Method for discovering and finishing configuration of equipment under complex network on coal mine site

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for discovering and completing configuration of equipment under a complex network in a coal mine site in the technical field of computer networks and industrial communication. The method comprises the steps that S1, a discovered end carries out broadcast / multicast reporting; s2, the discovery end receives and verifies; s3, the discovery end performs response and bidirectional confirmation; and S4, configuration issuing and execution. According to the invention, key technical means such as an active reporting mechanism, a two-way communication confirmation process and a parameter preset template are introduced, so that the problem that equipment is difficult to automatically identify and configure in an industrial scene is effectively solved; compared with a traditional passive discovery mode depending on DHCP or static IP configuration, the method has the advantage that the applicability, the real-time performance, the safety, the maintainability and the like are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of computer networks and industrial communication technologies, specifically to a network device management method, and more particularly to a device discovery and device function configuration method for a complex network environment in a coal mine. Background Art

[0002] Coal mines typically have one or more production networks, most of which are intranets and lack direct internet access. The current trend is towards integration, or in the process of integration, into a single production network. A coal mine's industrial network is typically isolated from its office network. The industrial ring network is typically a local area network (LAN) with no connection to the public network. When devices are connected to the industrial network, they often cannot obtain an intranet address through methods like DHCP, necessitating manual configuration. When devices are connected underground to the industrial network, they may not be on the same network segment as devices above ground. This may result in connectivity through ARP broadcasts, UDP broadcasts, or automatic negotiation using mDNS. This depends on the security settings of the mine's core switches and the VLAN segmentation policy. Mine production operations, such as remote operation and maintenance (remote control and debugging) and video surveillance, require that the server or router be able to discover devices on the other side of the coal mine's industrial network. These issues require further on-site research to identify appropriate solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Existing network discovery communication protocols and methods are significantly limited by their specific scenarios. Whether through ARP or UDP broadcasts, or automatic negotiation and connectivity based on mDNS, these methods depend on the security settings of the mine's core switch and the VLAN partitioning strategy. This invention provides a method for device discovery and configuration in complex coal mine networks, addressing device discovery in most scenarios and enabling functional configuration of devices.

[0004] The present invention provides a method for discovering and configuring devices in a complex network on a coal mine site, comprising the following steps: S1, broadcast / multicast reporting by the discovery end: After the discovery end is connected to the industrial network, it sends a broadcast or multicast data packet carrying its own network information and device information; S2, discovery end reception and verification: When the discovery end receives the corresponding data packet, it first performs a local verification to see if the relevant device information has been recorded. If not, the device information is saved. If the network information of the discovered device has changed, the relevant information is modified and saved. S3, Discoverer Response and Bidirectional Confirmation: After completing verification, the discoverer unicasts a response packet to the discovered end, notifying the discovered end that it has been identified. After receiving the response packet, the discovered end unicasts a reply packet. The discoverer receives the reply packet from the discovered end, confirming that bidirectional communication is possible. S4, configuration delivery and execution: After confirming that two-way communication is possible, the discovery end unicasts an information parameter data packet to the discovery end; when the discovery end device receives the information parameter data packet sent by the discovery end, it parses the information parameter data packet and updates the relevant network configuration of the device according to the content of the information parameter data packet; when the relevant configuration operations are completed, the configuration data packet is unicasted to the discovery end; when the discovery end receives the configuration data, it confirms that the overall device discovery and configuration process is completed.

[0005] In order to improve the scope of application of the present invention, the present invention also includes a manual mode. In step S1, when the discovered end is connected to the industrial network and cannot obtain the intranet address, manual intervention is adopted. At this time, the predefined parameters are quickly and automatically configured by developing a one-key selection function for the network parameter preset scheme.

[0006] In order to ensure the data transmission effect, as a preference, UDP and / or TCP transmission protocols are used between the discovery ends to realize data transmission.

[0007] In step S1, the sending strategy of the discovered end is as follows: If the discovery end IP is unknown: after accessing the network, broadcast or multicast data packets are periodically sent; If the discovery IP is known: send a unicast packet directly to the discovery IP.

[0008] Among them, in step S2, the verification logic is as follows: If the data packet SN is not recorded, it is inserted into the database and marked as pending configuration; If the packet SN already exists and the IP changes, the record is updated and the reconfiguration process is triggered.

[0009] In step S3, the two-way confirmation mechanism is as follows: After the discovery end sends a response data packet, it starts the timer; After receiving the response data packet, the discovered end replies with a response data packet with an incremented sequence number and carries its own network parameters; If no response is received within the timeout period, the discovery end resends the response data packet.

[0010] In order to be applicable to devices without network interfaces (such as downhole sensors), the discovery end triggers the broadcast through a physical button or light sensor. The discovery end has a built-in QR code, which automatically loads the configuration after scanning.

[0011] In order to prevent SN / MAC forgery, the discovered end and the discovered end use AES encryption fields when sending data packets.

[0012] This paper proposes a device discovery method suitable for complex coal mine network environments. By introducing key technical means such as an active reporting mechanism, a two-way communication confirmation process, and parameter preset templates, it effectively solves the problem of difficult automatic device identification and configuration in industrial scenarios. Compared with traditional passive discovery methods that rely on DHCP or static IP configuration, this paper has significant improvements in applicability, real-time performance, security, and maintainability. This is specifically reflected in the following aspects: (1) Active reporting mechanism based on UDP and TCP broadcast / multicast improves the adaptability and real-time performance of device discovery In existing technologies, devices usually rely on DHCP servers to assign IP addresses before they can be identified by the management end, or require manual pre-configuration of static IP addresses. This has significant limitations in environments such as coal mines where network conditions are unstable and there is a lack of centralized services. The present invention uses a method whereby the device actively broadcasts / multicasts its own information upon power-on, enabling rapid online access without relying on external service nodes. This mechanism ensures that the device is discovered and enters the configuration process in a timely manner, especially when DHCP service is unavailable, greatly improving system deployment efficiency. Technical Effects: Automatic device discovery is achieved in industrial networks without DHCP support; time to device online is shortened, and the degree of automation in network deployment is improved; the need for manual intervention is reduced, lowering operation and maintenance costs. (2) The two-way serial number verification mechanism enhances communication reliability and anti-attack capabilities Traditional device discovery processes are mostly one-way communications, lacking verification mechanisms for data integrity and communication link reliability, and are susceptible to issues such as packet loss and replay attacks. This invention introduces an incremental sequence number (Seq) between the discoverer and the discovered end for bidirectional confirmation, and adds a CRC16 checksum to each data packet to ensure the integrity and order of the communication process. If the discoverer does not receive the expected response, a retransmission mechanism is activated to further ensure the stability of communication. Technical effects: Improved anti-interference capability and fault tolerance of the communication process; prevented configuration errors caused by packet loss or repeated reception; enhanced the system's ability to resist malicious attacks and improved overall security; (3) The network parameter preset template mechanism improves configuration efficiency and flexibility In special industrial environments such as coal mines, due to network limitations, devices may not be able to obtain network parameters through standard protocols. Traditional manual configuration methods are not only inefficient but also prone to errors. The present invention provides a one-click network parameter preset solution. The discovery end can select a preset template through a physical button or a web interface, and batch send the configuration to multiple discovery ends through multicast, realizing fast and unified device initialization configuration. Technical effects: significantly shortened the initial configuration time of the device; supported batch configuration of multiple devices, improving operation and maintenance efficiency; reduced the risk of human configuration errors and improved system consistency.

[0013] (4) Modular design supports multiple alternatives and enhances the scalability and compatibility of the system Based on the core mechanism, the present invention reserves a variety of optional module interfaces, such as TCP protocol transmission, physical trigger mechanism, QR code scanning configuration, AES encryption mechanism, etc. This modular design concept enables the present invention to flexibly adapt to different application scenarios and security level requirements; Technical effects are reflected in: improving the scalability and portability of the system; supporting reuse in different network environments and device types; and meeting the needs of future technological evolution and functional upgrades. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 A flow chart of a method for discovering and configuring devices in a complex network on a coal mine site according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a timing diagram of the method for discovering and completing configuration of devices in a complex network on-site in a coal mine according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The following will be combined with the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The method for discovering and configuring devices in a complex network at a coal mine site includes the following steps: S1, broadcast / multicast reporting by the discovered end; S2, discovery end receiving and verification; S3, discovery end response and two-way confirmation; S4, configuration delivery and execution.

[0017] Specifically, the above-mentioned discovery end (or discovery device) is a terminal (such as a management host or gateway) that actively discovers devices in the network and completes configuration; the discovered end (or discovered device) is a device (such as a sensor or controller) that needs to be identified and configured after accessing the network.

[0018] The prerequisites for communication between the discovery end and the discovered end are: physical network connectivity (if security settings restrict network communication, this solution is not applicable); support for UDP, TCP broadcast / multicast or unicast communication (select based on whether the other party's IP is known).

[0019] In the present invention, the UDP transmission protocol is preferably used between the discovery end and the discovered end, but the TCP transmission protocol can also be used instead of the UDP transmission protocol, adding a three-way handshake and ACK confirmation mechanism, sacrificing real-time performance in exchange for reliability; the present invention can trigger broadcasting through physical buttons or light sensors, and is suitable for devices without network interfaces (such as downhole sensors); the discovery end has a built-in QR code, and the discovery end automatically loads the configuration after scanning; the present invention adds an AES encryption field in the data packets of the discovery end and the discovered end to prevent SN / MAC forgery.

[0020] The following example explains this in detail.

[0021] S1 is the broadcast / multicast report of the discovery end When a discoverer connects to the industrial network, it sends a UDP broadcast or multicast packet containing its own network information and device information (such as the SN). If the discoverer knows the discoverer's IP address, it unicasts a packet containing its own network information and device information to the discoverer.

[0022] Trigger condition: device powered on or network interface activated The data packet format is shown in the following table: Conditional judgment: If the discovery end IP is unknown: After accessing the network, periodically send UDP broadcast / multicast data packets (every 5 seconds, for 30 seconds).

[0023] If the discovery end IP is known: send a UDP unicast data packet directly to the IP with the same content as above.

[0024] S2 Discovery End Receiving and Verification When the discovery end receives the corresponding data packet, it first performs a local check to see if the relevant device information has been recorded. If not, the device information is saved. If the network information of the discovery end changes, the relevant information is modified and saved.

[0025] Local database structure: Taking C++ as an example struct DeviceInfo { char SN

[16] ; / / device serial number char MAC

[12] ; / / MAC address char IP

[16] ; / / latest IP address int Status; / / Online status (0-offline, 1-online) time_t LastUpdate; / / Last update time }; Verification logic: If the data packet SN is not recorded, it is inserted into the database and marked as "to be configured".

[0026] If the SN already exists and the IP changes, the record is updated and the reconfiguration process is triggered.

[0027] S3 Discovery Response and Bidirectional Confirmation After the discoverer completes verification, it unicasts a response packet to the discoverer. The content mainly notifies the discoverer that it has been identified, including the discoverer's IP address, and adds a timestamp and sequence number. After the discoverer receives the packet, it unicasts a reply packet containing the device's own network information, device information, and the reply timestamp and sequence number. The sequence number is incremented by 1.

[0028] The discovery end creates a UDP data packet to receive the corresponding IP based on the last information, and receives a reply data packet from the discovery end to confirm that two-way communication is possible.

[0029] The response data packet sent by the discovery end is shown in the following table: The discovered end responds and two-way confirmation communication is carried out. The two-way confirmation mechanism is as follows: After the discovery end sends the response data packet, a 2-second timer is started.

[0030] After receiving the response data packet, the discovered end replies with data packet Seq+1 and carries its own network parameters (such as subnet mask and gateway).

[0031] If no response is received within the timeout period, the discovery end resends the response data packet (up to 3 times).

[0032] S4 configuration delivery and execution After confirming that two-way communication is possible, the discoverer unicasts an information parameter packet to the discovered device. The packet contains network information and device parameters to be configured. Upon receiving the packet, the discovered device parses it and updates the device's configuration accordingly. Once the configuration is complete, the discovered device unicasts a configuration packet to the discovered device, notifying it of the completion of the configuration. Receiving this information confirms the completion of the device discovery and configuration process.

[0033] It should be noted that the verification of whether the configuration of the discovery end is correct is not related to the present invention and can be developed according to actual conditions. At this time, the discovery end role is a routing relay, and the discovery end can freely access the network and server accessible to the discovery end for verification.

[0034] The configuration data package is shown in the following table: Parameter example: json { "ip": "192.168.1.100", "subnet": "255.255.255.0", "gateway": "192.168.1.1", "security": {"level": 2} } Execution Feedback: After the configuration is applied on the discovery side, a status code of 0x90 (success) or 0x91 (failure) is returned, along with an error log, as shown in the following table: When the discovery end and the discovery end are connected to the industrial network and cannot obtain the intranet address through DHCP or other methods, manual intervention is required. At this time, a one-click selection function for network parameter preset solutions can be developed to quickly and automatically configure the predefined parameters, thereby improving convenience.

[0035] One-click preset trigger: The discovery end provides a physical button or web interface to select a preset template (such as "Coal Mine - Network No. 1").

[0036] Preset parameters include: IP segment, VLAN ID, QoS policy, etc.

[0037] Automatic configuration process: The discovery end sends preset instructions via multicast. After the discovery end receives them, it automatically writes the configuration and restarts to take effect.

[0038] The above description is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field, within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, who makes equivalent replacements or changes based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered by the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network at a coal mine, characterized in that: The steps include: S1, broadcast / multicast reporting by the discovery end: After the discovery end is connected to the industrial network, it sends a broadcast or multicast data packet carrying its own network information and device information; S2, discovery end reception and verification: When the discovery end receives the corresponding data packet, it first performs a local verification to see if the relevant device information has been recorded. If not, the device information is saved. If the network information of the discovered device has changed, the relevant information is modified and saved. S3, Discoverer Response and Bidirectional Confirmation: After completing verification, the Discoverer unicasts a response packet to the Discoverer, notifying the Discoverer that it has been identified. After receiving the response data packet, the discovered end unicasts a reply data packet; the discovered end receives the reply data packet from the discovered end, confirming that two-way communication is possible; S4, configuration issuance and execution: After confirming that two-way communication is possible, the discovering end unicasts an information parameter data packet to the discovered end; when the discovered end device receives the information parameter data packet sent by the discovering end, it parses the information parameter data packet and updates the relevant network configuration of the device according to the content of the information parameter data packet; After completing the relevant configuration operations, the configuration data packet is unicasted to the discovery end; when the discovery end receives the configuration data, it confirms that the overall device discovery and configuration process is complete.

2. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S1, when the discovered end is connected to the industrial network and cannot obtain the intranet address, manual intervention is adopted. At this time, the predefined parameters can be quickly and automatically configured by developing a one-click selection function for the network parameter preset solution.

3. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 2, characterized in that: UDP and / or TCP transmission protocols are used between the discovery end to realize data transmission.

4. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 3, characterized in that: In step S1, the sending strategy of the discovered end is as follows: If the discovery end IP is unknown: after accessing the network, broadcast or multicast data packets are periodically sent; If the discovery IP is known: send a unicast packet directly to the discovery IP.

5. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S2, the verification logic is as follows: If the data packet SN is not recorded, it is inserted into the database and marked as pending configuration; If the packet SN already exists and the IP changes, the record is updated and the reconfiguration process is triggered.

6. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S3, the two-way confirmation mechanism is as follows: After the discovery end sends a response data packet, it starts the timer; After receiving the response data packet, the discovered end replies with a response data packet with an incremented sequence number and carries its own network parameters; If no response is received within the timeout period, the discovery end resends the response data packet.

7. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to claim 1, characterized in that: The discovery end triggers the broadcast through a physical button or a light sensor. The discovery end has a built-in QR code, and the discovery end automatically loads the configuration after scanning.

8. The method for discovering and configuring equipment in a complex network on a coal mine site according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The discovered end and the discovered end use AES encryption fields when sending data packets.

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