SYSTEM, ASSIGNMENT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TARGETED ASSIGNMENT OF INFORMATION TO COMPONENTS AND / OR COMBINATIONS OF COMPONENTS OF AN AUTOMATION SYSTEM

Abstract

System (1), comprising an engineering system (14) for an automation system (10), and a system (20) comprising an assignment mechanism and an assignment system (25), wherein the engineering system (14) comprises an identification device (142) for identifying a plurality of components (11 to 16) that constitute the automation system (10), wherein at least some of the components are designed for handling an object (5), wherein the identification device (142) forms identification data (30) for a project by conjunction of the individual components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and component combinations, which uniquely describes the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations, wherein the engineering system (14) also comprises a transmission device (143) for transmitting to the system (20),the identification data (30) as a result of the identification of the multitude of components by the identification device (143), wherein the system (20) is configured with the assignment mechanism to assign manufacturer information (50) to the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10) used in such a way that the component combinations of the automation system (10) are linked by disjunction during the assignment, whereby one manufacturer information (50) is assigned to several components / component combinations, and wherein the system (20) is configured to determine whether a message to display the manufacturer information (50) should be delivered to the engineering system (14) in order to avoid malfunctions of the automation system.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a system, an assignment system and a method for the targeted assignment of information to components and / or component combinations of an automation system.

[0002] Component manufacturers for automation technology sell a large number of hardware and software components with a multitude of variants and software versions. Customers, in turn, combine this vast array of components, variants, and software versions in virtually any way they choose to create automation systems. The number of possible component combinations in automation systems is practically unlimited.

[0003] The problem is that, due to the high complexity of the data on the products in use, it is extremely difficult for customers of component manufacturers to find important information about the components and / or component combinations they are using in a timely manner. This can lead to malfunctions in the automation system, resulting in undesirable system downtime, damage to the system, and consequently, production losses and associated costs.

[0004] Important information for the operator of the automation system includes notifications about software updates, such as bug fixes, enhancements, etc., as well as notifications about the discontinuation of certain components or about known malfunctions of individual products and / or product combinations. This includes, for example, information that a software update is available for a deployed hardware-software combination to correct a malfunction, and where the software update can be obtained.

[0005] DE 694 28 400 T2 discloses a method for ensuring compatibility between components of a computer processing system and, specifically, for ensuring the integrity of a system configuration even when improvements to one system component render it incompatible with another component. EP 2 189 899 A1 discloses systems and methods for providing customer-specific messages during a software system extension or update of a process flow control system to avoid default filter settings. The subsequently published EP 2 924 562 A2 discloses a configuration management interface for a multiple controller for a system connection. US 2006 / 0179116 A1 discloses a configuration management system and methods for locating configuration data. US 2008 / 0040455 A1 discloses a model-based deployment and configuration of software in a distributed or decentralized environment.AU 2012 202188 A1 shows an automation control device for a new generation test system.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a system, an assignment system, and a method for the targeted assignment of information to components and / or component combinations of an automation system, with which the aforementioned problems can be solved. In particular, a system, an assignment system, and a method for the targeted assignment of information to components and / or component combinations of an automation system are to be provided, in which automatic, targeted, and unobtrusive delivery of information to the customer is possible.

[0007] This problem is solved by a system for an automation system according to claim 1. The system has an identification device for identifying a plurality of components that constitute the automation system, wherein at least some of the components are configured for handling an object, and a transmission device for transmitting identification data that is a result of the identification of the plurality of components by the identification device, wherein the system is configured to display manufacturer information that has been assigned by an allocation system on the basis of the identification data of the automation system, as specified in claim 1.

[0008] The invention makes the high complexity of data on the components used and the resulting component combinations manageable for the customer of a component manufacturer. Customers no longer have to laboriously search for the required information, e.g., on the manufacturer's website, but are instead informed in a targeted manner about software updates, patches, product innovations, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention provides the component manufacturer with up-to-date information on automation components in the field (e.g., combinations of hardware and firmware versions).

[0010] Thus, the system's engineering system, in cooperation with the allocation system, supports the flow of information between the component manufacturer and the customer or operator of the automation system. The engineering system for the automation system is designed within the allocation system in such a way that automatic, targeted, and unobtrusive delivery of information to a user and / or operator of the automation system is possible.

[0011] The invention thus contributes to improving the customer service of a manufacturer of automation components and / or systems by providing customers with targeted information on the components they use in automation projects or systems. Specifically, the invention represents an improvement to the manufacturer's product portfolio in the area of ​​automation components and engineering tools.

[0012] Advantageous further embodiments of the system are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0013] It is possible that the multitude of components includes hardware and / or software and / or firmware, and / or that the identification data may be a component metamodel that describes a linkage of the components and component combinations of the automation system.

[0014] It is also possible that each component of the multitude of components has a unique key, with the identification device being designed to use the unique key to identify the multitude of components.

[0015] The system described above can be part of the automation system, which may be a plant for manufacturing a product or for carrying out a process.

[0016] The problem is further solved by an assignment system for assigning manufacturer information to components and / or component combinations of an automation system according to claim 5. The assignment system has a generation device for generating an information metamodel for the manufacturer information, wherein the information metamodel specifies for which components and / or component combinations of the automation system predetermined manufacturer information is relevant, a linking device for linking the information metamodel with a component metamodel of the automation system, and an output device for outputting the manufacturer information resulting from the linking by the linking device to the automation system, as specified in claim 5.

[0017] The allocation system achieves the same advantages as previously mentioned in relation to the automation system.

[0018] Advantageous further embodiments of the allocation system are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0019] The allocation system can be a server belonging to a manufacturer of the automation system, with the server being connected to the engineering system via a data network.

[0020] The allocation system can have a search mechanism with which the user or operator of the automation system can actively search for and filter at least one piece of information about at least one of the multitude of components.

[0021] According to one variant, the information is information about a component already used by the customer or about a component that the user or operator of the automation system intends to use in the future.

[0022] The engineering system and the allocation system described above are part of the system.

[0023] The problem is further solved by a method for the targeted assignment of information to components and / or component combinations of the automation system according to claim 10. The method comprises the following steps: Identifying, with an identification device of an engineering system for the automation system, a plurality of components that constitute the automation system, wherein at least some of the components are designed for handling an object; Transmitting, with a transmission device of the engineering system, identification data, which represents a result of the identification of the plurality of components by the identification device, to an assignment system that is arranged externally from the engineering system; Assigning, with the assignment system, manufacturer information to components by the assignment system generating an information metamodel for the manufacturer information.which indicates for which components the manufacturer information is relevant, and the assignment system links the information metamodel with a component metamodel of the automation system, and displays, with a display device at the automation system, the manufacturer information corresponding to the component metamodel for the automation system, as specified in claim 10.

[0024] The process achieves the same advantages as previously mentioned in relation to the automation system.

[0025] Other possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described previously or subsequently with regard to the exemplary embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned. In such cases, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

[0026] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing and by means of exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic block diagram of a system according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 a schematic view with a flowchart of a procedure for creating an information metamodel according to the first embodiment; Fig. 3 a truth table for linking a component metamodel and the information metamodel according to the first embodiment;

Claims

[1] System (1), comprising an engineering system (14) for an automation system (10), and a system (20) comprising an assignment mechanism and an assignment system (25), wherein the engineering system (14) comprises an identification device (142) for identifying a plurality of components (11 to 16) that constitute the automation system (10), wherein at least some of the components are designed for handling an object (5), wherein the identification device (142) forms identification data (30) for a project by conjunction of the individual components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and component combinations, which uniquely describes the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations, wherein the engineering system (14) also comprises a transmission device (143) for transmitting to the system (20),the identification data (30) as a result of the identification of the multitude of components by the identification device (143), wherein the system (20) is configured with the assignment mechanism to assign manufacturer information (50) to the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10) used in such a way that the component combinations of the automation system (10) are linked by disjunction during the assignment, whereby one manufacturer information (50) is assigned to several components / component combinations, and wherein the system (20) is configured to determine whether a message to display the manufacturer information (50) should be delivered to the engineering system (14) in order to avoid malfunctions of the automation system. [2] Engineering system (14) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of components (11 to 16) comprises hardware and / or software and / or firmware, and / or wherein the identification data (30) is a component metamodel which describes a linking of the components (11 to 16) and component combinations of the automation system (10). [3] Engineering system (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each component of the plurality of components (11 to 16) has a unique key (111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161), and wherein the identification device (25) is configured to use the unique key (111, 121, 131, 141, 151, 161) to identify the plurality of components (11 to 16). [4] Automation system (10) with an engineering system (14) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the automation system (10) is a system for manufacturing a product or for carrying out a process. [5] Assignment device (25) for assigning manufacturer information (50) to components and / or component combinations of an automation system (10), wherein the assignment device (25) comprises a generation device (251) for generating an information metamodel (40) for the manufacturer information, wherein the information metamodel (40) indicates for which components (11 to 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10) predetermined manufacturer information is relevant, a linking device (252) for linking the information metamodel (40) with a component metamodel (30) of the automation system (10), and an output device (253) for outputting the manufacturer information resulting from the linking by the linking device (252) to the automation system (10), wherein the linking device (252) is configuredto assign the manufacturer information (50) to the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10) used in such a way that the component combinations of the automation system (10) are linked by disjunction during the assignment, whereby one piece of manufacturer information (50) is assigned to several components / component combinations, and wherein the assignment system (25) is designed to determine whether a message to display the manufacturer information (50) should be sent to the engineering system (14) in order to prevent malfunctions of the automation system. [6] Assignment system (25) according to claim 5, wherein the assignment system (25) is a server of a manufacturer of the automation system (10), and wherein the server is connected to the engineering system (14) via a data network. [7] Assignment system (25) according to claim 5 or 6, furthermore comprising a search mechanism (18) with which the user or operator of the automation system (10) can actively search and filter at least one piece of information about at least one of the plurality of components (11 to 16). [8] Assignment system (25) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the information is information about a component (11 to 16) already used by the customer or about a component (11 to 16) which the user or operator of the automation system (10) wishes to use in the future. [9] System (1; 2), comprising an engineering system (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and an allocation system (25) according to any one of claims 5 to 8. [10] Method for the targeted assignment of information to components (11 to 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10), comprising the steps: Identifying (S10 to S17), with an identification device (142) of an engineering system (14) for the automation system (10), a plurality of components (11 to 16) which constitute the automation system (10), wherein at least some of the components (11 to 16) are designed for handling an object (5); Transmitting (S21), with a transmission device (143) of the engineering system (14), of identification data (30), which is a result of an identification of the plurality of components (11 to 16) by the identification device (142), to an assignment system (25) which is arranged externally from the engineering system (14); Assigning (S10 to S17, S7), with the assignment system (25), of manufacturer information (50) to components (11 to 16),by the assignment system (25) generating an information metamodel (40) for the manufacturer information (50), which specifies for which components the manufacturer information is relevant, and the assignment system (25) linking the information metamodel (40) with a component metamodel (30) of the automation system (10), wherein during the linking an assignment of the manufacturer information (50) to the components (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and / or component combinations of the automation system (10) used in such a way that during the assignment the component combinations of the automation system (10) are linked by disjunction, whereby one manufacturer information (50) is assigned to several components / component combinations, and wherein the assignment system (25) determines whether a message to display the manufacturer information (50) should be delivered to the engineering system (14),which informs about a fault in the components / component combinations assigned to the manufacturer information (50). and displays (S22), with a display device (17) at the automation system (10), the delivered message to display the manufacturer information (50) corresponding to the component metamodel (30) for the automation system (10), in order to prevent malfunctions of the automation system.

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