Modular control system

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards automatically identifying, configuring, monitoring, controlling, managing, and maintaining a machine, via collection computers in communication with the machine components. The components include ID Tags that store identification data, such as a component type and a unique identifier. Interrogation of the ID Tags enables the automatic identification and configuration of the machine. Data provided by the sensors, during usage of the machine, enables the remote monitoring and managing of the usage, as well as maintaining of the machine. Machine maintenance includes automatically predicting and scheduling the replacement of various components. Embodiments provide suggestions for suppliers of replacement components, as well as suggestions for alternative components that may be better optimized for the configuration and usage of the machine. Heuristics and crowd-generated data, via machine user social networks, inform predictive analyses employed to automatically identify, configure, manage, operate, and maintain the machine.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing operation of a machine, comprising:
 communicating, to a collection computer, component identification data separately stored in each of a plurality of component identification (ID) Tags that correspond to one or more components for the machine, wherein the component identification data includes a component type;   determining a combination of the component types based on at least the component identification data;   automatically determining a machine type for the machine based on a comparison of the combination of the component types and one or more previously provided combinations of component types that correspond to a previously determined machine type;   automatically determining a machine configuration for the machine based on one or more of the machine type and the combination of component types, wherein the machine configuration includes one or more component configurations for each component that corresponds to one or more of the plurality of component ID tags; and   controlling one or more of usage of the machine or maintenance of the machine based on at least the machine configuration.