MONITORING AND CONTROLLING OF DISTRIBUTED MACHINES

摘要

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling distributed machines. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes machines each having sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each machine has a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine and that provides raw data from the sensor(s) and/or actuator(s). Each node has a network interface, and a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in message(s) without reformatting the raw data. An engine receives and reformats messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages. The engine directs the reformatted messages including the raw data to user device(s) for use in managing machine activity and/or status. The engine also sends a message from a user device to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.

主权项

1. A network comprising:
a plurality of machines each having one or more sensors and/or one or more actuators, each machine having a node resident on the machine and/or in communication with the machine, each node having a network interface and configured to provide raw data from the one or more sensors and/or one or more actuators, each node having a processor and memory configured as a node agent to embed the raw data in one or more messages without reformatting the raw data; and an engine configured to:
receive and reformat messages from the node agents without reformatting raw data embedded in the messages;direct the reformatted messages including the raw data to one or more user devices for use in managing machine activity and/or status; andsend a message from one of the user devices to a node of a given machine, for use in controlling activity and/or status of the given machine.