M
Has everyone checked out the European patent application listed above?
The abstract is as follows...
"A measurement instrument is web enabled, enabling it to receive commands or information to effectuate an operation on the measurement instrument from a user using a browser executing on a remote client computer. In response, the operation is effectuated in accordance with the commands or information provided. Results of the operation, where applicable, are returned to the browser of the remote client computer for the user. The operation may be any one of a number of monitoring or control operations, and the
commands or information facilitate identification of the monitoring or control operation of interest."
This would seem to cover the incorporation of web server technologies in any instrument that performs measurement functions. So does that mean no PID controller with a web interface? No panel meters with a web interface?? Or PLCs with a web interface??? Or, at least, none of the above without a royalty.
Good questions that people might consider...
1/ Is there prior art on this?
2/ Is it obvious?
3/ Is it unethical?
I'm not expressing an opinion on these issues myself (or at least I'm not going to via a company email address!) but on the last point, it
strikes me that there is something strange about attempting to restrict the use of a universal technology on a given platform. Where does it end? How about a patent on web pages on gas cookers? Or toasters? Or a million other things? In fact, why not get a dictionary and list every noun together with the idea of serving web pages
there from, and stick it on a web site to establish prior art? Okay, that's dumb, but you get the point?
I'd be interested in hearing other people's views.
--
Mike Granby
Red Lion Controls Inc.
http://www.redlion-controls.com
The abstract is as follows...
"A measurement instrument is web enabled, enabling it to receive commands or information to effectuate an operation on the measurement instrument from a user using a browser executing on a remote client computer. In response, the operation is effectuated in accordance with the commands or information provided. Results of the operation, where applicable, are returned to the browser of the remote client computer for the user. The operation may be any one of a number of monitoring or control operations, and the
commands or information facilitate identification of the monitoring or control operation of interest."
This would seem to cover the incorporation of web server technologies in any instrument that performs measurement functions. So does that mean no PID controller with a web interface? No panel meters with a web interface?? Or PLCs with a web interface??? Or, at least, none of the above without a royalty.
Good questions that people might consider...
1/ Is there prior art on this?
2/ Is it obvious?
3/ Is it unethical?
I'm not expressing an opinion on these issues myself (or at least I'm not going to via a company email address!) but on the last point, it
strikes me that there is something strange about attempting to restrict the use of a universal technology on a given platform. Where does it end? How about a patent on web pages on gas cookers? Or toasters? Or a million other things? In fact, why not get a dictionary and list every noun together with the idea of serving web pages
there from, and stick it on a web site to establish prior art? Okay, that's dumb, but you get the point?
I'd be interested in hearing other people's views.
--
Mike Granby
Red Lion Controls Inc.
http://www.redlion-controls.com