Patent ID: 8125313

Claim:
A method for managing a mobile operating device for operating each of a plurality of machines that are controlled by a controller, the method comprising: establishing a wireless communication link between the operating device and the controller; providing an RFID transponder on each machine, wherein the RFID transponder establishes an active area for the respective machine; providing a restricted logon for the operating device within each active area via recognition of one of the RFID transponders by the operating device; wherein the controller implements the following alternative steps in case of an error on the wireless communication link: providing an emergency global stop of all of the machines if the error occurs while establishing the wireless communications link; providing a local shutdown of only the respective machine if the error occurs after a logon of the operating device to the active area; providing a global ramp-down of all of the machines according to a user-specified schedule if the error occurs while the operating device is logged off; and providing a local ramp-down of the respective machine according to a user-specified schedule if the operating device leaves the active area for more than a specified duration without logging-off.