Concurrent Data Paths for High-Availability Industrial Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High availability industrial control systems face challenges in maintaining continuous operation due to delays or switchover times during failures, particularly in critical applications like power plants, where any disruption can be detrimental.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of concurrent connections, which establish multiple redundant paths for data communication at the transport layer, eliminating single points of failure and reducing safety connection timeouts by ensuring that data is transmitted through available paths even in the event of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant components are used to maintain operation during failure, then reliability is improved, but switchover time increases causing operational delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple concurrent communication paths before failure occurs. When a failure is detected, the system can immediately switch to an alternative path without delay, as the redundant paths are already configured and ready for use. This eliminates the traditional switchover time while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces another dimension by creating multiple concurrent communication paths at the transport layer rather than relying on single path redundancy. This multi-dimensional approach allows data to flow through parallel channels, and upon failure, the system can seamlessly redirect traffic to alternative paths without temporal delay.
2Reliability
If multiple redundant paths are established for data transmission, then fault tolerance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple communication paths into a unified concurrent connection framework at the transport layer. Rather than managing separate redundant connections independently, the system combines them into a coordinated structure where paths work together as an integrated unit, reducing management complexity while maintaining high availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal concurrent connection mechanisms that can serve multiple functions: normal data transmission, failure detection, and automatic failover. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate complexity-heavy management systems for each function, as the same infrastructure handles all tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of communicating data over a high availability industrial control system is disclosed. The industrial control system includes a first data producer, a second data producer in communicative connection with the first data producer, a first data consumer, and a second data consumer in communicative connection with the first data consumer. The system further includes the first producer communicating the data over multiple connection paths from the first producer to the first consumer and the second consumer through intermediate modules, and the second producer communicating the data over multiple connection paths from the second producer to the first consumer and the second consumer through intermediate modules. Also disclosed is a method of communicating data over the high availability industrial control system.