Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Generic control system – apparatus or process – Having preparation of program
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-12
2001-04-03
Grant, William (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Generic control system, apparatus or process
Having preparation of program
C700S086000, C700S181000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a numerical control system for reading numerical control information and executing a command described in the numerical control information, to a numerical control information creating system for creating the numerical control information to be read by the numerical control system, and to a numerical control information editing system for editing the numerical control information to be read by the numerical control system.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is usually necessary for an operator of a machining tool equipped with a numerical control system to confirm various set data. For example, before beginning operation, it is necessary to check the quantity, term of delivery, availability of material, data of the machining tool to be used, and the shape of machining. During and after operation, it is necessary to check the machining dimensions.
Utilizing various functions prepared on the numerical control system, the operator confirms the setting of these data before machining is begun. Although many numerical control system and machine manufacturers have made various attempts to facilitate confirming the data setting, all of these efforts have been directed towards general-purpose systems for all machine operators and all machining situations. No effort has produced a dedicated system designed for an individual operator or for any individual machining situation. However, it would be preferable to prepare an optimum screen display and functions matching the individual operator and the machining situation by only specifying the numerical control information to be used for the machining. Of course some conventional numerical control systems have means enabling the user to create a desired screen and then display or execute that screen according to a given numerical control command. However, since such conventional means have only complex fixed functions as originally individual by the system designer, it is impossible for systems to improve the performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a numerical control system which can realize an optimized screen display and optimized functionality for an individual operator having a wide capability to express each of various machining situations by only specifying numerical control information to be used for machining. Such a system can also simply create such an optimized display and function through user commands, and such optimized display and functions are easy to utilize.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention employs hypertext similar to that widely used on the World Wide Web (WWW). A hypertext document is a document provided using this data providing method. On the World Wide Web, data is distributed by making it available in hypertext form, which expresses display format, figures, links to another hypertext, etc. when the embedded hypertext is viewed with a browser. Software itself may also be distributed over the Internet and executed by the browser. The most popular format for writing hypertext today is Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), though a number of new formats have been proposed.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a numerical control system comprises means for specifying a hypertext document, which is adapted to at least enable designation of display format by a predetermined string of characters, insertion of a figure, linking to another hypertext, etc., in accordance with a command embedded in given numerical control information, and means for starting a browser function which reads the specified hypertext document to display or execute the contents of the hypertext document in accordance with the embedded command.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a numerical control system comprises means for specifying a hypertext document in accordance with a command embedded in given numerical control information, and means responsive to the command, which is embedded in the numerical control information for designating display or execution of the hypertext to cause an operational browser function to read the specified hypertext and display or execute the hypertext as instructed by the command.
As a specific feature, various data may be given to a browser in accordance with the command described in the numerical control information.
As another specific feature, information from a browser may be reflected on execution of the numerical control information in accordance with the command described in the numerical control information.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a numerical control information creating and editing system comprises means for selecting previously written hypertext, and means for incorporating into the numerical control information a command specifying the selected hypertext. When creating or editing numerical control information by these means, the system can incorporate into the numerical control information a command specifying the hypertext in a simple manner.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a numerical control information creating and editing system comprises means for writing hypertext, and means for incorporating into the numerical control information a command specifying the hypertext. When creating or editing numerical control information by these means, the system can incorporate into the numerical control information a command specifying the hypertext in a simple manner.
As a specific feature, the system may further comprise means for incorporating into the numerical control information a command for providing various data to a browser when the hypertext must be displayed or executed by the browser.
As another specific feature, the system may further comprise means for incorporating into the numerical control information a command for mirroring data from a browser on execution of the numerical control information when the data from the browser is to be mirrored on execution of the numerical control information after the hypertext has been displayed or executed.
With the above arrangement, it is possible to use both a hypertext document, which is highly expressive and can be created by a variety of tools, and a browser function, which displays or executes the hypertext, as a unit with given numerical control information. Specifically, by specifying only the numerical control information to be used in machining, it is possible to realize displaying operations and functions optimal to the individual operators, comfortably in a sophisticated form.
Further, it is possible to provide a browser with necessary data collected or calculated in response to a command of given numerical control information so that the operator of the machining tool can consult with the data on the browser, and the data calculated in the browser or acquired by the browser through the network can be mirrored on execution of the numerical control information.
This means that, by specifying only information control information to be used in machining, it is possible to realize displaying operations and functions optimized for each individual operator or machining content, to achieve this comfortably in a sophisticated form, and for operators of any level of experience to realize the result of display and functioning on execution of the numerical control information.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4281379 (1981-07-01), Austin
patent: 5465215 (1995-11-01), Strickland et al.
patent: 5737560 (1998-04-01), Yohanan
patent: 6085224 (2000-07-01), Wagner
Grant William
Okuma Corporation
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Rodriguez Paul
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