Patent ID: 7089155

Claim:
A method for remote diagnosis of process states in a system using computer software, the system having a validated state and a non-validated state, wherein either a stored program control system (SPS) or a computer is connected to an Internet server in such a way that a process image of all process states of the system and complete parameterization of the system (actual state) are stored in a secure home page on the Internet server; the SPS or the PC is connected as a subscriber to an e-mail system and transmits status messages via the e-mail system in a secure manner, the computer software of the system being non-modifiable by the SPS or the computer during the remote diagnosis of the system to prevent the system from entering from the validated state into the non-validated state; and installation and parameterization of components of the computer software are stored either as an e-mail or as a secure Internet site.