Patent ID: 7739361

Claim:
A method for process control, comprising the steps of: A. defining on a client digital data processor a virtual machine environment for execution of an applet received from a server digital data processor, B. executing a command processor on the server digital data processor, wherein: (i) the server digital data processor is coupled to a network and to a process control apparatus, (ii) the command processor transfers information between the network and the process control apparatus, and (ii) said process control apparatus comprises control/sensing devices to monitor and/or control a process, C. executing the applet within the virtual machine environment at the client digital data processor, wherein said execution of the applet facilitates (i) establishing communications over the network between the applet and the command processor, (ii) transferring the information between the applet and the command processor for at least one of monitoring and controlling the process control apparatus, wherein the information includes requests generated by the applet for services provided by the command processor, and (iii) at least one of monitoring and controlling the process control apparatus via the command processor based at least in part on the transferred information.