Aggregation Server for Industrial Automation Data Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent data requests from multiple communication devices strain the Human-Machine Interface (HMI), machines, and network resources in industrial automation environments, leading to inefficiencies and resource overload.
Innovation Solution
A data aggregation system comprising an aggregation server that receives and caches graphics and operation data from HMIs and machine systems, allowing it to transfer this data to communication devices over the network, thereby reducing the demand on HMI and machine systems and alleviating network strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple communication devices frequently request operation data and graphics data from the HMI and machines, then data accessibility for remote monitoring is improved, but network resource strain and system overload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aggregation server as an intermediary component between the HMI/machines and multiple communication devices. This server collects and caches operation data and graphics data, then distributes them to requesting devices. By placing this intermediary in the data flow path, the system reduces direct requests to the HMI and machines, thereby decreasing network resource strain while maintaining data accessibility for remote monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The aggregation server performs preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching operation data and graphics data before they are requested by communication devices. The server maintains cached copies of the data locally, so when devices request data, they receive it from the cache rather than triggering new data retrieval from the HMI or machines. This preliminary caching action significantly reduces network traffic and system load while ensuring continuous data availability.
2Speed
If the HMI and machines directly serve multiple communication devices, then data retrieval speed is improved, but system complexity and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregation server acts as a mediator that handles data retrieval requests from multiple communication devices. Instead of the HMI and machines directly serving each device, the server intermediates by collecting data from the HMI/machines once and then distributing cached copies to multiple requesting devices. This reduces the processing burden on the HMI and machines while maintaining fast data retrieval speeds through the server's caching mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple data retrieval operations into a single operation by having the aggregation server collect data from the HMI and machines once, then serve multiple communication devices from this single data collection. This combining approach consolidates the processing burden and reduces the complexity of managing multiple direct connections between the HMI/machines and numerous communication devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A data aggregation system comprises an aggregation server. The aggregation server receives from a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) graphics data comprising a graphical representation of a portion of an industrial automation environment over an enterprise network, receives operation data associated with an operation of the industrial automation environment over the enterprise network, and receives a request for a viewing session from a plurality of communication devices over a communication network. In response to the request, the aggregation server transfers the graphics data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices. In response to the request, the aggregation server transfers the operation data over the communication network to the plurality of communication devices.