Automation Control Data Sharing With Confidentiality Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automation systems lack an efficient method for sharing optimization insights between local control devices to improve the operation of field devices, leading to suboptimal performance and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where local control devices generate and share upload data containing optimization insights, with a central control device anonymizing and distributing this data to other local control devices based on similarity and past data, allowing for knowledge transfer and adaptive configuration adjustments without revealing sensitive information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If local control devices share optimization data with each other, then operational efficiency and productivity are improved, but data security and confidentiality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes sensitive information from upload data before sharing with other local control devices. The central control device identifies and deletes confidential data elements, retaining only the optimization-relevant information for distribution, thus enabling knowledge sharing while protecting data security.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control device serves as an intermediary between local control devices. It receives upload data, processes it by removing sensitive information, and distributes the cleaned data to other local control devices, thereby mediating the knowledge transfer while ensuring data security requirements are met.
2Reliability
If local control devices independently optimize field device operation, then operational improvement is achieved, but redundant calculations and increased operational costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having local control devices upload optimization results and monitoring data to the central control device. This feedback loop enables the central device to distribute learned optimization patterns to other local control devices, preventing redundant independent calculations and reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optimization efforts of multiple local control devices by collecting their upload data, processing it centrally, and distributing the consolidated knowledge back to all devices. This combined approach eliminates redundant calculations that would occur if each device optimized independently.
3Loss of information
If upload data is shared without modification, then complete optimization information is transferred, but sensitive information is exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The central control device extracts and removes sensitive information from the upload data while retaining the optimization-relevant content. This selective extraction ensures that complete optimization information is preserved for knowledge transfer while confidential data is excluded.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a modified copy of the upload data with sensitive information removed. This copy contains all necessary optimization information for other local control devices while eliminating confidentiality risks, allowing complete information transfer without exposure of sensitive data.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for operating an automation system comprising at least one field device associated to a local control device is provided. The method comprises: controlling an operation of the field device based on control data generated by the local control device; receiving monitoring data describing the controlled operation of the field device from the field device; modifying configuration data of the local control device based on the monitoring data; generating upload data comprising information about the modification of the configuration data and/or about changes in the operation of the field device resulting from the modification of the configuration data; in the local control device and/or in a central control device, deleting, encrypting and/or masking specified information from the upload data to generate modified upload data; and providing the modified upload data for use by another local control device.