Function expansion device, function expansion system, edge device, function expansion method, and function expansion program

Abstract

The function extension cloud (3) manages containers that extend functions and is equipped with a container management unit (34) that selects containers applicable to edge devices (5A) that control factory automation equipment, which is the equipment to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information about the factory automation system including the factory automation equipment, and a transceiver unit (33) that transmits the selected containers to the edge devices (5A), and the containers transmitted by the transceiver unit (33) are loaded onto the edge devices (5A).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a function expansion device, a function expansion system, an edge device, a function expansion method, and a function expansion program for loading a selected container. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been progress in the development of technologies that use container technology to freely change the specifications of equipment, and container technology is also beginning to be applied in the field of FA (Factory Automation).

[0003] In the FA system described in Patent Document 1, an edge device with a container (application) installed controls data exchange with an industrial automation device and a data cloud through the container. This edge device includes a communication connection unit for the industrial automation device, a communication connection unit for the data cloud, two applications that exchange data, and a control device that controls the exchanged data in the form of a firewall or the like. In the FA system described in Patent Document 1, the edge device ensures that one application does not directly exchange data via both communication connection units at the same time, thereby ensuring stable operation of the FA system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-77340 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, FA systems are configured using FA equipment such as servo amplifiers and inverters, and containers mounted on edge devices are not always compatible with the FA equipment. For this reason, the technology of Patent Document 1 above has the problem that, depending on the compatibility with the FA equipment, the container cannot guarantee data communication, and the container may not be properly mounted on the edge device connected to the FA equipment.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a function expansion device that can properly load a container onto an edge device connected to an FA device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the function extension device of the present disclosure includes a container management unit that manages containers for extending functions and selects containers applicable to edge devices that control factory automation devices, which are devices to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information about a factory automation system including the factory automation devices, and a transceiver unit that transmits the selected containers to the edge devices. The function extension device of the present disclosure also loads the containers transmitted by the transceiver unit into the edge devices. The factory automation setting information includes device information, which is information about the factory automation devices and is included in system configuration information of the factory automation system, and system configuration information of the factory automation system including the factory automation devices, and the container management unit The system checks which factory automation devices the container can access based on information about the connection configuration of a group of factory automation devices consisting of multiple factory automation devices, and determines whether the container is compatible with each of the checked factory automation devices based on the device information. Select a container that can be applied to edge devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The function expansion device according to the present disclosure has an effect of being able to properly load a container onto an edge device connected to an FA device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a function extension process executed by a function extension system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a function extension system according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a process executed by a function extension system according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a processing circuit when the processing circuit included in a function-enhanced cloud according to an embodiment is realized by a processor and a memory. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a processing circuit when the processing circuit included in a function-enhanced cloud according to an embodiment is configured with dedicated hardware; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a function expansion device, a function expansion system, an edge device, a function expansion method, and a function expansion program according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of a function extension process executed by a function extension system according to an embodiment. The function extension system 1A includes a function extension cloud 3, an edge device 5A, and an FA device. Although FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the function extension system 1A includes a plurality of FA devices, the function extension system 1A may include a single FA device. The FA device is a device to be controlled by the edge device 5A. Hereinafter, the plurality of FA devices may be referred to as an FA device group.

[0012] 1 shows a case where the function extension system 1A includes one edge device 5A, but the function extension system 1A may include a plurality of edge devices 5A. The function extension system 1A includes a user PC (Personal Computer) 2, which will be described later, but the user PC 2 is not shown in FIG.

[0013] 1 illustrates cases where the FA equipment is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), a servo amplifier, a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) device, a display, an inverter, a robot, an FA sensor, and a rotating machine, but the FA equipment is not limited to these devices. The FA equipment may be, for example, a programmable display, a robot, a machine tool, etc.

[0014] The function extension system 1A is a system that selects a container (container application) applicable to the edge device 5A based on FA setting information, which is information about an FA system that includes a group of FA devices, and changes the specifications of the edge device 5A by setting the selected container in the edge device 5A.

[0015] The FA system is a system for a production line (factory) where machine tools and the like are arranged, and is configured to include a group of FA devices and edge devices 5A. The FA system performs various processes (production, processing, transportation, etc.) using the group of FA devices.

[0016] The FA setting information includes information on the system configuration of the FA system including the group of FA devices arranged on the production line, equipment information which is information on each FA device included in the FA system, and edge information which is information on the edge device 5A connected to the FA devices.

[0017] The system configuration information includes the FA devices that make up the FA system and information about the connection configuration of the FA devices. The device information includes the performance, functions, specifications, and verified FA devices (the names of compatible FA devices) of the FA devices. The edge device 5A information includes the specifications of the edge device 5A (such as the number of ports), the platform environment of the edge device 5A, the version of the platform environment, and the number of data points. The function of the FA device is the role that the FA device has and the processes that the FA device can execute. The specifications of the FA device are the structure and specifications of the FA device required to realize the function of the FA device. Examples of the specifications of the FA device include the type and performance of the CPU (Central Processing Unit), the type and version of the M / W (middleware), memory capacity, command processing time, and number of contacts. Note that if the system configuration of the function extension system 1A is changed, the FA setting information is also changed.

[0018] In the function extension system 1A, a function extension cloud 3 in the platform layer and an edge device 5A in the edge device layer are connected, and data is transmitted and received between the function extension cloud 3 and the edge device 5A.

[0019] The function extension cloud 3 is a computer that updates the specifications of a device control unit 61 (described later) of the edge device 5A by loading a container that extends the function of the edge device 5A into the edge device 5A. The function extension cloud 3 is an example of a function extension device that loads a container that extends the function of the edge device 5A into the edge device 5A. For example, the function extension device may be a cloud management server provided in a cloud, or may be an on-premise management server provided on-premise.

[0020] The function extension cloud 3 updates the old specifications of the device control unit 61 to new specifications by loading a container for function extension into the edge device 5A. The state in which the edge device 5A is loaded with a container means that the edge device 5A has installed the container and it has been confirmed that the use of the container will not cause any problems in the operation of the edge device 5A.

[0021] The function extension cloud 3 manages the edge devices 5A and selects and provides a container appropriate for the edge device 5A to each edge device 5A. The function extension cloud 3 stores various containers and installs the containers in the edge devices 5A that are the management target devices. The function extension cloud 3 configures an appropriate FA system and optimizes the FA system by adjusting (setting) the parameters (setting values) of the edge device 5A and the parameters of the container installed in the edge device 5A. As described above, the parameters adjusted by the function extension cloud 3 in the embodiment include the parameters of the edge device 5A and the parameters of the container installed in the edge device 5A. Hereinafter, when simply referring to parameters, at least one of the parameters of the edge device 5A and the parameters of the container installed in the edge device 5A is included.

[0022] The edge device 5A is a computer that controls the FA devices and collects data from the FA devices. The edge device 5A has, for example, a control device that controls the FA devices to be controlled (control target devices) and an edge unit that expands the functions of the control device. The control device is, for example, a PLC. The edge device 5A expands the functions of the control device by mounting a container on the edge unit.

[0023] The edge device 5A acquires a container for expanding the function of the edge device 5A from the function expansion cloud 3. The edge device 5A also acquires the parameters of the container and the parameters of the edge device 5A from the function expansion cloud 3. The edge device 5A expands the function of the device control unit 61 using the container, the parameters of the container, and the parameters of the edge device 5A.

[0024] In a production line or the like where machine tools and the like are installed, it may be desirable to have an edge device 5A collect data and use the data for AI (Artificial Intelligence) analysis or the like. In the embodiment, for example, when a user requests that the edge device 5A collect and analyze data, the function extension cloud 3 selects candidate containers for data collection and candidate containers for data analysis that are appropriate for the edge device 5A based on the FA setting information of the FA system connected to the edge device 5A, and transmits the selected candidate containers to the edge device 5A. The user selects a desired container from the candidate containers, thereby causing the function extension cloud 3 to transmit the container to the edge device 5A. As a result, the function extension cloud 3 loads the container on the edge device 5A.

[0025] The function extension cloud 3 causes each edge device 5A to perform data collection, data analysis, etc. using containers, and also acquires the data collected and analyzed by each edge device 5A from each edge device 5A. In this way, the edge device 5A collects data using containers and performs AI analysis on the collected data using the containers. Then, the function extension cloud 3 manages and controls the production line using the data collected and analyzed by each edge device 5A.

[0026] The data collected by the edge device 5A includes data for productivity management, data for quality control, etc. The data collected by the edge device 5A may be transmitted to the function extension cloud 3 and analyzed by the function extension cloud 3.

[0027] The user inputs the category of the container (data collection, data analysis, SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), etc.) that the user desires to be installed in the edge device 5A to the function extension cloud 3. Hereinafter, information on the category of the container that the user desires for the edge device 5A is referred to as desired category information. The desired category information includes information that identifies the edge device 5A.

[0028] The user directly inputs the desired category information to, for example, the function extension cloud 3. The user may input the desired category information to the edge device 5A and transmit it from the edge device 5A to the function extension cloud 3. The user may also input the desired category information to an external device such as the user PC 2 and transmit it from the external device to the function extension cloud 3.

[0029] Upon receiving the desired category information, the function extension cloud 3 selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A based on the desired category information, container information, and FA setting information. Here, a container applicable to the edge device 5A is a container that belongs to a category desired by the user, that satisfies specifications desired by the user, and that is compatible with the execution environment and container environment of the edge device 5A. A container that is compatible with the execution environment and container environment is, for example, a container of a version that is compatible with the OS (Operating System).

[0030] Note that even if a container is of a version compatible with the OS, some containers may be incompatible with the edge device 5A, causing problems with certain operations. For this reason, the function extension cloud 3 may create a list of devices such as the edge device 5A that have been verified to operate without problems with the container through operation verification, and may provide the user with the container desired based on this list.

[0031] The function extension cloud 3 may list containers that can be used with a device, instead of listing devices that can be used with a container (devices that have been confirmed to have no problems).

[0032] The container information is information about each container. The container information includes information about the category to which each container belongs. The function extension cloud 3 stores the container information in advance. The function extension cloud 3 may acquire the FA setting information from an external device such as the edge device 5A when receiving the desired category information, or may acquire the FA setting information from an external device in advance and store it.

[0033] The function extension cloud 3 extracts containers belonging to the category desired by the user from all stored containers, for example, based on desired category information and container information. The function extension cloud 3 also determines which FA devices can be accessed by the container based on system configuration information included in the FA setting information, and selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A based on the determination result. That is, the function extension cloud 3 selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A from the extracted containers based on the FA setting information. The function extension cloud 3 then checks the FA devices constituting the FA system based on the system configuration information and determines whether the container is accessible and applicable to each of the confirmed FA devices, thereby enabling selection of an appropriate container after overlooking the entire FA devices constituting the FA system. The function extension cloud 3 lists FA devices compatible with a container, similar to the edge device 5 described above. Alternatively, the function extension cloud 3 may list containers compatible with each FA device.

[0034] The function extension cloud 3 presents a list of selected containers to the user. The function extension cloud 3 presents the list of selected containers to the user by displaying the list of containers on a display device (not shown) or the like. In this way, the function extension cloud 3 allows the user to select a container from the displayed list of containers.

[0035] The function enhancement cloud 3 downloads and installs (silently installs) the container selected by the user to the edge device 5A. Note that the container selected by the user may be downloaded from the function enhancement cloud 3 by the edge device 5A and installed therein.

[0036] The edge device 5A builds a container environment on an OS such as Linux (registered trademark). The container environment is a container setting management system that sets and manages containers, and corresponds to the container management unit 71 described below. The container setting management system sets and manages containers using container setting management software. The edge device 5A is equipped with, for example, a container having a data collection function, a container having an AI analysis function, etc.

[0037] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a function extension system according to an embodiment. The function extension system 1A includes a function extension cloud 3, an edge device 5A, and a user PC 2 that runs an engineering tool 9. Although the FA devices are not shown in Fig. 2, the FA devices are connected to the edge device 5A.

[0038] In the function extension system 1A, the function extension cloud 3 and the edge devices 5A are connected via the Internet 10. Furthermore, each edge device 5A is connected to a user PC 2. Note that the user PC 2 may be connected to the edge device 5A via the Internet 10. In the following description, in the description of data transmission and reception between the function extension cloud 3 and the edge devices 5A via the Internet 10, the fact that the data is transmitted via the Internet 10 may be omitted.

[0039] The function extension cloud 3 has an authentication unit 31, an authentication information storage unit 32, a transmission / reception unit 33, a container management unit 34, a current container storage unit 35, an old container storage unit 36, a system information acquisition unit 37, a fault analysis unit 38, a simulation unit 39, and a parameter setting unit 40.

[0040] The transmitter / receiver 33 transmits and receives data to and from the edge device 5A. Specifically, the transmitter / receiver 33 receives a device ID (IDetification) and the like from the edge device 5A, and transmits container candidates, the container selected by the user, and the like to the edge device 5A.

[0041] Furthermore, the transmitting / receiving unit 33 transmits a request to transmit the name ID to a device on the edge device 5A side (a device in the edge device layer). The name ID is information (such as an ID) that identifies the owner who manages the device ID. When the function extension system 1A includes multiple edge devices 5A, at least some of the multiple edge devices 5A may be associated with the same owner. Hereinafter, the device on the edge device 5A side to which the transmitting / receiving unit 33 transmits the request to transmit the name ID may be referred to as a name ID confirmation device. The name ID confirmation device may be the edge device 5A, the user PC 2, or an administrator PC (not shown) that is the PC of the administrator of the edge device 5A.

[0042] The transmitting and receiving unit 33 also receives a name ID corresponding to the device ID from the name ID verification device. The transmitting and receiving unit 33 also transmits the received device ID and name ID to the authentication unit 31. The transmitting and receiving unit 33 also causes a display device to display a list of container candidates that the container management unit 34 reads from the current container storage unit 35 or the old container storage unit 36. The transmitting and receiving unit 33 also transmits a container selected by the user from the container candidates to the edge device 5A.

[0043] The authentication information storage unit 32 stores an authentication information table in which the name ID, the device ID, and the authority details of each device (such as the containers that are permitted to be used) are associated with each other. The authentication information table is a table for managing the name ID, the device ID, and the authority details of each device.

[0044] The authentication unit 31 authenticates the name ID (such as the name holder) and the device ID (edge ​​device 5A) based on the name ID, the device ID, and the authentication information table. If the authentication of the name ID and the device ID is successful, the authentication unit 31 permits the container management unit 34 to read the container. Based on the device ID and the authentication information table, the authentication unit 31 determines the containers that the container management unit 34 is permitted to read. As a result of the determination, the authentication unit 31 transmits information about the containers (license information) that each edge device 5A is permitted to use to the container management unit 34. The license information that the authentication unit 31 transmits to the container management unit 34 includes device ID information.

[0045] The current container storage unit 35 stores the latest version of the container. The old container storage unit 36 ​​stores containers of older versions (past versions) than the latest container (for example, containers of versions one and two versions before the latest version).

[0046] The container management unit 34 manages the latest version of containers and previous version of containers based on the license information received from the authentication unit 31. The container management unit 34 reads out container candidates from the current container storage unit 35 based on the determination result (license information) from the authentication unit 31, the desired category information received from the user, the container information, and the FA setting information.

[0047] Specifically, the container management unit 34 determines, as a container candidate, a container that is permitted by the license information and corresponds to the desired category information, from among the containers stored in the current container storage unit 35. In this case, the container management unit 34 extracts a container that corresponds to the category specified in the desired category information from the current container storage unit 35 based on the desired category information and the container information. Furthermore, the container management unit 34 determines, from the extracted containers, a container candidate that is applicable to the edge device 5A, based on the FA setting information. That is, the container management unit 34 determines an FA device that can be accessed by the container based on the system configuration information included in the FA setting information, and determines (selects) a container candidate that is applicable to the edge device 5A based on the determination result. The container management unit 34 reads the determined container candidate from the current container storage unit 35.

[0048] The container management unit 34 associates the read container candidates with the device IDs and displays them on a display device or the like via the transmission / reception unit 33. This allows the user to check the container candidates that correspond to the desired category information.

[0049] When a user selects a container from among the candidate containers, the container management unit 34 associates the selected container with the device ID and transmits them to the transmitting / receiving unit 33. As a result, the transmitting / receiving unit 33 transmits the selected container to the edge device 5A corresponding to the device ID.

[0050] Furthermore, when the failure analysis unit 38 requests the container management unit 34 to transmit a container of a previous version (old version) based on the analysis result of the failure analysis by the failure analysis unit 38, the container management unit 34 reads out the container of the previous version that was previously transmitted to the edge device 5A from the old container storage unit 36. The container management unit 34 associates the device ID corresponding to the container of the previous version with the read container of the previous version, and transmits them to the transmitter / receiver 33. As a result, the transmitter / receiver 33 transmits the container of the previous version to the edge device 5A corresponding to the device ID.

[0051] The parameter setting unit 40 sets the parameters of the container installed in the edge device 5A, and also sets the parameters of the edge device 5A in which the container is installed. The parameter setting unit 40 sets the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container in the edge device 5A and the container, which are the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container when the FA system operates without any problems in a simulation by the simulation unit 39.

[0052] The system information acquisition unit 37 acquires FA setting information of the FA system from an external device. The system information acquisition unit 37 may acquire the FA setting information from any external device. For example, the system information acquisition unit 37 may acquire the FA setting information from the edge device 5A, or may acquire the FA setting information from the user PC 2.

[0053] The simulation unit 39 simulates the operation (motion) of the FA system that includes the edge device 5A as a component, using the FA setting information acquired by the system information acquisition unit 37. The simulation unit 39 performs a simulation on the digital twin, for example, using the FA setting information and the container read by the container management unit 34. Here, the simulation unit 39 searches for parameter values ​​(parameter values ​​of the edge device 5A and the container) that allow the FA system to operate without any problems, by performing a simulation while adjusting the parameters of the edge device 5A and the parameters of the container.

[0054] If the simulation unit 39 is unable to find parameter values ​​that will cause the FA system to operate without problems, it transmits the simulation results to the defect analysis unit 38. If the simulation unit 39 is able to find parameter values ​​that will cause the FA system to operate without problems, it transmits these parameter values ​​to the parameter setting unit 40.

[0055] The parameter setting unit 40 sets parameters in the edge device 5A etc. based on the search results of the parameter values ​​by the simulation unit 39. The parameter setting unit 40 may analyze the ladder program executed by the control device (such as a PLC) of the edge device 5A and adjust the parameters required for executing the ladder program.

[0056] An example of a case where the parameters of the ladder program need to be adjusted is when the simulation results of the edge device 5A need to be properly realized. For example, when the edge unit of the edge device 5A collects data from a control device (such as a PLC) of the edge device 5A, it is necessary to synchronize the timing of data reception between the control device and the edge unit. In this case, the parameter setting unit 40 adjusts the timing at which data is passed from the control device to the edge unit. An example of a parameter adjusted by the parameter setting unit 40 is the timing at which device data (data of an FA device) is output.

[0057] When a malfunction occurs in an FA system that includes edge device 5A as a component, failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the malfunction through a simulation by simulation unit 39. For example, by analyzing the malfunction, failure analysis unit 38 identifies the part where the error occurred (error part), the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, the version of the container that caused the error, etc. Failure analysis unit 38 notifies simulation unit 39 of the error analysis result.

[0058] The failure analysis unit 38 notifies the simulation unit 39, for example, of the error portion where the failure occurred. In this case, the simulation unit 39 re-searches for optimal parameters based on the error portion. The simulation unit 39 re-searches for optimal parameters according to the error portion, for example, by executing a simulation using all parameters related to the error portion. The simulation unit 39 notifies the parameter setting unit 40 of the parameters that are the result of the re-search. In response, the parameter setting unit 40 sets the notified parameters in the edge device 5A, etc.

[0059] One of the reasons for this is that the parameter values ​​in the simulation are different from the actual values. For example, if a parameter is left at a default value that is different from the actual value, an error may occur in the simulation.

[0060] Therefore, the defect analysis unit 38 investigates the parameters (values, items) that caused the error, and based on the results of the investigation, obtains the correct parameter values ​​(candidates) for the parameter items that caused the error, and notifies the simulation unit 39 of the obtained parameters.

[0061] The failure analysis unit 38 may obtain the correct parameter values ​​from the user by prompting the user to input the correct parameter values, or may obtain the correct parameter values ​​from a sensor or the like.

[0062] The simulation unit 39 executes a re-simulation based on the parameters newly acquired from the failure analysis unit 38, and when it confirms that no problems will occur in the operation of the FA system, it notifies the parameter setting unit 40 of the parameters that it has confirmed will not cause any problems. In response to this, the parameter setting unit 40 sets the notified parameters in the edge device 5A and the like.

[0063] Other causes of problems include container versions that are incompatible with other containers or with application versions.

[0064] Therefore, the function extension system 1A provides the container to the edge device 5A by taking an overview of the configuration of the FA system. That is, the function extension system 1A does not provide the container to the edge device 5A based only on the compatibility of the control device alone, but provides the container to the edge device 5A based on the FA setting information. In this way, the function extension system 1A guarantees data communication according to the compatibility between the edge device 5A and the FA device.

[0065] For example, when the container management unit 34 receives a notification from the defect analysis unit 38 indicating that the container version is the cause of the defect, if the container of the previous version has a history of use, the container management unit 34 reads the container of the previous version from the old container storage unit 36, referring to the history of use. That is, when the container management unit 34 receives a request to send a container of a previous version from the defect analysis unit 38, the container management unit 34 reads a container of the previous version that has a history of use from the old container storage unit 36. Furthermore, if the container of the previous version has no history of use, the container management unit 34 reads a container of the previous version from the old container storage unit 36.

[0066] The container management unit 34 transmits the read container of the previous version to the edge device 5A via the transmission / reception unit 33. The parameter setting unit 40 adjusts and sets parameters of the container of the previous version newly installed in the edge device 5A.

[0067] The edge device 5A receives containers from the function extension cloud 3 and operates using the containers. The edge device 5A has a control device such as a PLC that controls a group of FA devices, and an edge unit that extends the functions of the control device. Specifically, the edge device 5A has a device control unit 61, a control parameter management unit 62, a device ID management unit 63A, a container management unit 71, a container storage unit 72, and a transmission / reception unit 8. Note that the edge device 5A itself may be a control device such as a PLC.

[0068] In edge device 5A, when the control device and the edge unit are integrated, the control device includes a device control unit 61, a control parameter management unit 62, and a device ID management unit 63A, and the edge unit includes a container management unit 71 and a container storage unit 72. In addition, in edge device 5A, when the control device and the edge unit are separated, the control device includes a device control unit 61 and a control parameter management unit 62, and the edge unit includes a device ID management unit 63A, a container management unit 71, and a container storage unit 72.

[0069] The control device, edge unit, and transceiver unit 8 may each be configured as separate, detachable units, or may be configured as one or two units. When the control device, edge unit, and transceiver unit 8 are each configured as separate, detachable units, the edge device 5A is realized by connecting each unit to a bus (not shown). For example, if the control device is a CPU unit, the edge unit is a function expansion unit connected to the CPU unit, and the transceiver unit 8 is a transceiver unit connected to the CPU unit and the function expansion unit.

[0070] The device control unit 61 controls FA devices such as machine tools and FA sensors. The control parameter management unit 62 manages parameters (such as control parameters) used when the device control unit 61 controls the machine tools and the like. The device ID management unit 63A manages the device ID of its own device (edge ​​device 5A). When its own device is powered on, when the edge device 5A receives a request to send a device ID from a user, or when the edge device 5A receives a request to send a device ID from the function extension cloud 3, the device ID management unit 63A transmits the device ID to the function extension cloud 3 via the transmission / reception unit 8.

[0071] The device ID management unit 63A may manage the name ID. In this case, when a request for the name ID is received from the function extension cloud 3, the device ID management unit 63A transmits the name ID to the transmission / reception unit 8. The name ID may be managed by a unit other than the device ID management unit 63A within the edge device 5A.

[0072] The transmitter / receiver 8 transmits and receives data between the function extension cloud 3, the user PC 2, the administrator PC, and other edge devices 5A. For example, when the edge device 5A is powered on, the transmitter / receiver 8 transmits a device ID to the function extension cloud 3.

[0073] The transmitting and receiving unit 8 also receives a container from the function extension cloud 3 and sends it to the container management unit 71. The transmitting and receiving unit 8 also receives various instructions for the edge device 5A from the user PC 2 and sends them to the container management unit 71 or the device control unit 61. When the transmitting and receiving unit 8 receives FA setting information from the engineering tool 9 of the user PC 2, it sends the FA setting information to the function extension cloud 3.

[0074] The transmitter / receiver 8 also transmits and receives various data (such as information on the control state by the device control unit 61) to and from other edge devices 5A. The information on the control state by the device control unit 61 includes control information when the device control unit 61 controls the FA device, information on the state of the controlled FA device, and the like.

[0075] The container management unit 71 stores the container acquired from the function extension cloud 3 via the transmission / reception unit 8 in the container storage unit 72. The container management unit 71 also sets whether to enable or disable the container acquired from the function extension cloud 3. The container management unit 71 sets whether to enable or disable the container, for example, in accordance with an instruction from the user PC 2. The container management unit 71 may also automatically enable the container, for example, when it is confirmed that the acquired container is a container received from the function extension cloud 3. The container storage unit 72 stores the container acquired from the function extension cloud 3.

[0076] The engineering tool 9 has FA setting information including system configuration information of the production line, and transmits the FA setting information to the function extension cloud 3 via the edge device 5A or directly to the function extension cloud 3.

[0077] In the function extension system 1A, when the function extension cloud 3 receives a device ID from an edge device 5A to be managed, it requests a name ID (name identification information) that is identification information for identifying the name of the edge device 5A from a device (name ID confirmation device) that confirms the name of the device ID. The function extension cloud 3 determines whether the edge device 5A is a legitimate contract device based on the name ID of the owner of the edge device 5A, which is the device for which the container is set.

[0078] When the function extension cloud 3 determines that the edge device 5A is a legitimate contract device, it selects a container for the edge device 5A. That is, the container management unit 34 reads out container candidates from the current container storage unit 35 based on the desired category information, container information, and FA setting information received from the user.

[0079] Then, the function extension cloud 3 displays a list of container candidates on the display device. The function extension cloud 3 transmits a container selected by the user from the displayed container candidates to the edge device 5A. The function extension cloud 3 also adjusts parameters using FA setting information, etc.

[0080] The function extension cloud 3 may determine the container to be transmitted to the edge device 5A based on the desired category information, the container information, and the FA setting information. In this case, the function extension cloud 3 transmits the determined container to the edge device 5A without requiring the user to select a container.

[0081] By expanding the functions of the edge device 5A using the received container, it is possible to not only control conventional FA equipment, but also to enhance the control of FA equipment, and to realize new processes such as data analysis using data obtained from the FA equipment.

[0082] 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the processing executed by the function extension system according to the embodiment. Here, a flow up to when the function extension system 1A loads a container into the edge device 5A will be described.

[0083] The function extension cloud 3 receives desired category information from the user (step S1). The container management unit 34 of the function extension cloud 3 reads out a container corresponding to the desired category information from the current container storage unit 35 and displays it on the display device. Note that the container management unit 34 may omit the process of displaying the container corresponding to the desired category information on the display device.

[0084] Furthermore, the container management unit 34 acquires FA setting information including system configuration information of the FA system (step S2). Note that the container management unit 34 may acquire the FA setting information in advance.

[0085] The container management unit 34 selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A from among the containers belonging to the category defined in the desired category information based on the FA setting information (step S3). The container management unit 34 selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A using the platform environment of the edge device 5A, the version of the platform environment, the number of data points, the verified FA device (the device name of the compatible device), and the like, which are included in the FA setting information.

[0086] The container management unit 34 presents the list of selected applicable containers to the user by displaying the list on the display device via the transmission / reception unit 33. The container management unit 34 reads out the container desired by the user from the current container storage unit 35 (step S4).

[0087] The simulation unit 39 performs a simulation on the digital twin using the FA setting information and the container read by the container management unit 34 (step S5). If the simulation unit 39 is unable to find parameter values ​​that allow the FA system to operate without problems, it transmits the simulation results to the failure analysis unit 38. If a failure occurs in the FA system that includes the edge device 5A as a component through the simulation by the simulation unit 39, the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the failure.

[0088] When the failure analysis unit 38 identifies the error portion where the failure occurred, the simulation unit 39 adjusts the parameters based on the error portion and searches again for optimal parameters by resimulating.

[0089] Furthermore, when the defect analysis unit 38 is able to identify the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, it acquires candidates for the correct parameter value of the identified parameter item and notifies the acquired results (candidates for the parameter value) to the simulation unit 39. In this case, the simulation unit 39 executes a re-simulation using the candidate for the correct parameter value.

[0090] In the function extension cloud 3, the simulation unit 39 repeats simulation and the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the failure until the simulation unit 39 identifies the optimal parameters based on the error location or confirms that no failure occurs through simulation using correct parameter candidates.

[0091] If the failure analysis unit 38 determines that the container version is the cause of the failure, the container management unit 34 reads out the container of the previous version from the old container storage unit 36 ​​.

[0092] In this way, the simulation unit 39 confirms through simulation whether the container read by the container management unit 34 (a container of the category desired by the user) will operate without any problems in the FA system. For example, if the container read by the container management unit 34 is a data collection container, the simulation unit 39 simulates whether the container can properly collect data based on the number of data collection ports, the timing of data transmission and reception, the data format, etc.

[0093] If data is not collected properly in the data collection simulation, the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the error, and the simulation unit 39 either searches for optimal parameters again based on the analysis results or accepts parameter changes from the user. The simulation unit 39 then re-simulates whether data can be collected properly.

[0094] If the error is not resolved even after the simulation unit 39 searches for the parameters again or the user changes the parameters, the container management unit 34 selects a container (for example, a container of an older version) that has specifications that avoid the cause of the error based on the cause of the error (for example, a timing error in data transmission / reception).As a result, the simulation unit 39 performs a re-simulation using the reselected container.

[0095] Furthermore, if the simulation cannot be completed due to a simulation malfunction (missing a simulation), such as the simulation stopping, the function extension cloud 3 resolves the simulation malfunction and then performs the simulation again. For example, the function extension cloud 3 uses a different version of the container to fix the cause of the simulation malfunction and then performs the simulation again.

[0096] The function extension cloud 3 repeats the simulation, the analysis of the defect, and the change of the container until no defect occurs in the simulation (until optimal parameters can be obtained). If no defect occurs in the simulation by the simulation unit 39, the function extension cloud 3 determines the container in which no defect occurs as the container to be sent to the edge device 5A.

[0097] If the simulation result confirms that there is no problem with the container, the function extension cloud 3 installs the container in the edge device 5A (step S6). That is, the transmitter / receiver 33 transmits the container, which has been confirmed by the simulation by the simulation unit 39 to have no problem in the operation of the edge device 5A, to the edge device 5A and installs it therein.

[0098] When the container is actually installed in the edge device 5A, the edge device 5A starts using the container and determines whether or not a malfunction (such as an error) has occurred in the operation (step S7). If no error has occurred (step S7, No), the edge device 5A continues to use the container.

[0099] If an error occurs (step S7, Yes), the edge device 5A notifies the function extension cloud 3 of error information indicating that an error has occurred (error number, information on the location of the error, etc.).

[0100] The simulation unit 39 of the function extension cloud 3 adjusts the parameters of the container (step S8). That is, the simulation unit 39 executes a simulation while adjusting the parameters. The simulation by the simulation unit 39 here is the same processing as the simulation executed by the function extension cloud 3 before installing the container in the edge device 5A. If the simulation unit 39 is unable to find parameter values ​​that allow the FA system to operate without problems, it transmits the simulation results to the failure analysis unit 38, and the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the failure.

[0101] When the failure analysis unit 38 identifies the error portion where the failure occurred, the simulation unit 39 adjusts the parameters based on the error portion and searches again for the optimal parameters.

[0102] Furthermore, when the defect analysis unit 38 is able to identify the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, it acquires candidates for the correct parameter value of the identified parameter item and notifies the candidate parameter value to the simulation unit 39. In this case, the simulation unit 39 executes a re-simulation using the candidate correct parameter value.

[0103] In the function extension cloud 3, the simulation unit 39 repeats simulation and the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the failure until the simulation unit 39 identifies the optimal parameters based on the error location or confirms that no failure occurs through simulation using correct parameter candidates.

[0104] The failure analysis unit 38 determines whether the failure has been resolved by adjusting the parameters (step S9). If the failure has been resolved by adjusting the parameters (step S9, Yes), the parameter setting unit 40 sets the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container that were obtained when the FA system operated without any problems in the simulation by the simulation unit 39, to the edge device 5A and the container.

[0105] On the other hand, if the problem is not resolved by adjusting the parameters (No in step S9), the simulation unit 39 changes the container and executes the simulation again (step S10). When changing the container, the simulation unit 39 changes the current container to another container that is not desired (selected) by the user from among the containers selected based on the FA setting information (applicable containers displayed on the display device), or to a container of an older version.

[0106] The simulation unit 39 preferentially changes the current container to another container not desired by the user among the containers selected based on the FA setting information, but if a specific container has been used in the past, it preferentially changes to a container of a previous version.

[0107] If there are no problems as a result of the re-simulation by the simulation unit 39, the function extension cloud 3 installs the container that is the target of the re-simulation in the edge device 5A (step S11). The container installed in the edge device 5A is a container that has been confirmed to have no problems in the operation of the edge device 5A when used. This allows the function extension system 1A to flexibly build an optimal FA system using container technology.

[0108] Next, the hardware configuration of the function enhancement cloud 3 and the edge device 5A will be described. The function enhancement cloud 3 and the edge device 5A are realized by processing circuits. The processing circuit may be a processor and memory that executes programs stored in memory, or may be dedicated hardware. Note that when the function enhancement cloud 3 and the edge device 5A are realized by processing circuits, each processing circuit has a similar hardware configuration, so here, the hardware configuration of the function enhancement cloud 3 will be described.

[0109] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a processing circuit included in a function-enhanced cloud according to an embodiment, when the processing circuit is realized by a processor and a memory. The processing circuit 90 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a processor 91 and a memory 92. When the processing circuit 90 includes the processor 91 and the memory 92, each function of the processing circuit 90 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is written as a function-enhancing program and stored in the memory 92. The processing circuit 90 realizes each function by having the processor 91 read and execute the function-enhancing program stored in the memory 92. That is, the processing circuit 90 includes the memory 92 for storing the function-enhancing program that results in the processing of the function-enhancing cloud 3. This function-enhancing program can also be considered a program that causes the function-enhancing cloud 3 to execute each function realized by the processing circuit 90. This function-enhancing program may be provided by a computer-readable recording medium on which the function-enhancing program is recorded, or by other means such as a communication medium.

[0110] The function extension program can also be said to be a program that causes the function extension cloud 3 to execute the processes of steps S1 to S6 and S8 to S10 in Fig. 3. Here, the processor 91 is, for example, a CPU, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Also, the memory 92 is, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), or EEPROM (Electrically EPROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a minidisk, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

[0111] 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a processing circuit included in a function-enhanced cloud according to an embodiment, in the case where the processing circuit is configured with dedicated hardware. The processing circuit 93 illustrated in FIG. 5 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The processing circuit 93 may be partially implemented with dedicated hardware and partially implemented with software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit 93 can realize each of the above-described functions by dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0112] As described above, in the function extension cloud 3 according to the embodiment, the container management unit 34 selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A based on the FA setting information, and the transmitter / receiver 33 transmits the selected container to the edge device 5A. As a result, the function extension cloud 3 updates the specifications of the device control unit 61 of the edge device 5A by loading the container transmitted to the edge device 5A onto the edge device 5A. As a result, the function extension cloud 3 can appropriately load the container onto the edge device 5A connected to the FA device.

[0113] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, and parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 1A Function extension system, 2 User PC, 3 Function extension cloud, 5A Edge device, 8, 33 Transmitter / receiver, 9 Engineering tool, 10 Internet, 31 Authentication unit, 32 Authentication information storage unit, 34, 71 Container management unit, 35 Current container storage unit, 36 Old container storage unit, 37 System information acquisition unit, 38 Failure analysis unit, 39 Simulation unit, 40 Parameter setting unit, 61 Equipment control unit, 62 Control parameter management unit, 63A Equipment ID management unit, 72 Container storage unit, 90, 93 Processing circuit, 91 Processor, 92 Memory.

Claims

1. a container management unit that manages containers that extend functions and selects, for an edge device that controls a factory automation device that is a control target device, the container that can be applied to the edge device based on factory automation setting information that is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; a transceiver that transmits the selected container to the edge device; Equipped with The container transmitted by the transmitting / receiving unit is loaded onto the edge device, the factory automation setting information includes device information that is information about the factory automation device and is included in system configuration information of the factory automation system, and the system configuration information of the factory automation system that includes the factory automation device; the container management unit checks which factory automation devices can be accessed by the container based on information about the connection configuration of a factory automation device group consisting of a plurality of the factory automation devices, and determines whether the container is applicable to each of the checked factory automation devices based on the device information, thereby selecting the container applicable to the edge device; A function expansion device characterized by:

2. The factory automation setting information further includes information of the edge device connected to the factory automation device; the container management unit identifies the factory automation devices accessible by the container based on the connection configuration information, determines whether the container is applicable to each of the identified factory automation devices based on the device information, and selects the container applicable to the edge device based on the determination result and the edge device information.

2. The function expansion device according to claim 1.

3. the system configuration information includes a list of the edge devices that have been verified to operate without any problems with the container through an operation verification; the container management unit checks the factory automation devices that can be accessed by the container based on the connection configuration information, determines whether the container is applicable to each of the identified factory automation devices based on the device information, and selects the container applicable to the edge device based on the determination result and the list.

3. The function expansion device according to claim 2.

4. the container management unit determines factory automation devices that can be accessed by the container based on the system configuration information, and determines container candidates that can be applied to the edge device based on the determination result; 2. The function expansion device according to claim 1.

5. a simulation unit that simulates the operation of the factory automation system on a digital twin using the factory automation setting information and the container selected by the container management unit; the transmitting and receiving unit transmits, to the edge device, a container that has been confirmed to have no problem by the simulation performed by the simulation unit.

5. The function expansion device according to claim 4.

6. the simulation unit performs a simulation while adjusting the parameters of the edge device and the parameters of the container, thereby searching for parameter values ​​of the edge device and the parameter values ​​of the container that allow the factory automation system to operate without any problems; 6. The function expansion device according to claim 5.

7. If a problem is found in the container through a simulation by the simulation unit, or if a problem occurs in the operation of the edge device after the edge device has loaded the container, parameters of the container are adjusted, or the container management unit reselects a container according to the cause of the problem.

6. The function expansion device according to claim 5.

8. the simulation unit executes a re-simulation using the reselected container.

8. The function expansion device according to claim 7.

9. a current container storage unit for storing the latest version of the containers; an old container storage unit for storing old versions of containers among the containers; Furthermore, the container management unit selects the container of the previous version from the old container storage unit if the cause of the problem is the version of the container; 8. The function expansion device according to claim 7.

10. A function expansion device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; the edge device; having A function expansion system characterized by:

11. an equipment control unit that controls factory automation equipment that is a controlled device; a transmitting / receiving unit that transmits factory automation setting information, which is information about a factory automation system including the factory automation device, to a function extension device that manages containers whose functions are to be extended and selects the containers, and receives the containers selected by the function extension device based on the factory automation setting information from the function extension device; a container management unit that loads the container received by the transmitting and receiving unit; Equipped with the factory automation setting information includes device information that is information about the factory automation device and is included in system configuration information of the factory automation system, and the system configuration information of the factory automation system that includes the factory automation device; the function extension device checks which factory automation devices can be accessed by the container based on information on the connection configuration of a factory automation device group consisting of a plurality of the factory automation devices, and selects the container by determining whether the container is applicable to each of the checked factory automation devices based on the device information; An edge device characterized by:

12. a selection step in which a function extension device, which manages containers for extending functions and selects the containers, selects the containers applicable to an edge device that controls a factory automation device, which is a control target device, based on factory automation setting information, which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; a transmitting step in which the function extension device transmits the selected container to the edge device; a loading step in which the function extension device loads the transmitted container onto the edge device; Including, the factory automation setting information includes device information that is information about the factory automation device and is included in system configuration information of the factory automation system, and the system configuration information of the factory automation system that includes the factory automation device; In the selection step, the function extension device checks which factory automation devices can be accessed by the container based on information about a connection configuration of a factory automation device group consisting of a plurality of the factory automation devices, and determines whether the container is applicable to each of the checked factory automation devices based on the device information, thereby selecting the container applicable to the edge device. A function expansion method comprising:

13. Administrative steps to manage the containers that extend the functionality; a selection step of selecting the container applicable to an edge device that controls a factory automation device that is a control target device, based on factory automation setting information that is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; a transmitting step of transmitting the selected container to the edge device; a loading step of loading the transmitted container onto the edge device; on the computer, the factory automation setting information includes device information that is information about the factory automation device and is included in system configuration information of the factory automation system, and the system configuration information of the factory automation system that includes the factory automation device; In the selection step, the factory automation devices accessible by the container are identified based on information about the connection configuration of a factory automation device group consisting of a plurality of the factory automation devices, and the container applicable to the edge device is selected by determining whether the container is applicable to each of the identified factory automation devices based on the device information. A function expansion program characterized by:

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