Industrial Asset Licensing via Location-Based Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing licenses and configurations for numerous industrial assets in industrial automation systems is complex due to the need to track device-specific codes, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when devices are replaced or upgraded.
Innovation Solution
Employing location services to determine the location of industrial assets and using a central server-based system to provision feature licenses and configurations based on asset identifiers, eliminating the need for manual entry of device-specific codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking and entry of device-specific codes is used to manage licenses and configurations, then licensing accuracy can be maintained, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service provisioning where the industrial asset automatically reports its location and identifier to the server, which then automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate license and configuration. This eliminates manual tracking and entry of device-specific codes, resolving the contradiction by maintaining licensing accuracy through automated verification while dramatically reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of tracking and entering device-specific codes with an automated electronic system using location services, identifiers, and server-based provisioning. This substitution maintains licensing accuracy through automated verification while eliminating the time-consuming manual operations.
2Reliability
If device-specific codes are manually managed for each industrial asset, then licensing control can be maintained, but operational complexity and error potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The industrial asset performs self-identification by reporting its identifier and location to the server, which automatically retrieves and applies the correct license and configuration. This maintains licensing control through automated verification while eliminating operational complexity associated with manual code management.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the industrial asset and the licensing system. It receives location and identifier information from the asset, automatically retrieves the appropriate license and configuration from the repository, and applies it to the asset. This intermediary approach maintains licensing control while eliminating the need for manual management of device-specific codes.
3Productivity
If a centralized server system with location services is implemented to automate provisioning, then time efficiency and ease of operation improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server system performs multiple functions: it receives location data from industrial assets, identifies assets based on reported identifiers, retrieves appropriate licenses and configurations from the repository, and provisions them automatically. This multi-functional approach improves provisioning speed while consolidating complexity into a single centralized system rather than requiring complex distributed management.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as a centralized intermediary that manages all licensing and configuration operations. By consolidating these functions in a single system that automatically handles location verification, identifier matching, and provisioning, the system improves productivity while managing complexity centrally rather than distributing it across multiple devices.
4Ease of operation
If location-based automatic provisioning is implemented, then operational efficiency improves, but the need for location tracking infrastructure increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The industrial asset automatically reports its location and identifier to the server without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach enables provisioning automation while utilizing existing location services infrastructure, minimizing the need for additional complex tracking systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and system for provisioning industrial assets. A provisioning server processes location data and an identifier associated with a selected industrial asset for verifying a presence of the asset within a predefined area and for determining a feature set for the asset. The location data is indicative of a location of the asset and the identifier identifies the asset and has the feature set associated therewith. The provisioning server then retrieves a license and/or configuration corresponding to the feature set for the asset from the repository in response to the asset being located within the predefined area. The provisioning server provisions the asset with the retrieved license and/or configuration.