Automation Component Configuration for Unsupported Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation engineering systems face challenges in configuring components with features not supported in the current release version, leading to synchronization efforts and delayed delivery of new features, as they require complete configuration functionality available in the engineering system.
Innovation Solution
An industrial automation component with an on-board compiler interprets configuration descriptions for non-supported features and integrates them into a basic configuration generated by the engineering system, enabling configuration of unsupported features and independent development of runtime functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the engineering system uses a fully integrated system with all products available, then comprehensive integration and consistency across products is improved, but the synchronization effort and complexity for the research and development organization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration functionality into two parts: supported features configured through the engineering system and non-supported features configured through alternative means (e.g., device manufacturer tools, online configuration). This allows the engineering system to maintain consistency for core functionality while avoiding the need to synchronize every single feature across all products simultaneously.
2Productivity
If new features are added to automation components before the next release cycle of the engineering system, then early delivery of new features is achieved, but the features cannot be configured by the engineering system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary configuration of non-supported features through alternative configuration methods before the engineering system is updated. Users can configure new features using device manufacturer tools or online configuration, and then later integrate these configurations with the engineering system when the next release is available, thus achieving early delivery while maintaining eventual configurability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the engineering system requires complete configuration functionality for all components, then comprehensive configuration capability is improved, but the release cycle and ability to deliver new features is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing configuration of supported features through the engineering system while enabling configuration of non-supported features through alternative means. This partial approach to configuration functionality allows the engineering system to be released without waiting for complete integration of all features, thus reducing release cycle time while still providing comprehensive configuration capability through multiple channels.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial automation component, a computer program and a computer-readable medium and method for configuring an industrial automation component, wherein at least one feature of the industrial automation component that is not configurable with an engineering system supporting the component, non-supported feature, is configured by interpreting a description of a configuration of the at least one non-supported feature with an on-board compiler of the component and integrating the interpreted description to a basic configuration having been generated with the engineering system and with respect to at least one further feature, supported feature, of the component.