Distributed machine control software architecture

Distributed machine control software architecture permits modular development of complex machine control systems and allows functional subsystems comprised of object modules to be distributed and remotely controlled and monitored. Software applications are broken into logical subsystems with standardized data and transaction interfaces that act as servers and clients. This permits flexible reconfiguration of machine functions for a variety of applications and promotes system security and reliability by isolating modifications to functional subsystems. In addition, functional modules of the same application do not need to reside in the same host, but can be remotely located over local intranet or via public Internet. In machine control applications this permits real-time and time critical process sequence objects to be resident in the local machine controller while the user interface, database and command generator are at any remote network location, including any Internet addressed location. Control can be quickly and temporarily reconfigured to allow a remote operator or specialist to study, monitor, or modify a machine control process.