Industrial Automation Network Synchronization Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face issues with communication link interruptions leading to unnecessary service request repetitions, increased system load, and potential failures due to incomplete message transmission, especially in systems with high-frequency short messages, which can result in costly production downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method for operating a communication network in industrial automation systems where multiple control units manage communication devices by dynamically allocating system resources based on quality measures, synchronizing status variables, and adjusting synchronization events to maintain consistent system states, thereby optimizing communication network paths and reducing inconsistencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple control units access system resources independently without coordination, then each control unit can operate autonomously and respond quickly to events, but inconsistencies in system state information arise leading to incorrect routing decisions and communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having control units synchronize their access to system resources through coordinated timing mechanisms. Before accessing shared resources, control units wait for synchronization signals that ensure consistent system state information is available, preventing race conditions and data inconsistencies while maintaining autonomous operation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where control units continuously monitor system state consistency and adjust their resource access timing accordingly. Synchronization events generate feedback signals that inform control units when it is safe to access shared resources, ensuring that routing decisions are based on consistent system state information while maintaining responsive operation.
2Reliability
If synchronization events are frequent to ensure consistency, then system state accuracy improves, but system load increases due to repeated coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic synchronization where the frequency and timing of synchronization events adapt to system conditions. Rather than using fixed frequent synchronization, the system adjusts synchronization intervals based on actual changes in system state, resource usage patterns, and criticality of consistency requirements, reducing unnecessary coordination overhead while maintaining accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes synchronization parameters dynamically based on system state. Synchronization intervals, event types, and coordination intensity are adjusted as parameters according to current operational conditions, traffic patterns, and consistency requirements, optimizing the balance between information accuracy and system load.
3Device complexity
If system resources are statically allocated to control units, then resource management is simple and predictable, but resource utilization efficiency decreases when traffic patterns change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where resource shares assigned to control units are not fixed but adapt to changing traffic patterns and system conditions. Resource allocation parameters are adjusted based on observed usage patterns, priority levels, and current system state, enabling efficient utilization without requiring complex manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables control units to self-adjust their resource allocation based on monitored system conditions and performance metrics. Each control unit can autonomously request additional resources or release unused resources based on actual needs, with the resource management system automatically adjusting allocations without external intervention, maintaining simplicity while improving efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If control units operate independently without synchronization, then system scalability is improved, but communication failures occur due to inconsistent state information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary synchronization actions that control units perform before making routing decisions or accessing shared resources. This preliminary coordination ensures that even as control units are added to scale the system, they operate with consistent system state information, preventing communication failures while maintaining scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces synchronization events and coordination mechanisms as intermediaries between independently operating control units. These intermediary synchronization signals enable control units to operate autonomously while maintaining consistency through coordinated information exchange, allowing system scaling without sacrificing communication reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
To operate a communication network which comprises a plurality of communication devices and is part of an industrial automation system, a plurality of control units control respective functions of a plurality of associated communication devices. For each control unit, a prescribable proportion of system resources of an associated communication device is made available for a prescribable resource use duration. When prescribable synchronization events occur, the control units synchronously detect state variables of the communication devices and adjust them to one another. In addition, the control units determine, for at least one past resource use duration, how a determination time available for a path determination influences the quality criterion changes for communication network paths to be determined, and determine a first correction value for the synchronization events on the basis of said quality criterion changes. If inconsistent state variables are determined when the state variables are adjusted to one another, the control units determine a second correction value for the synchronization events.