed in accordance with scripting executed on the industrial automation component. 
     
     
         20 . The configurable industrial automation component of  claim 18 , wherein the industrial automation component is configured to enumerate properties of a selected device element, and wherein the user viewable screen includes indicia representative of the enumerated properties of the selected device element.