General-Purpose Communication Module for Multi-Protocol Industrial IoT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication modules for industrial equipment are specific to each type of equipment, making it difficult to implement IoT solutions across different industrial devices due to varying communication standards and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A general-purpose communication module that supports multiple communication interface standards and protocols, featuring a middleware app that enables arbitrary installation and uninstallation of apps for different communication protocols, allowing for flexible data communication across various industrial equipment types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication modules are designed to support specific communication interface standards and protocols for each type of industrial equipment, then communication reliability with that equipment type is improved, but device versatility and ease of operation across different equipment types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is designed with a universal architecture that can support multiple communication interface standards (RS232C, RS485, Ethernet, WLAN, Bluetooth) and protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, MQTT, HTTP) through a single integrated platform. The module includes multiple communication interfaces and a protocol conversion function that can adapt to different equipment types without requiring separate dedicated modules for each protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gateway function as an intermediary component that sits between the communication module and various industrial equipment types. This gateway can perform protocol conversion and data format transformation, allowing the communication module to communicate with different equipment types through a standardized interface, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability for specific protocols and versatility across protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication interface standards and protocols are integrated into a single communication module, then device versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module is segmented into distinct functional components: multiple communication interface units (RS232C, RS485, Ethernet, WLAN, Bluetooth), a protocol conversion unit, and a data processing unit. Each interface can be independently activated or deactivated based on the equipment type being connected, which manages complexity by allowing selective activation of only the necessary interfaces rather than all interfaces being active simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module employs dynamic configuration capabilities where the operating parameters and active interfaces can be changed based on the connected equipment type. The system can dynamically switch between different communication protocols and adjust data formats automatically, reducing the need for manual configuration and simplifying operation despite the underlying complexity of supporting multiple standards.
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication conversion apparatuses are provided for each type of industrial equipment to enable cloud monitoring, then communication compatibility with various equipment is improved, but ease of operation and system simplicity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple communication conversion apparatuses into a single integrated communication module. Instead of having separate conversion devices for RS232C, RS485, Ethernet, WLAN, and Bluetooth interfaces, the module combines all these functions in one unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate conversion apparatuses and simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module includes automatic protocol detection and self-configuration capabilities that allow it to automatically identify the connected equipment type and configure the appropriate communication parameters without manual intervention. The system can self-test communication paths, automatically establish connections, and adjust data formats based on the equipment being accessed, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite supporting multiple protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication module includes a plurality of communication interfaces that support a plurality of different types of communication interface standards to implement a general-purpose communication module that enables data communication not depending on types of equipment. A plurality of programs to be executed in the communication module include a first app to be executed on an OS (Operating System) and one or a plurality of second apps to be executed on the OS. Each of one or more second apps is an app that performs communication in accordance with one or more types of communication protocol on one or more communication interface standards and is an app that can be arbitrarily installed and arbitrarily uninstalled. The first app is an app as middleware between the OS and the one or the plurality of second apps.