Automation Configuration Server Mediator for Multi-Manufacturer Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Customers configuring automation systems with multiple device components from different manufacturers face complexity due to the need to input user data repeatedly across various software tools and manage different terminologies, requiring knowledge of manufacturer-specific programming and terminology, which complicates system updates and configuration.
Innovation Solution
A configuration apparatus with dual software tools, one for customer-specific input and another for manufacturer-specific conversion, utilizing a mapping algorithm to convert user data from customer-specific to manufacturer-specific terminology, allowing separate data management and reducing the need for repeated data input and knowledge of manufacturer terminology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If customers use manufacturer-specific software tools to configure device components, then the configuration can be performed with manufacturer-specific precision, but the customer must learn and work with different terminologies and software tools for each manufacturer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration server as an intermediary between the customer's processing machine and the manufacturer's device components. This server acts as a mediator that translates customer-specific requirements into manufacturer-specific configurations, eliminating the need for customers to learn multiple manufacturer terminologies while maintaining precise configuration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server provides universal configuration capabilities that work across multiple manufacturers' device components. Instead of requiring separate software tools for each manufacturer, the server offers a unified interface that can configure various device components from different manufacturers using a single set of customer-specific parameters.
2Manufacturing precision
If customers configure multiple device components using manufacturer software tools, then each component can be configured accurately, but the customer must repeatedly input the same user data for each component
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server performs preliminary configuration work by storing and reusing previously entered user data. When configuring multiple device components, the server automatically retrieves and applies previously entered parameters, eliminating the need for customers to repeatedly input the same data while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server creates and reuses configuration templates and parameter sets across multiple device components. Once user data is entered once, the server copies and adapts this data for configuring multiple components, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining precise configuration.
3Reliability
If customers update user data for processing machine modifications, then the configuration remains current, but the customer must update all data in all device components manually
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server implements a feedback mechanism that automatically detects when user data needs updating and propagates these updates to all configured device components. When the customer modifies processing machine parameters, the server automatically retrieves the updated data and reconfigures all affected device components, ensuring configuration currency without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server performs self-service updates by automatically managing the propagation of user data changes across the automation system. Instead of requiring the customer to manually update each device component, the server autonomously retrieves updated parameters and applies them to all relevant configurations, simplifying the update process while maintaining reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If customers work with device components from different manufacturers, then system versatility is achieved, but different software tools and terminologies must be learned
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration server provides universal configuration capabilities that work across device components from different manufacturers. It maintains a unified interface and parameter system that can configure various manufacturers' components without requiring customers to learn multiple software tools or terminologies, thereby achieving system versatility while reducing software complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration server acts as an intermediary layer between the customer's unified configuration interface and the diverse manufacturer-specific device components. This mediator translates universal customer requirements into manufacturer-specific configurations, enabling versatile multi-manufacturer system integration while presenting a simple, consistent interface to the customer.
Data Source
AI summary
To simplify a configuration of an automation system for a customer, a configuration apparatus for configuring an automation system of a customer is provided that comprises device components of one or more manufacturers, having a first software tool that is provided for inputting user data in customer-specific terminology is provided and stores the input user data in a data management sector; having a second software tool that is provided for receiving the user data and that has a calculation unit for determining configuration data from the user data, wherein the second software tool has at least one mapping algorithm that prepares the stored user data for the calculation unit into manufacturer-specific terminology, and wherein a storage of the user data and a storage of the configuration data by the second software tool can be carried out separately from the data management sector of the first software tool.