Patent ID: 8050782

Claim:
A method to retrieve, display and manipulate technical data for an industrial device and control the industrial device, the method comprising: selecting utilizing a graphical user interface on a first computing device operated by a user a representation of the industrial device, wherein the first computing device is operatively connected via a data network to the industrial device to carry out at least one of retrieving, displaying or manipulating the technical data for the industrial device or controlling the industrial device, recognizing the first computing device in a vicinity of a separate display member separate from the first computing device and making a connection via the data network between the first computing device and the separate display member, transmitting a reference corresponding to the representation of the industrial device from the first computing device via the data network to the separate display member, displaying on the separate display member a graphical user interface related to the industrial device, operatively linking the separate display member to the industrial device via the data network, such that the graphical user interface displayed on the separate display member is manipulateable to carry out at least one of retrieving, displaying or manipulating the technical data for the industrial device or controlling the industrial device, manipulating the graphical user interface displayed by the separate display member to carry out at least one of retrieving, displaying or manipulating the technical data for the industrial device or controlling the industrial device, and carrying out a data retrieval action via a graphic display on the separate display member by sending a signal from a portable said first computing device to the data network, wherein a portable computing device is arranged for a data retrieval action or control signal for control or supervision of an industrial robot, wherein the portable computing device comprises a teach pendant member for data retrieval, program editing or control of an industrial robot, and wherein the portable computing device is connected to or otherwise activated for data retrieval or control of an industrial robot in way that is hot-pluggable and without pausing or shutting down the industrial robot.