The Innovation

This patent application concerns a file system for manipulating and accessing data on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), also known as industrial controllers. The invention proposes a web browser-accessible file system for accessing the data in a PLC, addressing the issue of accessing raw binary data, which might originate from electrical signals or process data controlled by the PLC and typically requiring a proprietary external application​​.

Technical Contribution

The board first determined the features of claim 1 disclosed by document D1, which was considered a suitable starting point for assessing inventive step. The examining division and the board agreed that document D1 related to an overall problem similar to the one addressed by the application, as it involved storing measured data from devices controlled by a PLC in files accessed via a web server. However, the appellant contended that D1 did not disclose a persistent file system, data conversion into a user application format, or a user-defined trigger condition for starting data transfer steps. The board found that D1 indeed disclosed a persistent file system and partially agreed with the appellant on other features not disclosed in D1. These features were identified as distinguishing features (DFs)​​.

The board analyzed the technical effect of these distinguishing features, concluding that the features related to data file format, data conversion, and trigger condition (DF1 to DF5) did not provide a technical effect warranting an inventive step. It was considered straightforward to use conversion to a standard user application format and to employ a trigger condition for data conversion, as suggested by document D1. As for the features related to web access and presentation of file listings (DF6 and DF7), these were deemed to implement a non-technical user requirement and were also considered obvious​​.

In assessing the first auxiliary request, the board found that the additional feature of accessing a specific data archive web page stored within the file system module was also obvious in view of document D1 and the common general knowledge at the filing date. Thus, it was concluded that the subject-matter of claim 1 of the first auxiliary request lacked inventive step​​.

Key Findings

• A data archive file in a user application format – non-technical
• Instructions to convert binary data to a user application format – non-technical
• User-defined trigger condition for conversion – non-technical
• Concurrent receiving and storing of binary data during conversion – non-technical
• Web server module outputting a web page listing archive files – non-technical
• Instructions to present a web page listing archive files in response to a request – non-technical

Read the full decision here: T 0030/21 Decision​​​​​​​​.