Container-Orchestrated HMI Visualization for Cross-Device Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face limitations in providing enhanced visualization and management tools for operators, with existing human-machine interfaces being inflexible and lacking in data sharing capabilities, especially in remote and mobile settings.
Innovation Solution
A distributed control system utilizing a visualization manager integrated with a container orchestration system, which receives container images from client input, identifies suitable container hosts, and transmits configuration for accessing visualizations to thin client devices, enabling efficient visualization delivery across multiple devices and platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional human-machine interfaces are used in industrial automation systems, then basic monitoring and control functions are provided, but the interfaces lack flexibility and data sharing capabilities especially in remote and mobile settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a container-based architecture where visualization applications are packaged as portable containers that can run on any container host device. This allows the same visualization application to universally function across diverse devices including fixed HMI terminals, mobile devices, and remote access devices, providing multi-functionality and adaptability without increasing the complexity of individual devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a container orchestration system as an intermediary layer between the visualization applications and the diverse device landscape. This intermediary manages container deployment, resource allocation, and device compatibility, enabling flexible interface delivery across multiple device types without requiring each device to handle the full complexity of interface management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If container orchestration systems are implemented to deliver visualization content across multiple devices, then adaptability and data sharing capabilities are enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container-based visualization system employs self-service mechanisms where containers automatically manage their own deployment, configuration, and execution across different device types. The container orchestration system provides automated resource allocation and device matching, reducing the need for manual configuration and minimizing operational complexity despite the enhanced cross-device compatibility.
3Ease of operation
If visualization applications are deployed across multiple device types using container technology, then ease of operation and data sharing are improved, but the number of system components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the visualization application, its dependencies, and configuration into a single container unit. This consolidation allows the visualization application to be deployed and operated uniformly across multiple device types without requiring separate installations or configurations on each device, thereby improving ease of operation while minimizing the effective number of active components in use at any given time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and method for leveraging container orchestration systems to generate visualizations related to components or operations of an industrial automation system. In particular, a visual manager, a primary node of the container orchestration system, may receive a container image for operating an application of the industrial automation system. A visual manager may identify a container host from a cluster of nodes of the container orchestration system for executing the container in response to the container host meeting container orchestration constraints. Upon execution of the constraint, the container host may transmit configuration details for accessing a visualization associated with the container image to a thin client for display. In some embodiments, the container host, itself, may include a thin client device. Accordingly, the thin client device may execute the container and display the corresponding visualization.