Patent ID: 7130701

Claim:
A system for remote configuration monitoring of an industrial control system ( 2 ), the system comprising: a) a device identifier ( 35 ), for determining components of an automation or control device ( 26 ) included in the industrial control system ( 20 ) by periodically querying the device ( 26 ) to obtain from the device ( 26 ) information identifying at least some of its component hardware, software and firmware, the device identifier ( 35 ) for providing a device database ( 33 ) with component identifications for the device ( 26 ); and b) a device configuration manager ( 36 ), responsive to the component identifications in the device database ( 33 ), and further responsive to available device components in a database ( 34 ) of available device components, for comparing the installed device components with the available device components and for providing an offer to upgrade installed device components, wherein the database stores data relating to requests for information regarding the device components.