Patent ID: 7836122

Claim:
A method of providing a uniform interface for an industrial controller comprising: employing a processor executing computer executable instructions embodied on a computer readable storage medium to perform the following acts: connecting a client to a first Web server communicating with the industrial controller; executing an applet program at the client to enable the client to exchange data with the first Web server using a standard object protocol; and providing at least two object providers, where a first object provider utilizes the standard object protocol to link a first software object with the client, wherein the first software object employs a first object protocol, wherein a second object provider utilizes the standard object protocol to link a second software object with the client, wherein the second software object employs a second object protocol, wherein the standard object protocol, first protocol, and second protocol are distinct protocols from each other, wherein the first object provider translates communications comprising object oriented instructions between the standard object protocol and the first protocol, wherein the second object provider translates communications between the standard object protocol and the second protocol, wherein at least one of the first or second software objects communicates with one or more industrial controllers.