SYSTEM FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF APPARATUSES, IN PARTICULAR OF INDUSTRIAL APPARATUSES

D e s c r i p t i o n

The present invention relates to a system for remote control of apparatuses, in particular of industrial apparatuses .

It is known that the industrial-type machinery is equipped with one or more actuators, one or more sensors, and a controller to regulate operation of these devices.

In more detail, the actuators' task is to perform predetermined functions of the mechanical or electromechanical type (actuation of working members, shifting of finished or semi-finished products, for example, and so on) ; the sensors detect predetermined parameters relating to operation of the machinery (e.g. working speed, number of worked or shifted pieces, electric power consumption, temperature of regions particularly subject to overheating, etc.).

The controller typically carries out local adjustment of the actuators, supplying the latter with suitable command signals for execution of the desired operations and at the input receives data detected by the different sensors, so that adjustment of the machine operation can be carried out depending on the true conditions of the machine itself.

In different industrial fields it is necessary for the different, machinery to be able to be remotely monitored, so that the charged operators, even if they

are at a geographically remote place with respect to the apparatus, can receive notification or warning signals, should a failure or merely an anomaly in the machine operation occur, and can also send command, adjustment and/or setting signals to the machinery itself. In this way therefore situations of malfunction of the machine can be dealt with, as well as problems that can result therefrom, without the physical presence of an operator close to the apparatus in question being required.

In more detail, it is required that, depending on the type and urgency of the data to be communicated, operators having tasks and experience different from each other should be informed about any problem of the machine through employment of suitable selected communication channels.

In addition to the above, it is to be pointed out that generally communication between the remote operator and the machinery to be controlled makes use of an interface positioned close to the machinery and designed to carry out signal exchange between the machine controller and the communication device used by the operator.

Presently, the interfaces of known type are connected to the local controller through a series connection or a parallel connection.

Since in series connection an unavoidable "arrangement" of the different data that must be sequentially transmitted occurs, an intrinsic reduction in the communication speed is caused, because it is necessary to wait for the whole data queue to arrive at

destination in order to be able to take advantage of the full information.

Parallel connection, on the contrary, puts some important limits to the amount of information that can be transmitted, due to the fact that this amount is defined by the number of channels used for transmission; therefore in order to send and receive important data amounts, use of a high number of channels is required, which makes the whole connection structure complicated, expensive and difficult to handle.

The present invention aims at providing a system for remote control of apparatuses, in particular industrial apparatuses, enabling communication between the operators and the local controller associated with the machinery to be optimised.

In more detail, it is an aim of the invention to make available a system for remote control of apparatuses that is able to inform the operator who is really concerned with the information about an anomaly or a failure, through the most appropriate connection channel or channels.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a system for remote control of apparatuses offering an optimal compromise between the manufacture complexity and the communication speed of the connection between the local controller mounted on the apparatus and the interface associated therewith.

The foregoing and further aims are substantially achieved by a system for remote control of apparatuses,

in particular industrial apparatuses, in accordance with the features recited in the appended claims.

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the control system in accordance with the invention. This description is taken hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the system in accordance with the invention;

- Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of an interface that can be used in the system seen in Fig. 1; - Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a processing unit of the system shown in Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings, a system for control of apparatuses, in particular industrial apparatuses, in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified with reference numeral 1.

System 1 first of all comprises a plurality of interfaces 20, each of which is associated with a respective apparatus 10 to be controlled and allows a connection with this apparatus.

System 1 further comprises a processing unit 40, operatively associated with interfaces 20 for control of apparatuses 10.

For instance, the processing unit 40 can be connected to the interfaces 20 through a telematic network 30 which can be in particular the Internet, or it can use the GPRS or GSM protocols.

Preferably, each interface 20 has a local positioning with respect to apparatus 10 with which it is associated (i.e. it is positioned in close proximity thereto) ; more specifically the interface 20 can be mounted on apparatus 10.

Said apparatuses 10 can not only consist of industrial machinery, but they can also be automatic vending machines for food and/or drinks, motor-vehicles, automatic dispensers of medicaments, apparatuses for delivery of water, electric energy or gas in houses or offices, and any other type of apparatus/machine that is adapted for automatic control.

The task of the processing unit 40 is to control communication between the apparatuses 10 and the remote operators that, although not in the vicinity of apparatuses 10, are put in a position to monitor and regulate operation of the apparatuses themselves, possibly facing up to situations of failure or anomalies .

Therefore the processing unit 40 comprises first receiving means 41 to receive at least one data item from at least one predetermined apparatus 10; this data item is preferably representative of the operating conditions of said predetermined apparatus 10.

In particular, the data transmitted from the predetermined apparatus 10 can contain an identification code for said apparatus, together with an identification parameter for the type of failure or anomaly that has occurred. The data transmitted from apparatus 10 can also contain, more simply, an

operating parameter detected by a sensor of apparatus 10, and optionally an identification code to identify the sensor that has carried out said detection.

The processing unit 40 further comprises a first selection block 42 operatively associated with the first receiving means 41 to select one or more addressees depending on the received data.

Practically, depending on the apparatus 10 from which the data comes, and the type of information contained therein, the first selection block 42 selects one or more operators to whom a notification signal is to be sent .

For instance, should an apparatus 10 have a mechanical problem inhibiting correct operation of same, the first selection block 42 gives notice of this situation to an operator responsible for mechanical repairs; should apparatus 10 have a too high and unexpected electric energy consumption, the first selection block 42 gives notice of this situation to an operator charged with repairs of the electric components present on the machine .

Generally, the addressees to which the processing unit 10 can send notification signals can comprise operators in charge of servicing or repairs, or high-grade operators to whom decisions concerning management are delegated, etc.

Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the processing unit 40 comprises a second selection block 43 to select one or more communication channels 50 for connection with one or more addressees.

Should the first and second selection blocks 42, 43 be both present in system 1, the communication channels 50 selected by the second selection block 43 will preferably be oriented to communication with the addressees selected by the first selection block 42.

The possible communication channels 50 among which the second selection block 43 can choose are a channel for telephone communication in voice, a facsimile transmission, an E-mail transmission, communications on a telephone network through SMS and/or MMS, etc.

It is to be pointed out that each communication channel 50 is associated with a respective notification device 51, to enable said notification device to give notice to the addressee operator.

Practically, the notification devices may include (fixed and mobile) telephones, facsimile devices, PC,

PDA, etc. and any other type of device through which the operators can carry out interfacing with system 1; these notification devices 51 are sometimes referred to as "Human Interfaces".

Preferably each communication channel 50 is associated with a different "human interface" 51.

At the moment an addressee operator is selected by the first selection block 42, also a "virtual" address (telephone and facsimile address, E-mail address, etc. ) is automatically retrieved in a suitably provided storage register so that this addressee can be reached by means of one or more of said notification devices 51.

The processing unit 40 further comprises first transmission means 44, operatively associated with the first and/or second selection blocks 42, 43 to send at least one notification signal by means of the channel/channels selected by the second selection block 43 to the addressee/addressees preferably selected by the first selection block 42.

The contents of this notification signal clearly are a function of the data coming from the predetermined apparatus 10.

It is to be pointed out that the selection carried out by the second selection block 43 can be performed depending on the data received through the first receiving means 41, and/or on the addressee/addressees selected by the first selection block 42. In other words, the communication channels 50 that are used each time can depend both on the type of information to be transmitted (e.g., for particularly urgent matters a direct telephone call will be used, while for less urgent matters a facsimile or an E-mail that are not necessarily immediately read by the addressee could be sufficient), and on the selected addressee (e.g., as far as operators are concerned who are not usually inside the office or the shed, use of the mobile

(cordless) telephone network will be preferred).

As above said, among the possible communication channels 50 a voice communication channel can be taken into consideration; this type of communication is particularly useful either in case of urgent communications or in the event of operators that usually are hardly reachable with other communication

channels .

In this case, following coming of data from apparatus

10, the processing unit 40 activates a telephone communication with the addressee, during which a voice (a recorded or synthesised voice, for example) gives the selected operator the information relative to said data, enabling the operator himself/herself to subsequently send commands in voice, during the same telephone communication, for regulation of apparatus 10.

Generally, therefore, the notification signal and subsequent response signal can be transmitted/received on a single telephone communication.

The processing unit 40 is further provided with second receiving means 45 to receive at least said response signal from the contacted operator.

Second transmission means 46 sends the response signal to the interface 20, so that said signal can reach apparatus 10 and regulate the same depending on the operator's statements. In fact, the response signal can incorporate a command or an adjustment for apparatus 10, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 40 further comprises an intermediate block 47 operatively interposed between the second receiving means 45 and second transmission means 46.

The intermediate block 47 makes the response signal suitable for transmission through the second transmission means 46; in particular, the intermediate block 47 is provided for conversion from voice signal

into electric signal, should the response signal from the operator be of the voice type.

In particular, the intermediate block 47 can be able to convert the response signal originated from the operator into a signal adapted to be interpreted by the interface 20 and/or apparatus 10, so as to enable the operator's statements to be carried into effect.

Advantageously, for at least one of the addressees selected by the first selection block 42, the second selection block 43 selects a plurality of communication channels 50. In this manner, the addressee can be reached in different ways, depending on the type of information communicated, for example.

By way of example, let us consider the event that an electronic report containing a series of detailed information on an operation cycle of apparatus 1 is to be transmitted to a predetermined operator. Obviously, this report cannot be transmitted through a communication in voice, due to the high amount of information to communicate. Therefore, through a communication in voice the addressee can be informed that the report has been provided, while through facsimile or E-mail transmission the full contents of this report can be sent.

Generally, it is therefore provided that a first notification signal be sent to the addressee through a first communication channel 50 (e.g. notification that the report has been sent) , while a second notification signal is sent, preferably simultaneously, to the same addressee through a second communication channel different from the first one.

Another situation in which sending of the notification signal through a plurality of channels 50 can be useful is that in which the communication channel 50 currently available for the addressee is not known in a precise manner.

Therefore, using more than one channel 50 makes it possible to have a reasonable certitude that the addressee has become acquainted with the notification signal within an acceptable time.

Preferably, the notification signal is sent to the addressee simultaneously on each of the selected channels 50, so as to make transmission quick and efficient.

In the light of the above, it is therefore apparent that there is the possibility both of sending the same notification signal to the same addressee through several different channels and of sending at least two distinct, but mutually connected, notification signals to the same addressee, each signal being sent on a respective communication channel 50.

A further function that can be performed by the second selection block 43 can consist in a plurality of communication attempts subsequent in time, with at least one different communication channel for each attempt, for contacting a given addressee.

In particular, the second selection block 43 can carry out a first communication attempt to contact such a given addressee and, should the first attempt be unsuccessful, make a second attempt using a

communication channel different from the one used for the first attempt.

Should the second attempt too be not successful, the second selection block 43 can make a third attempt with a communication channel different from the two first channels, and so on.

It is to be noted that, while reference has been particularly made to situations of malfunction or anomalies in apparatus 10, the notification signal sent to the selected addressee/addressees can also concern situations of normal control and setting up of the operating steps carried out by the apparatus 10 itself.

As above said, associated with each apparatus 10 is an interface 20 enabling control and adjustment of the apparatus 10 itself.

The structure of an interface 20 that can be used in system 1 will be hereinafter described; however, it should be recognised that the interface 20 can be also used in systems of different type.

The interface 20 (Fig. 2) comprises a series connection module 21 and a parallel connection module 22. The series connection module 21 is used to send and/or receive serial data, while the parallel connection module 22 is used to send and/or receive parallel data.

Through modules 21, 22 different information that is mutually linked, is sent and/or received. During the sending step, through one of the two modules 21, 22, preferably the series module 21, at least one working parameter relating to a command intended for at least

one actuator 11 of apparatus 10 is sent, while through the other module, preferably the parallel module 22, an identification parameter representative at least of actuator 11 to which said command is addressed, is sent.

The identification parameter can be used to identify a single actuator 11 and in this event the working parameter will preferably consist of a command to be executed by such an actuator.

Alternatively, the identification parameter can be used to identify a series of actions that must be performed by one or more actuators, while the working parameter consists of one or more values specifying the modes of performing these actions.

For instance, one of the actions can be defined by the rotation of the output shaft of an electric motor, and the working parameter may in this case indicate the rotation amount (expressed in degrees or revolutions, depending on requirements) .

As better clarified in the following, apparatus 10 is provided with a structure being a mirror image of that of interface 20 for the above described data exchange.

In particular, should the identification parameter be adapted to recognise a series of actions to be carried out, apparatus 10 can be provided with a memory containing the different identification parameters; associated with each of the latter is a respective series of operations to be performed.

When a predetermined identification parameter is sent

by the interface 20 to apparatus 10, a microprocessor 13 selects within said memory, the series of actions to be performed in association with said predetermined identification parameter.

Generally, it is to be noted that, by selecting a series of functions to be performed, the above mentioned identification parameter automatically allows also the actuators for carrying out these operations to be selected.

It is therefore apparent that the identification parameter is in any case adapted to find the actuator or actuators that must perform the set up command/commands : in the simplest embodiment, the identification parameter directly recognises a single actuator (simultaneously, the corresponding working parameter consists of the command to be executed) , while in the more complicated embodiment the identification parameter recognises a plurality of actions, together with the respective actuators that must be activated (the working parameter in this case incorporates specific data consistent with the modes of execution of these actions) .

During the receiving step, through one of the two modules 21, 22, preferably the series module 21, an operating parameter detected by apparatus 10 is received, while through the other module, preferably the parallel module 22, an identification code representative at least of sensor 12 that has detected said operating parameter, is received.

In general, through one of the two modules 21, 22 (in particular the series module 21) there is an exchange

between data relating to commands to be executed or parameters that have been detected, while through the other module (in particular the parallel module 22) there is an exchange of codes or parameters for recognition of the actuator being the addressee of the command or of the sensor that has detected the operating parameter.

The series connection module 21 can be made as a conventional series connection, such as RS232, RS485, USB, Bluetooth, etc., for example

The parallel connection module 22 can be practically made as a plurality of pins disposed mutually close to each other, each of which can be energised or de- energised to transmit a high voltage level or a low voltage level .

Due to the combination of signals of the 0-1 type on said pins, it is possible to recognise each actuator 11 and each sensor 12, so that the working parameters will be correctly sent to the actuator (or actuators) being the addressee (the addressees) , and the detected operating parameters will be correctly interpreted, the sensor 12 from which they come being recognised.

Practically, each actuator 11 and each sensor 12 are associated with respective identification codes or parameters, that can be composed by suitably adjusting the voltage levels on the pins of the parallel connection module 22.

In a preferred embodiment, the interface 20 is provided with connection means 28 to connect the interface 20 itself with a computer 40, preferably located to a

remote position relative to apparatus 10; this connection, as above said, can be obtained through a telematic network 30, such as the Internet for example, or through a GPRS/CDMA, Wi-Fi connection, etc. In this way, operation of apparatus 10 can be remotely controlled by the processing unit 40.

The interface 20 may comprise an auxiliary communication module 28a, operatively interposed between the connection means 28 and the series and parallel modules 21, 22 to enable the remote computer 40 to directly control apparatus 10 without particular processing operations locally performed by the interface 20 being required; in other words, the auxiliary connection module 28a enables possible commands directly sent by the remote computer 40 to be received and be executed substantially in real time.

In addition or as an alternative to the above, the auxiliary communication module 28a allows the detecting operations carried out by sensors 12 of apparatus 10 to be sent to the computer 40 without this data being submitted to particular local processing operations by the interface 20.

In order to manage operation of the connection modules 21, 22, the interface 20 may comprise a processing block 23 operatively associated with such modules 21, 22.

In a preferred embodiment, the working parameter sent through the series connection module 21 can be generated by the processing block 23 depending on the received data, i.e. the received identification code and/or the received detected operating parameter.

In other words, the processing block 23 can be able to independently manage some situations that can occur during operation of apparatus 10. In fact, once a given operating parameter and a given identification code have been received, the processing block 23 is able to interpret the serial data depending on the parallel data (i.e. it associates the received value with the sensor that has generated it, thus giving a meaning to the assembly of information received) ; the processing block 23 can therefore send a suitable command signal

(i.e. a working parameter) to a given actuator, depending on the information received.

For instance, following overheating of a given portion of apparatus 10 (temperature detected by a sensor located close to said portion of the apparatus) , the processing block 23 can send a command to the actuator operating in that portion, in order to reduce the movement speed or the developed force (preferably the command is sent through the serial module 21, the actuator recognition through the parallel module 22), so as to reduce the heat developed therein.

In more detail, the processing block ^' 23 may comprise a first storage register 24 to hold a plurality of working parameters relating to commands that can be sent to the actuators 11 of apparatus 10.

The processing block 23 is further provided with first selection means 25 operatively associated with the first storage register 24 for selecting one or more of said working parameters depending on the data item/data received through the series connection module 21.

The processing block 23 may comprise a second storage register 26 to hold a plurality of identification parameters, each associated with one or more actuators 11, and/or a plurality of identification codes, each being representative of a respective sensor 12 of apparatus 10.

As above described, these identification codes are used to interpret the information transmitted through the serial port 21.

The processing block 23 further comprises second selection means 27 operatively associated with the second storage register 26 to select one or more identification parameters of those contained therein; this selection is advantageously carried out depending on the received data, so that the actuator (or actuators) 11 to which the command is addressed for transmission to apparatus 10 will be suitably selected.

Preferably, the commands that are sent to the actuators selected by the second selection means 27 are exactly the commands selected in the first storage register 24 by the first selection means 25.

In the preferred embodiment, the functions described above with reference to the first and second selection means 25, 27 are performed by the processing block 23 through a structured software code portion.

In particular, this code portion comprises a plurality of conditions, each of which can be identified through at least one of the received serial data; in other words, each condition can be defined by a value range, a threshold value, etc., that are compared with the

received serial data. Depending on this comparison (belonging to a given range, overcoming of a given threshold, etc.) it is therefore established whether each condition is verified or not.

The code loaded into the processing block 23 further comprises one or more activation portions, each associated with at least one of said conditions; each activation portion is carried out depending on whether the corresponding condition is verified or not.

In more detail, each activation portion recognises at least one command and at least one addressee actuator; should the corresponding condition be verified, this command is sent to said actuator, following the above described technique; the identification parameter of the actuator is set up on the output pins of the parallel connection module 22, while the command is sent through the serial port 21. Preferably, the code loaded in the processing block 23 is an XML code. This code can be conveniently used to pass data (in particular, the working parameter transmitted by means of the serial module 21) in a "transparent" manner to apparatus 10, so that this transmission can take place irrespective of the language employed. In this way, the controller 13 (positioned in apparatus 10 to control operation thereof) does not need to be arranged for understanding and processing any particular language, since said working parameter can be directly provided in binary or hexadecimal format.

A quite similar processing operation can be executed should said identification parameter be adapted to identify a series of actions that must be started following occurrence of a predetermined condition; the

identification parameter is sent to apparatus 10, preferably through the parallel port 22, while the corresponding working parameters are preferably sent through the parallel port 21, so that the selected operations can be performed in compliance with that which has been pre-set.

The two above described operating modes can co-exist and refer to situations of different types; situations of the standard type (e.g. normal servicing or problems of simple solution) can be managed by the interface 20, in particular by means of the processing block 23, while more complicated situations (particular failure or malfunctions) can be managed by the computer 40, due to the connection obtained through the connection means 28 and auxiliary communication module 28a.

To this aim, the interface 20 can be provided with an input module (not shown) connected downstream of modules 21, 22 and designed to address the received information to the processing block 23 or the remote computer 40 depending on the gravity and complexity of the situation.

Conveniently the series connection module 21 and parallel connection module 22 can be physically made as a single connector, so as to facilitate connection to apparatus 10 and disconnection therefrom. Should the control operation be delegated to the remote computer 40, the latter can unload into the interface 20, a code portion of limited sizes, merely incorporating one or more identification parameters and one or more working parameters, i.e. the minimum essential information for management of the contingent situation; these parameters will be then transferred to apparatus 10

according to the above described modes.

The last-mentioned feature can be useful to minimise the capacity of the memory installed in the interface 20. Advantageously, the interface 20 can further comprise auxiliary connection means 29 for direct connection with actuators or sensors of the analog or digital type (not shown) , without passing through the local controller 13 - to be better described in the following.

By way of non-limiting example only, types of inputs that can be included in the auxiliary connection means 29 are hereinafter mentioned; 5-24 VDC digital inputs for binary sensors, 220 or 12/24 VDC digital outputs for binary actuators, 0-10 VDC analog inputs for temperature, pressure, humidity, level, etc. sensors and 0-5 VDC analog outputs for possible analog actuators .

Preferably, the interface 20 can be provided with a positioning module 29a in particular of the GPS type, operatively associated with the processing block 23 to remotely transmit the geographic position of apparatus 10.

It is also important to point out that in the present specification the different functional blocks present in system 1 have been represented as above stated for clearness of exposition; actually, the processing unit 40 and/or processing block 23 in the interface 20 can be made with a single electronic device respectively, which is suitably adapted and/or programmed for performing the described functions.

It is to be noted that, as above said, each apparatus

10 can have a quite dual structure relative to that of the interface 20. In fact, apparatus 10, in addition to actuators 11 and sensors 12, may comprise a local controller 13 to control operation of said actuators 11 and sensors 12, and a connecting interface 14 to be operatively associated with said interface 20.

In more detail, the connecting interface 14 is provided with a series connection module 15 and a parallel connection module 16.

The series connection module 15 is used to send and/or receive serial data, while the parallel connection module 16 is used to send and/or receive parallel data.

Through modules 15, 16, different information even if mutually linked together are sent and/or received. During the reception step, through one of the two modules 15, 16, preferably the series module 15, at least one working parameter relating to a command for at least one actuator 11 of apparatus 10 is received, while through the other module, preferably the parallel module 16, an identification parameter is received which represents at least the actuator 11 being the addressee of said command.

During the sending step, through one of the two modules 15, 16, preferably the series module 15, an operating parameter of apparatus 10 is sent, while through the other module, preferably the parallel module 16, an identification code representative of at least the sensor 12 that has detected said operating parameter is sent .

Generally, through one of the two modules 15, 16 (in

particular the series module 15) there is an exchange of working parameters relating to commands that must be executed or of operating parameters that have been detected, while through the other module (in particular the parallel module 16) there is an exchange of the identification parameters of the actuator being the addressee of the command or identification codes of the sensor that has detected the operating parameter.

As above mentioned, the identification parameter sent by the interface 20 to apparatus 10 can recognise a single actuator being the addressee of a command, or a plurality of actions that must be carried out by apparatus 10 by means of one or more actuators.

Correspondingly, the working parameter incorporates the command that must be executed by the individual actuator, or it holds one or more data describing the modes according to which said plurality of actions is to be performed.

The local controller 13 is suitably programmed for handling of the information received and to be sent through the connecting interface 14.

As regards the receiving step, the local controller 13 is able (due to a series of reference identification parameters stored in a main storage register) to recognise the actuator 11 being the addressee of a given command depending on the received high/low pin levels of the parallel module 16; the command simultaneously received through the serial port 15 is therefore imparted to such an addressee actuator 11.

As regards the sending step, the local controller 13,

after receiving a detection carried out by a predetermined sensor 12, sets up the identification code associated with such a predetermined sensor 12 on the pins of the parallel module 16, and simultaneously transmits the value of said detection through the serial module 15.

The local controller 13 can be associated with a memory 13a into which a plurality of reference identification parameters are stored; each of these parameters is associated, in said memory, with one or more actions that must be started in a given situation.

In this case, when the controller 13 receives an identification parameter from the interface 20, it carries out selection of the series of operations associated with such a parameter and operates the concerned actuators 11 for execution of such functions.

The working parameters relating to such functions are provided by the interface 20 as well, preferably through the serial port 21 (co-operating with the serial port 15 of apparatus 10) .

It is to be pointed out that the controller 13 is preferably operatively interposed between actuators 11 and sensors 12 on the one hand, and the connection modules 15, 16 on the other hand, so that communication between apparatus 10 and interface 20 always passes through the controller 13 itself.

In a possible embodiment, the series connection module

15 and parallel connection module 16 are incorporated into a physical connector, interposed between the interface 20 and controller 13; this connector further

comprises a converter circuit of the digital or analog type, capable of converting the information received through the modules 15, 16 into a format usable by controller 13 (typically a control/command proprietary protocol) .

In other words, the connector is connected on the one hand to controller 13 - through a standard connection - and, on the other hand, to the connection modules 15, 16; said logical circuit intended for data conversion between the two formats is interposed in circuit between one connection and the other. In this way it is possible to also adapt already existing standard controllers to the features and protocol used with the interface 20 and the system connected therewith.

The invention achieves important advantages.

First of all, the system allows a quick and efficient transmission between each monitored apparatus and the operators in charge that are contacted in the different situations that may occur.

This communication, due to the modes for obtaining it, allows a wide adaptability and flexibility of use to the control techniques employed.

In addition, due to the structure of the interface 20 interposed between the apparatus 10 and remote computer 40, it is possible to optimise the transmission velocity/manufacture complexity ratio of the interface itself, while at the same time maintaining the production and assembling costs very reduced.

A further advantage resides in the simplification of

understanding and interpretation of the transmitted data, because the amount of information passing through each (serial and parallel) port is greatly reduced.

In addition to the above, by reducing the amount of data transmitted on each port, it is simultaneously reduced the number of possible errors during transmission/reception .