Function extension apparatus, function extension system, edge device, function extension method, and function extension program

Abstract

A function extension cloud (3) comprises: a container management unit (34) that manages containers for extending functions, and selects, for an edge device (5A) that controls a factory automation device, which is a device to be controlled, a container applicable to the edge device (5A) on the basis of factory automation setting information, which is information on a factory automation system including the factory automation device; and a transmission / reception unit (33) that transmits the selected container to the edge device (5A). The container transmitted by the transmission / reception unit (33) is mounted on the edge device (5A).

Description

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

[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 mounting a selected container.

[0002] In recent years, the development of technologies for freely changing the specifications of devices using container technology has been progressing, and container technology is also being applied in the field of FA (Factory Automation).

[0003] In the FA system described in Patent Document 1, an edge device equipped with a container (application) controls data exchange with industrial automation devices and a data cloud by the container. This edge device includes a communication connection part for an industrial automation device, a communication connection part for a data cloud, two applications for exchanging data, and a control device for controlling the exchanged data in a form such as a firewall. In the FA system described in Patent Document 1, the edge device guarantees the stable operation of the FA system by ensuring that one application does not directly exchange data through both communication connection parts at the same time.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-77340

[0005] However, the FA system is configured using FA devices such as servo amplifiers and inverters, and the containers installed in the edge device are not always compatible with the FA devices. Therefore, in the technology of Patent Document 1 above, depending on the compatibility with the FA devices, there is a problem that the container cannot guarantee data communication and the container cannot be appropriately installed on the edge device connected to the FA device.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to obtain a function expansion device capable of appropriately mounting a container on an edge device connected to an FA device.

[0007] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objectives, the functional expansion device of this disclosure includes a container management unit that manages containers to expand functionality and selects containers applicable to edge devices that control factory automation equipment, which are the devices to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information of the factory automation system including the factory automation equipment; and a transmitting / receiving unit that transmits the selected containers to the edge devices. Furthermore, the functional expansion device of this disclosure installs the containers transmitted by the transmitting / receiving unit onto the edge devices.

[0008] The functional enhancement device described herein has the effect of enabling the appropriate mounting of containers on edge devices connected to FA equipment.

[0009] A diagram illustrating the concept of the function enhancement processing performed by the function enhancement system according to the embodiment. A diagram showing the configuration of the function enhancement system according to the embodiment. A flowchart showing the processing procedure of the processing performed by the function enhancement system according to the embodiment. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing circuit when the processing circuit of the function enhancement cloud according to the embodiment is implemented with a processor and memory. A diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing circuit when the processing circuit of the function enhancement cloud according to the embodiment is configured with dedicated hardware.

[0010] The following describes in detail, with reference to the drawings, the functional expansion device, functional expansion system, edge device, functional expansion method, and functional expansion program according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0011] Embodiment. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the concept of the function enhancement process performed by the function enhancement system according to the embodiment. The function enhancement system 1A comprises a function enhancement cloud 3, an edge device 5A, and an FA device. Although Figure 1 shows the case where the function enhancement system 1A comprises multiple FA devices, the function enhancement system 1A may comprise only one FA device. The FA device is the device controlled by the edge device 5A. Hereinafter, multiple FA devices may be referred to as an FA device group.

[0012] Furthermore, although Figure 1 shows a case where the function expansion system 1A is equipped with one edge device 5A, the function expansion system 1A may be equipped with multiple edge devices 5A. The function expansion system 1A is equipped with a user PC (Personal Computer) 2, which will be described later, but the user PC 2 is not shown in Figure 1.

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a scenario where FA equipment includes a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), servo amplifier, CNC (Computer Numerical Control) device, display unit, inverter, robot, FA sensor, and rotating machine. However, FA equipment is not limited to these devices. FA equipment may also include, for example, a programmable display unit, a robot, or a machine tool.

[0014] The function expansion system 1A is a system that changes the specifications of the edge device 5A by selecting a container (container application) applicable to the edge device 5A based on FA setting information, which is information of the FA system including the FA equipment group, and setting the selected container on the edge device 5A.

[0015] An FA system is a production line (factory) system where machine tools and other equipment are arranged, and it consists of a group of FA equipment and edge equipment 5A. The FA system uses the group of FA equipment to perform various processes (production, processing, transport, etc.).

[0016] The FA configuration information includes system configuration information of the FA system, which includes the group of FA equipment placed on the production line; equipment information, which is information about each FA piece of equipment included in the FA system; and edge information, which is information about the edge equipment 5A connected to the FA equipment.

[0017] The system configuration information includes information on the FA equipment that makes up the FA system, and the connection configuration of the FA equipment group. The equipment information includes information on the performance, functions, specifications, and verified FA equipment (names of compatible FA equipment) of the FA equipment. The edge device 5A information includes information on the specifications of edge device 5A (number of ports, etc.), the platform environment of edge device 5A, the version of the platform environment, and the number of data points. The functions of FA equipment are the roles that the FA equipment possesses and the processes that the FA equipment can execute. The specifications of FA equipment are the structure and specifications of the FA equipment that realize the functions of the FA equipment. Examples of FA equipment specifications include the type and performance of the CPU (Central Processing Unit), the type and version of the M / W (middleware), memory capacity, instruction processing time, and number of contacts. Note that if the system configuration of the function expansion system 1A changes, the FA setting information will also change.

[0018] In the function expansion system 1A, the function expansion cloud 3 at the platform layer and the edge device 5A at the edge device layer are connected, and data is sent and received between the function expansion cloud 3 and the edge device 5A.

[0019] The function-enhancing cloud 3 is a computer that updates the specifications of the device control unit 61 of the edge device 5A (described later) by installing a container that extends the functionality of the edge device 5A onto the edge device 5A. The function-enhancing cloud 3 is an example of a function-enhancing device that installs a container that extends the functionality of the edge device 5A onto the edge device 5A. For example, the function-enhancing device may be a cloud management server located in the cloud, or an on-premises management server located on-premises.

[0020] The function-enhancing cloud 3 updates the old specifications of the device control unit 61 to the new specifications by installing a container for extending functionality on the edge device 5A. The state in which the edge device 5A has installed the container is a state in which the edge device 5A has installed the container and it has been confirmed that no malfunctions occur in the operation of the edge device 5A as a result of using the container.

[0021] The function-enhanced cloud 3 manages the edge devices 5A and provides each edge device 5A with a container selected according to that edge device 5A. The function-enhanced cloud 3 stores various containers and installs these containers on the edge devices 5A that are the devices to be managed. The function-enhanced cloud 3 builds an appropriate FA system and optimizes the FA system by adjusting (setting) the parameters (setting values) of the edge devices 5A and the parameters of the containers installed on the edge devices 5A. Thus, the parameters that the function-enhanced cloud 3 adjusts in this embodiment include the parameters of the edge devices 5A and the parameters of the containers installed on the edge devices 5A. Hereinafter, when simply referred to as "parameters," it includes at least one of the parameters of the edge devices 5A and the parameters of the containers installed on the edge devices 5A.

[0022] The edge device 5A is a computer that controls the FA equipment group and collects data from the FA equipment group. The edge device 5A has, for example, a control device that controls the FA equipment group (controlled equipment) and an edge unit that extends the functionality of the control device. The control device is, for example, a PLC. The edge device 5A extends the functionality of the control device by mounting a container on the edge unit.

[0023] The edge device 5A obtains a container from the function enhancement cloud 3 to extend the functionality of the edge device 5A. The edge device 5A also obtains the container parameters and the parameters of the edge device 5A from the function enhancement cloud 3. The edge device 5A extends the functionality of the device control unit 61 using the container, the container parameters, and the parameters of the edge device 5A.

[0024] In production lines where machine tools and other equipment are installed, there are cases where it is desirable to have edge devices 5A collect data and use it for AI (Artificial Intelligence) analysis. In this embodiment, for example, when a user requests that edge devices 5A collect and analyze data, the function-enhanced cloud 3 selects candidate containers for data collection and data analysis based on the FA setting information of the FA system connected to the edge device 5A, and sends them to the edge device 5A. The user selects the desired container from the candidate containers, causing the function-enhanced cloud 3 to send the container to the edge device 5A. As a result, the function-enhanced cloud 3 loads the container onto the edge device 5A.

[0025] The enhanced cloud 3 uses containers to enable each edge device 5A to perform data collection, data analysis, etc., and also retrieves the data collected and analyzed by each edge device 5A from each edge device 5A. In this way, the edge devices 5A collect data using containers and perform AI analysis, etc., on the collected data using containers. The enhanced cloud 3 then uses the data collected and analyzed by each edge device 5A to perform production line management and control, etc.

[0026] The data collected by the edge device 5A includes data for productivity management and data for quality management. The data collected by the edge device 5A may also be transmitted to the enhanced cloud 3 and analyzed by the enhanced cloud 3.

[0027] The user enters the desired container categories (such as data collection, data analysis, SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition)) for the edge device 5A into the function-enhanced cloud 3. Hereinafter, the information of the container categories desired by the user for the edge device 5A will be 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, for example, into the function enhancement cloud 3. Alternatively, the user may input the desired category information into the edge device 5A and send it from the edge device 5A to the function enhancement cloud 3. Furthermore, the user may input the desired category information into an external device such as the user PC 2 and send it from the external device to the function enhancement cloud 3.

[0029] When the function-enhanced cloud 3 receives the desired category information, it 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 the category desired by the user, satisfies the specifications desired by the user, and is compatible with the execution environment and container environment of the edge device 5A. A container compatible with the execution environment and container environment is, for example, a container with a version compatible with the OS (Operating System).

[0030] Even if a container is a version compatible with the OS, some containers may be incompatible with edge devices 5A, causing problems with certain operations. For this reason, the enhanced cloud 3 may create a list of devices for which it has been confirmed that there are no operational problems through operational verification targeting devices such as edge devices 5A, and provide the user-requested container based on this list.

[0031] Furthermore, the enhanced Cloud 3 may change its approach from listing compatible devices for containers (devices confirmed to work without issues) to listing compatible containers for devices.

[0032] Container information is information about each container. Container information includes information about the category to which each container belongs. Functionality enhancement cloud 3 stores container information in advance. Functionality enhancement cloud 3 may obtain FA setting information from external devices such as edge devices 5A when it receives desired category information, or it may obtain and store it in advance from external devices.

[0033] The enhanced cloud 3 extracts containers belonging to the category requested by the user from all stored containers, for example, based on the desired category information and container information. Furthermore, the enhanced cloud 3 determines which FA devices the containers can access based on the system configuration information included in the FA setting information, and selects containers applicable to the edge device 5A based on the determination result. In other words, the enhanced cloud 3 selects containers applicable to the edge device 5A from the extracted containers based on the FA setting information. Then, the enhanced cloud 3 checks the FA devices that make up the FA system based on the system configuration information, and determines whether the containers are accessible to each checked FA device and whether the containers are applicable to each FA device. Therefore, it can select appropriate containers after gaining an overview of all the FA devices that make up the FA system. The enhanced cloud 3 also lists the FA devices that are compatible with the containers, similar to the edge device 5 described above. Alternatively, the enhanced cloud 3 may list the containers that are compatible with the FA devices.

[0034] The enhanced cloud 3 presents the user with a list of selected containers. The enhanced cloud 3 presents the user with a list of selected containers by displaying the list on a display device (not shown). This allows the enhanced cloud 3 to allow the user to select a container from the displayed list.

[0035] The Feature Enhancement Cloud 3 downloads and installs (silently installs) the container selected by the user to the edge device 5A. Alternatively, the edge device 5A may download and install the container selected by the user from the Feature Enhancement Cloud 3.

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

[0037] Figure 2 shows the configuration of the functional expansion system according to the embodiment. The functional expansion system 1A includes a functional expansion cloud 3, an edge device 5A, and a user PC 2 for running the engineering tool 9. Although the FA equipment group is not shown in Figure 2, the FA equipment group is connected to the edge device 5A.

[0038] In the function expansion system 1A, the function expansion cloud 3 and the edge devices 5A are connected via the internet 10. Each edge device 5A is connected to a user PC 2. The user PC 2 may also be connected to the edge devices 5A via the internet 10. In the following description, the fact that data is transmitted via the internet 10 may be omitted when describing the transmission and reception of data between the function expansion cloud 3 and the edge devices 5A.

[0039] The function-enhanced cloud 3 includes 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 malfunction analysis unit 38, a simulation unit 39, and a parameter setting unit 40.

[0040] The transmitting / receiving unit 33 transmits and receives data with the edge device 5A. Specifically, the transmitting / receiving unit 33 receives the device ID (IDetification), etc., from the edge device 5A and sends the candidate container, the container selected by the user, etc., to the edge device 5A.

[0041] Further, the transmission / reception unit 33 transmits a request for transmitting a nominal ID to the device on the edge device 5A side (the device in the edge device layer). The nominal ID is information (such as an ID) that identifies the person in charge of managing the device ID. When the function expansion system 1A includes a plurality of edge devices 5A, at least a part of the plurality of edge devices 5A may be associated with the same person in charge. Hereinafter, the device on the edge device 5A side to which the transmission / reception unit 33 transmits a request for transmitting a nominal ID may be referred to as a nominal ID confirmation device. The nominal ID confirmation device may be the edge device 5A, may be the user PC 2, or may be an administrator PC (not shown) of the administrator of the edge device 5A.

[0042] Further, the transmission / reception unit 33 receives the nominal ID corresponding to the device ID from the nominal ID confirmation device. Further, the transmission / reception unit 33 transmits the received device ID and nominal ID to the authentication unit 31. Further, the transmission / reception unit 33 causes the display device to display a list of container candidates read by the container management unit 34 from the current container storage unit 35 or the old container storage unit 36. Further, the transmission / reception unit 33 transmits the 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 a nominal ID, a device ID, and the authority details (such as permitted containers) of each device are associated. The authentication information table is a table for managing the nominal ID, the device ID, and the authority details of each device.

[0044] The authentication unit 31 authenticates the nominal ID (such as the person in charge) and the device ID (edge device 5A) based on the nominal ID, the device ID, and the authentication information table. Further, when the authentication of the nominal ID and the device ID is successful, the authentication unit 31 permits the container management unit 34 to read the container. The authentication unit 31 determines the container to be permitted to be read by the container management unit 34 based on the device ID and the authentication information table. As a determination result, the authentication unit 31 transmits information on the container permitted to be used by each edge device 5A (usage permission information) to the container management unit 34. The usage permission information transmitted by the authentication unit 31 to the container management unit 34 includes information on the device ID.

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

[0046] The container management unit 34 manages the latest version of the container and the past version of the container based on the usage permission information received from the authentication unit 31. The container management unit 34 reads out candidates for the container from the current container storage unit 35 based on the determination result (usage permission 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 candidates for the container, containers that are permitted by the usage permission information and correspond to the desired category information among the containers stored in the current container storage unit 35. In this case, the container management unit 34 extracts, from the current container storage unit 35, containers corresponding to the category specified by the desired category information based on the desired category information and the container information. Further, the container management unit 34 determines candidates for the container applicable to the edge device 5A from the extracted containers based on the FA setting information. That is, the container management unit 34 determines (selects) candidates for the container applicable to the edge device 5A based on the determination result of the FA devices accessible by the container based on the system configuration information included in the FA setting information. The container management unit 34 reads out the determined candidates for the container from the current container storage unit 35.

[0048] The container management unit 34 associates the read candidates for the container with the device ID and causes them to be displayed on a display device or the like via the transmission / reception unit 33. Thereby, the user can confirm the candidates for the container corresponding to the desired category information.

[0049] When a container is selected by the user from among the candidate containers, the container management unit 34 associates the selected container with the device ID and transmits it 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, based on the results of the defect analysis performed by the defect analysis unit 38, if the defect analysis unit 38 requests the transmission of a past version (old version) container, the container management unit 34 reads the past version container 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 past version container with the read past version container and transmits it to the transmit / receive unit 33. As a result, the transmit / receive unit 33 transmits the past version container to the edge device 5A corresponding to the device ID.

[0051] The parameter setting unit 40 sets the parameters of the container installed on the edge device 5A, and also sets the parameters of the edge device 5A on which the container is installed. The parameter setting unit 40 sets the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container to the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container that would be used if the FA system were to operate without problems as simulated by the simulation unit 39.

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

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

[0054] 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 the simulation unit 39 is able to find parameter values ​​that allow 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 for the edge device 5A, etc., based on the results of the parameter value search performed by the simulation unit 39. The parameter setting unit 40 may also analyze the ladder program executed by the control device (PLC, etc.) of the edge device 5A and adjust the parameters necessary for executing the ladder program.

[0056] One example of a situation where adjustment of ladder program parameters is necessary is to properly realize the simulation results of the edge device 5A. For example, when the edge unit of the edge device 5A collects data from the control device (PLC, etc.) 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 of data transfer from the control device to the edge unit. One example of a parameter that the parameter setting unit 40 adjusts is the timing of outputting device data (data from FA equipment).

[0057] The failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of a failure that occurs in an FA system that includes an edge device 5A as a component, using simulations performed by the simulation unit 39. For example, by analyzing the failure, the failure analysis unit 38 identifies the part where the error occurred (error location), the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, and the version of the container that caused the error. The failure analysis unit 38 notifies the simulation unit 39 of the results of the error analysis.

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

[0059] One possible cause of malfunctions is that the simulation parameter values ​​differ from the actual values. For example, if the parameters are left at their default values, which differ from the actual values, errors may occur in the simulation.

[0060] Therefore, the malfunction analysis unit 38 investigates the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, obtains the correct parameter value (candidate) for the parameter item that caused the error based on the investigation results, and notifies the simulation unit 39 of the obtained parameter.

[0061] The malfunction analysis unit 38 may obtain the correct parameter values ​​from the user by prompting the user to input them, or it may obtain the correct parameter values ​​from sensors or other sources.

[0062] The simulation unit 39 performs a re-simulation based on the newly acquired parameters from the failure analysis unit 38. Once it confirms that no problems occur in the operation of the FA system, it notifies the parameter setting unit 40 of the parameters for which it was confirmed that no problems occur. The parameter setting unit 40 then sets the notified parameters in the edge device 5A, etc.

[0063] Other causes of problems include incompatibility between container versions or between application versions.

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

[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 a defect, if there is a record of using a previous version of the container, it reads the previous version of the container from the old container storage unit 36, referring to the past usage record. In other words, when the container management unit 34 receives a request from the defect analysis unit 38 to send a previous version of the container, it reads the previous version of the container that has a record of being used from the old container storage unit 36. Also, if there is no record of using a previous version of the container, the container management unit 34 reads the container of the previous version immediately preceding it from the old container storage unit 36.

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

[0067] The edge device 5A receives containers from the function-enhanced cloud 3 and operates using those containers. The edge device 5A has a control device such as a PLC that controls the FA equipment group, and an edge unit that extends the functions of the control device. Specifically, the edge device 5A has an equipment control unit 61, a control parameter management unit 62, an equipment ID management unit 63A, a container management unit 71, a container storage unit 72, and a transmitting / receiving 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, while the edge unit includes a container management unit 71 and a container storage unit 72. In edge device 5A, when the control device and the edge unit are separate, the control device includes a device control unit 61 and a control parameter management unit 62, while the edge unit includes a device ID management unit 63A, a container management unit 71, and a container storage unit 72.

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

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

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

[0072] The transmitting / receiving unit 8 transmits and receives data between the function-enhancing cloud 3, the user PC 2, the administrator PC, and other edge devices 5A. For example, when power is turned on to an edge device 5A, the transmitting / receiving unit 8 sends the device ID to the function-enhancing cloud 3.

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

[0074] Furthermore, the transmitting / receiving unit 8 transmits and receives various data (such as information on the control status by the equipment control unit 61) with other edge devices 5A. The information on the control status by the equipment control unit 61 includes control information when the equipment control unit 61 controls the FA equipment, and information on the status of the controlled FA equipment.

[0075] The container management unit 71 stores containers acquired from the function-enhanced 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 containers acquired from the function-enhanced cloud 3. For example, the container management unit 71 sets whether to enable or disable containers according to instructions from the user PC 2. The container management unit 71 may also automatically enable a container if it can confirm that the acquired container is a container received from the function-enhanced cloud 3. The container storage unit 72 stores containers acquired from the function-enhanced cloud 3.

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

[0077] In the function expansion system 1A, when the function expansion cloud 3 receives a device ID from the managed edge device 5A, it requests the name ID (name identification information), which is identification information for identifying the name of the edge device 5A, from a device for verifying the name of the device ID (name ID verification device). Based on the name ID of the person who owns the edge device 5A, which is the device targeted for container configuration, the function expansion cloud 3 determines whether the edge device 5A is a legitimate contracted device.

[0078] The enhanced cloud 3 selects a container for the edge device 5A when it determines that the edge device 5A is a legitimate contracted device. Specifically, the container management unit 34 reads a candidate container from the current container storage unit 35 based on the desired category information received from the user, the container information, and the FA setting information.

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

[0080] Furthermore, the function-enhanced cloud 3 may determine which container to send to the edge device 5A based on the desired category information, container information, and FA setting information. In this case, the function-enhanced cloud 3 sends the determined container to the edge device 5A without requiring the user to select a container.

[0081] The edge device 5A can extend its functionality through the received container, enabling it to not only control conventional FA equipment but also to enhance the control of FA equipment, and to realize new processing such as data analysis using data obtained from FA equipment.

[0082] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing steps of the functional expansion system according to the embodiment. Here, we will explain the process from when the functional expansion system 1A loads a container onto the edge device 5A.

[0083] The function-enhanced cloud 3 receives desired category information from the user (step S1). The container management unit 34 of the function-enhanced cloud 3 reads the containers corresponding to the desired category information from the current container storage unit 35 and displays them on the display device. The container management unit 34 may omit the process of displaying the containers corresponding to the desired category information on the display device.

[0084] Furthermore, the container management unit 34 acquires FA setting information, which includes the 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, and the verified FA equipment (device name of the compatible equipment) included in the FA setting information.

[0086] The container management unit 34 presents a list of selected applicable containers to the user by displaying it on a display device via the transmission / reception unit 33. The container management unit 34 reads the container requested 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 sends the simulation results to the failure analysis unit 38. If the simulation performed by the simulation unit 39 results in a failure in the FA system that includes the edge device 5A as a component, the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the failure.

[0088] When the failure analysis unit 38 identifies the error location where the failure occurred, the simulation unit 39 adjusts the parameters based on the error location and re-searches for the optimal parameters through re-simulation.

[0089] Furthermore, if the failure analysis unit 38 can identify the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, it obtains candidate correct parameter values ​​for the identified parameter item and notifies the simulation unit 39 of the acquisition result (candidate parameter values). In this case, the simulation unit 39 performs a re-simulation using the candidate correct parameter values.

[0090] In the enhanced cloud 3, the simulation unit 39 repeatedly performs simulations 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 until it can be confirmed that no failure occurs through simulation using the correct parameter candidates.

[0091] Furthermore, if the malfunction analysis unit 38 determines that the container version is the cause of the malfunction, the container management unit 34 reads out a previous version of the container from the old container storage unit 36.

[0092] In this way, the simulation unit 39 uses simulation to verify whether the container read by the container management unit 34 (a container of a category requested by the user) will operate without problems for 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 collection is not performed properly during the data collection simulation, the failure analysis unit 38 analyzes the cause of the error, and the simulation unit 39 either re-searches for the optimal parameters based on the analysis results or accepts parameter changes from the user. Then, the simulation unit 39 re-simulates whether or not data can be collected properly.

[0094] If the error is not resolved by the simulation unit 39 re-searching for parameters or by the user changing parameters, the container management unit 34 selects a container (for example, a previous version of the container) that has specifications to avoid the cause of the error (for example, a timing error in data transmission and reception) based on the cause of the error. Then, the simulation unit 39 re-simulates with the newly selected container.

[0095] Furthermore, if the simulation fails to complete due to a simulation malfunction (such as a simulation lapse) or other issues, the Enhanced Cloud 3 will resolve the simulation malfunction and then re-run the simulation. For example, the Enhanced Cloud 3 may use a different version of the container to improve the cause of the simulation malfunction and then re-run the simulation.

[0096] The function-enhanced cloud 3 repeats the simulation, fault analysis, and container modification until no more faults occur in the simulation (until the optimal parameters are obtained). If no faults occur in the simulation performed by the simulation unit 39, the function-enhanced cloud 3 determines that the container without faults will be sent to the edge device 5A.

[0097] If the enhanced cloud 3 confirms that there are no problems with the container based on the simulation results, it installs the container on the edge device 5A (step S6). In other words, the transmitting / receiving unit 33 sends and installs the container on the edge device 5A, after confirming through simulation by the simulation unit 39 that there are no problems with the operation of the edge device 5A.

[0098] Once the container is actually implemented on the edge device 5A, the edge device 5A starts using the container and determines whether or not a malfunction (error, etc.) has occurred in its 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 enhancement cloud 3 of the error information (error number, information on the location of the error, etc.) indicating that an error has occurred.

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

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

[0102] Furthermore, if the failure analysis unit 38 can identify the parameter (value, item) that caused the error, it obtains candidate correct parameter values ​​for the identified parameter item and notifies the simulation unit 39 of the candidate parameter values. In this case, the simulation unit 39 performs a re-simulation using the candidate correct parameter values.

[0103] In the enhanced cloud 3, the simulation unit 39 repeatedly performs simulations 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 until it can be confirmed that no failure occurs through simulation using the correct parameter candidates.

[0104] The malfunction analysis unit 38 determines whether the malfunction has been resolved by adjusting the parameters (step S9). If the malfunction 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 to the parameters of the edge device 5A and the container, which are those that the FA system would have if it had operated without problems as determined by the simulation unit 39.

[0105] On the other hand, if the problem is not resolved by adjusting the parameters (step S9, No), the simulation unit 39 changes the container and performs a re-simulation (step S10). When changing the container, the simulation unit 39 changes the current container to another container that was 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 from a previous version.

[0106] The simulation unit 39 prioritizes changing the current container to another container selected based on the FA setting information that was not requested by the user. However, if a particular container has been used in the past, it prioritizes changing to a previous version of the container.

[0107] If the re-simulation by the simulation unit 39 reveals no problems, the function-enhanced cloud 3 installs the container that was the target of the re-simulation onto the edge device 5A (step S11). The container installed on the edge device 5A is a container that has been confirmed not to cause any malfunctions in the operation of the edge device 5A due to its use. As a result, the function-enhanced system 1A can flexibly build an optimal FA system using container technology.

[0108] Next, the hardware configuration of the enhanced cloud 3 and edge device 5A will be described. The enhanced cloud 3 and edge device 5A are implemented by processing circuits. The processing circuits may be a processor and memory that execute programs stored in memory, or they may be dedicated hardware. In the case where the enhanced cloud 3 and edge device 5A are implemented by processing circuits, each processing circuit has a similar hardware configuration, so here we will describe the hardware configuration of the enhanced cloud 3.

[0109] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing circuit when the processing circuit of the functional enhancement cloud according to the embodiment is realized with a processor and memory. The processing circuit 90 shown in Figure 4 comprises a processor 91 and memory 92. When the processing circuit 90 is composed of a processor 91 and 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 functional enhancement program and stored in memory 92. In the processing circuit 90, each function is realized by the processor 91 reading and executing the functional enhancement program stored in memory 92. In other words, the processing circuit 90 includes memory 92 for storing the functional enhancement program, which will ultimately be executed by the processing of the functional enhancement cloud 3. This functional enhancement program can also be said to be a program that causes the functional enhancement cloud 3 to execute each function realized by the processing circuit 90. This functional enhancement program may be provided on a computer-readable recording medium on which the functional enhancement program is recorded, or it may be provided by other means such as a communication medium.

[0110] The above-mentioned function extension program can also be described as a program that causes the function extension cloud 3 to execute the processes in steps S1 to S6 and S8 to S10 of Figure 3. Here, the processor 91 is, for example, a CPU, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor). 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), EEPROM (Registered Trademark) (Electrically EPROM), magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, minidisc, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

[0111] Figure 5 shows an example of the configuration of a processing circuit when the processing circuit of the functional enhancement cloud according to the embodiment is configured with dedicated hardware. The processing circuit 93 shown in Figure 5 may be, 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 functions by dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0112] In this embodiment, the function-enhanced cloud 3 has a container management unit 34 that selects a container applicable to the edge device 5A based on FA setting information, and a transmitting / receiving unit 33 that transmits the selected container to the edge device 5A. As a result, the function-enhanced cloud 3 updates the specifications of the device control unit 61 of the edge device 5A by having the transmitted container installed on the edge device 5A. This allows the function-enhanced cloud 3 to properly install containers on the edge device 5A connected to the FA equipment.

[0113] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and can be combined with other known technologies. It is also possible to omit or modify parts of the configuration without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0114] 1A Function expansion system, 2 User PC, 3 Function expansion cloud, 5A Edge device, 8, 33 Transmitter / receiver unit, 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 Device control unit, 62 Control parameter management unit, 63A Device ID management unit, 72 Container storage unit, 90, 93 Processing circuit, 91 Processor, 92 Memory.

Claims

1. A function expansion device comprising: a container management unit that manages containers for expanding functionality and selects a container applicable to an edge device that controls a factory automation device, which is a device to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; and a transmitting / receiving unit that transmits the selected container to the edge device, wherein the container transmitted by the transmitting / receiving unit is mounted on the edge device.

2. The function expansion device according to claim 1, wherein the factory automation setting information includes information on the system configuration of the factory automation system, the container management unit determines the factory automation equipment that the container can access based on the system configuration information, and determines candidate containers applicable to the edge equipment based on the determination result.

3. The functional expansion device according to claim 2, further comprising a simulation unit that simulates the operation of the factory automation system on a digital twin using the factory automation setting information and containers selected by the container management unit, wherein the transmitting / receiving unit transmits containers that have been confirmed to be free of problems by the simulation performed by the simulation unit to the edge device.

4. The function expansion device according to claim 3, characterized in that the simulation unit searches for parameter values ​​for the edge device and the container that allow the factory automation system to operate without problems by performing simulations while adjusting the parameters of the edge device and the container.

5. The functional expansion device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that 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, the parameters of the container are adjusted, or the container management unit re-selects a container according to the cause of the problem.

6. The functional expansion device according to claim 5, characterized in that the simulation unit performs a re-simulation using the re-selected container.

7. The functional expansion device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising: a current container storage unit for storing the latest version of the container; and a past container storage unit for storing older, past version containers, wherein the container management unit selects the past version container from the past container storage unit if the cause of the problem is the version of the container.

8. A function expansion system comprising: a function expansion device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and the edge device, wherein the function expansion device comprises: a container management unit that selects the container applicable to the edge device based on factory automation setting information which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; and a transmitting / receiving unit that transmits the selected container to the edge device, and the function expansion system is characterized in that the container transmitted by the transmitting / receiving unit is mounted on the edge device.

9. An edge device comprising: an equipment control unit for controlling a factory automation device which is a device to be controlled; a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits factory automation setting information, which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device, to a function expansion device that manages and selects containers to expand the functionality, and receives the containers selected by the function expansion device based on the factory automation setting information from the function expansion device; and a container management unit that houses the containers received by the transmitting and receiving unit.

10. A function expansion method characterized by comprising: a selection step in which a function expansion device that manages and selects a container for expanding a function selects a container applicable to an edge device that controls a factory automation device, which is a device to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; a transmission step in which the function expansion device transmits the selected container to the edge device; and a mounting step in which the function expansion device mounts the transmitted container to the edge device.

11. A function extension program characterized by causing a computer to execute the following steps: a management step for managing containers that extend functionality; a selection step for selecting a container applicable to an edge device that controls a factory automation device, which is a device to be controlled, based on factory automation setting information, which is information of a factory automation system including the factory automation device; a transmission step for transmitting the selected container to the edge device; and a mounting step for mounting the transmitted container to the edge device.

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