Industrial Automation Configuration Workspace for Device Reconciliation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial automation systems face challenges in configuring complex networks of controllers and input-output devices, with existing methods requiring extensive resource-intensive efforts to manage and troubleshoot configuration details across numerous devices and modules.

Innovation Solution

A graphical user interface provides a unified configuration workspace that allows users to visualize and manage industrial automation system components, including controllers, input-output devices, and submodules, enabling holistic configuration and troubleshooting by presenting configuration details in an aggregated view and allowing for auto-discovery and comparison of hardware and software configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional configuration methods are used for industrial automation systems, then comprehensive configuration coverage is achieved, but the complexity of configuration management increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration completenessVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration management system segments the industrial automation system into hierarchical levels (controllers, I/O devices, modules, channels). Each level can be configured and managed independently through the graphical interface, allowing comprehensive configuration coverage while reducing overall management complexity through structured division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary configuration management system that acts as a mediator between the complex industrial automation hardware and the user. This intermediary layer provides standardized configuration interfaces and automated processing, reducing the complexity users face while maintaining complete configuration control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If detailed configuration of each controller and I/O device is performed, then complete system control is achieved, but the time required for configuration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem control completenessVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically discovering devices and pre-configuring basic parameters before detailed configuration is needed. The graphical interface pre-organizes configuration data and prepares default settings, reducing the time required for detailed configuration while ensuring complete system control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration system enables self-service through automated device discovery, automatic configuration generation, and self-validation mechanisms. The system can automatically detect I/O devices, generate configuration profiles, and verify configuration completeness, significantly reducing manual configuration time while maintaining complete system control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If manual configuration methods are used, then configuration accuracy can be maintained, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic discovery and configuration systems. The graphical interface uses automated device discovery protocols and intelligent algorithms to generate configurations, reducing computational resource consumption compared to manual methods while maintaining or improving configuration accuracy through systematic validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of information

If comprehensive device discovery is performed, then complete system visibility is achieved, but the complexity of data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem visibilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The data processing system segments discovered device information into structured categories (controller data, I/O device data, module data, channel data). The graphical interface processes and displays this segmented information in organized views, achieving complete system visibility while reducing data processing complexity through systematic data organization and filtering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11822305B2Graphical interface for configuration of industrial automation systems

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS LLC

AI summary

Exemplified herein is a graphical user interface for an industrial automation system that provides, in a single aggregated and eloquent view, a configuration workspace to discover and present configuration details of control components within an industrial automation system. These components may include industrial controllers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, programmable automation controllers (PACs), and the like, which have modules (as well as submodules) connected thereto. Among other things, the configuration workspace enables a holistic view of identified hardware configuration and the modular reconciliation and troubleshoot of the network device and module configurations.