An OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of industrial communication technology, specifically relating to an OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks. The method includes: constructing an OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks; constructing an OPC UA information model for 5G NR network system equipment; quickly configuring and connecting 5G NR network system equipment to 5G terminals using the OPC UA information model; establishing a connection between the OPC UA server in the 5G terminal and the 5G LAN according to transmission requirements, and configuring the 5G LAN network; when a publisher publishes a topic message containing OPC UA transmission parameters for 5G NR networks, subscribers receive the topic message; and operators read or rewrite data in the OPC UA client through an industrial system at the application layer. This invention enables rapid access to the 5G NR network for multi-source heterogeneous devices in industrial settings, achieving efficient interconnection and interoperability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of industrial communication technology, specifically relating to an OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks. Background Technology

[0002] In the wave of a new generation of technological revolution and industrial upgrading, leading countries around the world are all making the Industrial Internet a strategic direction for their future industrial competitiveness. The foundation of the Industrial Internet lies in building a fast, efficient, and secure network system. Industrial field equipment is diverse, and information systems are often independent. How to quickly integrate data from these field devices and solve the problem of information silos in industrial systems is a challenge for the digital transformation of traditional factories. At the same time, traditional networks cannot meet the needs of low-latency, high-bandwidth application scenarios, and adding 5G modules to all systems would be too costly. Digital transformation requires real-time data communication between cloud platforms, production equipment, management systems, and human-machine interaction systems, placing extremely high demands on rapid deployment, data bandwidth, transmission latency, and data integration. Clearly, traditional industrial communication can no longer effectively support the needs of future intelligent manufacturing.

[0003] Building upon its wireless new radio capabilities, 5G NR networks leverage new technologies such as network slicing and edge computing, offering characteristics like high bandwidth, low latency, wide connectivity, and customizability, aligning well with the needs of the Industrial Internet. Driven by advanced information and communication technologies, the manufacturing industry is undergoing its fourth industrial revolution, demanding broader information sharing within factories. OPC UA, a commonly used protocol standard in Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing production lines, boasts platform independence, scalability, high reliability, and internet connectivity. OPC UA is easy and flexible to use, facilitating the transmission of raw data and pre-processed information from the manufacturing level to the production planning or ERP level. Through information modeling, OPC UA technology enables standardized data and information interaction between equipment, machines, and services across different industries. However, current technologies suffer from weak communication capabilities between OPC UA clients and 5G NR network system equipment, requiring further improvement in human-machine interaction and intelligence. These issues urgently need to be addressed in the information modeling technology for 5G NR network systems in smart manufacturing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes an OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks, which includes:

[0005] S1: Construct an OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks;

[0006] S2: Based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR network, perform OPC UA information modeling for 5G NR network system equipment to obtain the OPC UA information model for 5G NR network system equipment;

[0007] S3: Quickly configure and connect 5G NR network system equipment to 5G terminals based on the 5G NR network system OPC UA information model;

[0008] S4: In the 5G terminal, the OPC UA server establishes a connection with the 5G LAN according to the transmission requirements and configures the 5G LAN network, thereby enabling publishers and subscribers to connect through the 5G LAN network;

[0009] S5: When a publisher publishes a topic message about OPC UA transmission parameters for a 5G NR network, the subscriber receives the topic message to achieve data transmission.

[0010] S6: Operators can read or modify data in the OPC UA client through the industrial system at the application layer.

[0011] Preferably, the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks includes a device layer, a network layer, and an application layer;

[0012] The device layer consists of equipment in the industrial field. Equipment that supports 5G NR networks can be directly connected to the 5G NR network, while equipment that does not support 5G communication can be connected to the OPC UA server through an Ethernet fieldbus or data gateway.

[0013] The network layer is designed for industrial applications.

[0014] The application layer refers to industrial systems geared towards industrial applications, through which operators read or modify data in the OPCUA client.

[0015] Furthermore, the network layer includes a 5G NR network, an OPC UA server, and an OPC UA client; the 5G NR network serves as the system's network channel; the OPC UA server aggregates data from the data gateway and other Ethernet devices in the industrial field, allowing the OPC UA client to read and write the data; the OPC UA client receives and displays data for the application layer subsystem to read and write.

[0016] Preferably, the OPC UA information modeling process for 5G NR network system equipment includes:

[0017] S21: Construction of 5G NR Network System Equipment OPC UA Information Model Architecture: Obtain information on 5G NR network system equipment and its components based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR network, and construct the 5G NR network system equipment information model;

[0018] S22: Information Modeling: Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, construct and instantiate the OPC UA node type model, establish the relationship between multiple components of the 5G NR network system equipment, and complete the construction of the service model for the 5G NR network system equipment;

[0019] S23: Export Documents: Use modeling tools to export the OPC UA information model of 5G NR network system equipment.

[0020] Furthermore, the construction of the 5G NR network system equipment OPC UA information model architecture includes the following steps:

[0021] Requirements analysis for 5G NR network system equipment: Based on the different equipment functions and application scenario requirements of the 5G NR network system, determine the functions of different 5G NR network equipment and the functions of the OPC UA client connected to the equipment;

[0022] 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Acquisition: Acquire information on the 5G NR network equipment and its components to be modeled;

[0023] 5G NR network system equipment and client interaction analysis: When the data of the 5G NR system equipment changes, it receives data updated by the OPC UA client through the OPC UA service;

[0024] 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Model Construction: Construct a 5G NR network system equipment information model based on the information of 5G NR network system equipment and its components.

[0025] Furthermore, the information modeling includes the following steps:

[0026] Define OPC UA node types: Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, map the 5G NR network system equipment and its component information in the 5G NR network system equipment information model to the standard nodes of the OPC UA metamodel;

[0027] Establish a type model: Based on the OPC UA node type and the 5G NR network system equipment and its component information in the 5G NR network system equipment information model, construct an OPC UA node type model;

[0028] OPC UA Node Type Instantiation: Instantiate the OPC UA node type to complete the construction of the OPC UA information model of a 5G NR network system device component;

[0029] Instantiate the information model: Establish the relationships between multiple components of the 5G NR network system equipment, and complete the construction of the device service model of the 5G NR network system OPC UA.

[0030] Preferably, the process by which subscribers receive topic messages includes:

[0031] In 5G LAN networks, subscribers can subscribe to messages by specifying topics or channels of interest.

[0032] The publisher generates a message and sends it to a specific target address and port using the UDP / IP protocol;

[0033] Subscribers receive published messages by listening to specific addresses and ports on the 5G LAN network.

[0034] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention relates to 5G NR networks and the OPC UA protocol. By performing information modeling on the 5G NR network system and selecting communication methods for the 5G NR network, data transmission of OPC UA under the 5G NR network is realized. This enables multi-source heterogeneous devices in industrial sites to quickly access the 5G NR network and achieve efficient interconnection. For example, it can realize real-time acquisition of multi-source heterogeneous data of workshop equipment and flexible networking schemes to meet the application needs of digital workshops. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks in this invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the OPC UA data transmission process under the 5G NR network in this invention;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the setup and configuration process of the OPC UA server in a 5G NR network according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] This invention proposes an OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks to address issues such as complex bus types, numerous protocols, low networking efficiency, and low real-time data transmission performance in industrial field devices. Figure 1 As shown, the method includes the following:

[0040] S1: Construct an OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks.

[0041] This invention designs an OPC UA transmission and communication system for 5G NR networks. It performs OPC UA information modeling on various devices in the 5G NR network system to achieve rapid deployment and connection, improves the communication capabilities of OPC UA servers and OPC UA clients in the 5G NR network, and thus realizes the interconnection and interoperability between industrial field equipment data and various information systems in 5G smart factories.

[0042] The OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks includes a device layer, a network layer, and an application layer. The application layer refers to the industrial system for industrial applications; the network layer refers to the network for industrial applications, including the 5G NR network, the OPC UA server, and the OPC UA client. The 5G NR network serves as the network channel for this system. The OPC UA server aggregates data from the data gateway and other Ethernet devices in the industrial field, allowing the OPC UA client to read and write data. The OPC UA client receives and displays data for the application layer subsystem to read and write. Devices supporting 5G NR networks in the device layer directly connect to the 5G NR network. Industrial field devices that do not support 5G NR communication connect to the OPC UA server via an Ethernet fieldbus or data gateway. The OPC UA server can collect multi-source heterogeneous data and transmit it to the 5G NR network. Data is transmitted to each OPC UA client via the 5G NR network, allowing operators to read or modify data in the OPC UA client through the industrial system in the application layer.

[0043] S2: Based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR network, perform OPC UA information modeling for 5G NR network system equipment to obtain the OPC UA information model for 5G NR network system equipment.

[0044] The OPC UA information modeling process for 5G NR network system equipment includes:

[0045] S21: Construction of 5G NR Network System Equipment OPC UA Information Model Architecture: Based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks, obtain information on 5G NR network system equipment and its components, and construct a 5G NR network system equipment information model.

[0046] Requirements analysis for 5G NR network system equipment: Based on the different equipment functions and application scenario requirements of the 5G NR network system, determine the functions of different 5G NR network equipment and the functions of the OPC UA client connected to the equipment;

[0047] 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Acquisition: Acquire information on the 5G NR network equipment and its components to be modeled;

[0048] 5G NR Network System Equipment and Client Interaction Analysis: When the data of the 5G NR system equipment changes, it receives updated data from the OPC UA client through the OPC UA service.

[0049] 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Model Construction: Construct a 5G NR network system equipment information model based on the information of 5G NR network system equipment and its components.

[0050] S22: Information Modeling: Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, construct and instantiate the OPC UA node type model, establish the relationships between multiple components of the 5G NR network system equipment, and complete the construction of the service model for the 5G NR network system equipment.

[0051] Define the OPC UA node type:

[0052] Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, the information of 5G NR network system equipment and its components in the 5G NR network system equipment information model is mapped to the standard nodes of the OPC UA meta-model.

[0053] Establish a type model:

[0054] Based on the OPC UA node type and the 5G NR network system equipment and component information in the 5G NR network system equipment information model, an OPC UA node type model is constructed. The 5G NR network system equipment and component information includes: attribute information, component information, and methods. The attribute information includes static attributes, process attributes, and configuration attributes. The component information includes controller information, driver information, sensor information, and other component information. The methods include device functions and events.

[0055] OPC UA node type instantiation:

[0056] Instantiate the OPC UA node type to complete the construction of the OPC UA information model of a 5G NR network system device component;

[0057] Instantiate the information model:

[0058] Establish relationships between multiple components of a 5G NR network system device, and complete the construction of the device service model for the 5G NR network system OPC UA. Information model instances for 5G terminals mainly include name, authentication status, network status, data, and location information. Information model instances for 5G base stations mainly include name, authentication status, network status, connectivity, and location information.

[0059] S23: Export Document: Using modeling tools, export the OPC UA information model of the 5G NR network system equipment. The exported document is in XML format.

[0060] S3: Quickly configure and connect 5G NR network system equipment to 5G terminals based on the 5G NR network system OPC UA information model.

[0061] 5G NR network system equipment includes 5G NR network base stations, core network, 5G terminal modules, etc. Industrial field devices connect to the OPC UA server via Ethernet fieldbus or data gateway. The OPC UA server collects data and transmits it to the 5G terminal.

[0062] S4: In the 5G terminal, the OPC UA server establishes a connection with the 5G LAN according to the transmission requirements and configures the 5G LAN network, thereby enabling publishers and subscribers to connect through the 5G LAN network.

[0063] S5: When a publisher publishes a topic message about OPC UA transmission parameters for a 5G NR network, the subscriber receives the topic message to achieve data transmission.

[0064] OPC UA subscribers establish messaging connections with OPC UA publishers by subscribing to topics published by OPC UA publishers; specifically:

[0065] Publishers and subscribers connect to the same 5G LAN network, allowing them to communicate directly. Within the 5G LAN, subscribers subscribe to messages by specifying topics or channels of interest. A topic can be an identifier used to categorize messages.

[0066] The publisher generates a message and sends it to a specific target address and port using the UDP / IP protocol.

[0067] Subscribers receive published messages by listening to specific addresses and ports on the 5G LAN network. Once a message arrives, the subscriber can receive the corresponding message data.

[0068] S6: Operators can read or modify data in the OPC UA client through the industrial system at the application layer.

[0069] like Figure 2 As shown, in some preferred embodiments, client / server communication mode and publish / subscribe communication mode can be selected according to the actual industrial scenario requirements.

[0070] For client / server communication mode:

[0071] After the OPC UA information modeling for 5G NR networks is completed, in order to achieve data transmission in the OPC UA client / server communication mode under the 5G NR network, it is first necessary to ensure that the 5G NR network can achieve normal communication. OPC UA treats the 5G NR network as a local area network for data transmission and reception.

[0072] In OPC UA client / server communication mode, OPC UA uses the standard 5G user plane interface and open capabilities through the 5G NR network user plane network layer interface, transmitting data via the IP communication protocol at the data link layer (L2). In OPC UA publish / subscribe mode, it uses either the IP communication protocol at the network layer (L3) or the Ethernet protocol at the data link layer. The network development capabilities of the 5G NR network elements support network protocol and network service development capabilities, leveraging relevant open tools and APIs to deploy various network functions such as packet processing, data traffic management, network security, and network monitoring. The OPC UA information model of the 5G NR network system achieves seamless connectivity through the API interfaces provided by the open capability network elements of the 5G NR network.

[0073] For publish / subscribe communication patterns:

[0074] The OPC UA publisher and subscriber acquire data from physical devices at the industrial field layer via the OPC UA server and establish a corresponding information model for OPC UA publish / subscribe under the 5G NR network. Then, the network transmission requirements for publish / subscribe communication are sent to the user plane message broker middleware (5G LAN as a brokerless message middleware) through application layer QoS requirements. After the message broker middleware completes the configuration and deployment of the 5G NR network, the publisher and subscriber exchange data through the 5G NR network. Figure 3 As shown, the main steps for setting up and configuring the OPC UA server in the 5G terminal OPC UA publisher in a 5G NR network include:

[0075] Step 1: Create and initialize the OPC UA server for publishers and subscribers in the 5G NR network using the UA_Server_getConfig() function. This mainly includes binding basic configurations such as the OPC UA server's IP address, port number, and secure session, as well as initializing the original OPC UA address space model. After the configuration process is complete, the OPC UA server can be started and stopped using the UA_Server_run() and UA_Server_delete() functions.

[0076] Step Two: Create and Instantiate the OPC UA Information Model. This process begins by creating a 5G NR network-based OPC UA publish / subscribe information model using the OPC UA client software UaModeler, and exporting the generated XML file. The parsed XML file is then compiled to generate a callable parsing function. The OPC UA server calls this function to load the OPC UA information model into its address space.

[0077] Step 3: Send communication transmission requirements for the publish / subscribe communication mode. This process involves the publisher and subscriber sending application-layer QoS requirements, including transmission bandwidth and latency, to the user plane message broker middleware in the 5G NR network.

[0078] Step 4: Data Encapsulation. The OPC UA publisher encapsulates the data into a message, and the receiving end decapsulates it back into the original data format after receiving it.

[0079] Step 5: Check if the data has been updated. This step determines whether the publisher has updated the data. If the data of the 5G industrial terminal equipment has been updated, the write function is called to write the relevant updated values ​​into the publisher's information model and update the address space. The subscriber can subscribe to the semantic information of the publisher's information model in real time, and at the same time determine whether the data of the 5G NR network equipment has been updated.

[0080] In some preferred embodiments, the process of establishing the 5G NR network system equipment OPC UA information model specifically includes:

[0081] 1) 5G NR Network System Requirements Analysis. Based on the production system requirements, confirm the necessary functions of the equipment and the functions of the clients connected to the equipment.

[0082] 2) Acquisition of 5G NR Network System Equipment Information. Based on the proposed basic architecture diagram of the 5G NR network system equipment, and combined with the requirements, functions, and usage of the 5G NR network system equipment used, an equipment architecture diagram is constructed to obtain the equipment information required for modeling.

[0083] 3) Analysis of interaction between 5G NR network system equipment and clients. Clarify the interaction between equipment services and clients, and confirm aspects such as dynamic data changes, data writing, and method usage.

[0084] 4) Construct the 5G NR network system equipment information model architecture. Following the steps above, construct the 5G NR network system equipment information model architecture in three parts: attributes, components, and methods.

[0085] 5) Define the type. Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model architecture, define the OPC UA node type, while referring to the OPC UA specification.

[0086] 6) Establish type models. Based on the defined OPC UA node types, refine the types and construct a complete type model. This requires constructing type models for basic attribute type nodes, device type nodes, and device component type nodes.

[0087] 7) Type instantiation. Based on the OPC UA type model, the type is instantiated to complete the instantiation of the device and device components.

[0088] 8) Instantiate the information model. Based on the type of instantiation, construct a complete instantiation information model for the device.

[0089] 9) Export documents. Export relevant documents based on the instantiated information model.

[0090] The above-described embodiments further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of the present invention. It should be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made to the present invention within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for OPC UA data transmission in 5G NR networks, characterized in that, include: S1: Construct an OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks; S2: Based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR network, perform OPC UA information modeling for 5G NR network system equipment to obtain the OPC UA information model for 5G NR network system equipment; S3: Quickly configure and connect 5G NR network system equipment to 5G terminals based on the 5G NR network system OPC UA information model; S4: In the 5G terminal, the OPC UA server establishes a connection with the 5G LAN according to the transmission requirements and configures the 5G LAN network, thereby enabling publishers and subscribers to connect through the 5G LAN network; S5: When a publisher publishes a topic message about OPC UA transmission parameters for a 5G NR network, the subscriber receives the topic message to achieve data transmission. S6: The operator reads or modifies data in the OPC UA client through the industrial system at the application layer; the process includes: Operators can choose between client / server communication mode and publish / subscribe communication mode based on the actual needs of the industrial scenario; For client / server communication mode: OPC UA treats the 5G NR network as a local area network for data transmission and reception; in the OPC UA client / server communication mode, OPC UA uses the standard 5G user plane interface and open capabilities through the 5G NR network user plane network layer interface, and transmits data through the IP communication protocol of the data link layer. For publish / subscribe communication patterns: The OPC UA publisher and subscriber acquire data from physical devices at the industrial field layer through the OPC UA server and establish a corresponding information model for OPC UA publishing / subscription under the 5G NR network. Then, the network transmission requirements for publishing / subscription communication are sent to the user plane message broker middleware through application layer QoS requirements. After the message broker middleware completes the configuration and deployment of the 5G NR network, the publisher and subscriber exchange data through the 5G NR network.

2. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR networks includes a device layer, a network layer, and an application layer. The device layer consists of equipment in the industrial field. Equipment that supports 5G NR networks can be directly connected to the 5G NR network, while equipment that does not support 5G communication can be connected to the OPC UA server through an Ethernet fieldbus or data gateway. The network layer is designed for industrial applications. The application layer refers to industrial systems geared towards industrial applications, through which operators read or modify data in the OPC UA client.

3. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 2, characterized in that, The network layer includes a 5G NR network, an OPC UA server, and an OPC UA client; the 5G NR network serves as the system's network channel; the OPC UA server aggregates data from the data gateway and other Ethernet devices in the industrial field, allowing the OPC UA client to read and write the data; the OPC UA client receives and displays data for the application layer subsystem to read and write.

4. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The 5G NR network system equipment OPC UA information modeling process includes: S21: Construction of 5G NR Network System Equipment OPC UA Information Model Architecture: Obtain information on 5G NR network system equipment and its components based on the OPC UA communication system model for 5G NR network, and construct the 5G NR network system equipment information model; S22: Information Modeling: Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, construct and instantiate the OPC UA node type model, establish the relationship between multiple components of the 5G NR network system equipment, and complete the construction of the service model for the 5G NR network system equipment; S23: Export Documents: Use modeling tools to export the OPC UA information model of 5G NR network system equipment.

5. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 4, characterized in that, The construction of the 5G NR network system equipment OPC UA information model architecture includes the following steps: Requirements analysis for 5G NR network system equipment: Based on the different equipment functions and application scenario requirements of the 5G NR network system, determine the functions of different 5G NR network equipment and the functions of the OPC UA client connected to the equipment; 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Acquisition: Acquire information on the 5G NR network equipment and its components to be modeled; 5G NR network system equipment and client interaction analysis: When the data of the 5G NR system equipment changes, it receives data updated by the OPC UA client through the OPC UA service; 5G NR Network System Equipment Information Model Construction: Construct a 5G NR network system equipment information model based on the information of 5G NR network system equipment and its components.

6. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 4, characterized in that, The information modeling includes the following steps: Define OPC UA node types: Based on the 5G NR network system equipment information model, map the 5G NR network system equipment and its component information in the 5G NR network system equipment information model to the standard nodes of the OPC UA metamodel; Establish a type model: Based on the OPC UA node type and the 5G NR network system equipment and its component information in the 5G NR network system equipment information model, construct an OPC UA node type model; OPC UA Node Type Instantiation: Instantiate the OPC UA node type to complete the construction of the OPC UA information model of a 5G NR network system device component; Instantiate the information model: Establish the relationships between multiple components of the 5G NR network system equipment, and complete the construction of the device service model of the 5G NR network system OPC UA.

7. The OPC UA data transmission method for 5G NR networks according to claim 1, characterized in that, The process by which subscribers receive topic messages includes: In 5G LAN networks, subscribers can subscribe to messages by specifying topics or channels of interest. The publisher generates messages and sends them to specific target addresses and ports using the UDP / IP protocol; subscribers receive the published messages by listening to specific addresses and ports on the 5G LAN network.

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