Control Program Repository With Access Rights for Equipment Lifecycle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern control devices require individualized software management for each piece of technical equipment, leading to administrative burdens due to differences in equipment design and changing requirements, making efficient lifecycle management challenging.
Innovation Solution
A managed software memory system with access rights management and user management allows for centralized storage, development, and distribution of programs, enabling efficient lifecycle management by defining programs as completed or discontinued, and facilitating their transfer and adaptation through container virtualization and digital representations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individualized programs are created for each piece of technical equipment, then the software can be adapted to specific equipment characteristics and requirements, but the administrative workload for lifecycle management increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of individual equipment-specific programs into a centralized software memory system. Multiple programs for different technical equipment are stored and managed in a single centralized repository, allowing unified lifecycle management while maintaining individual program specificity. This reduces administrative workload by consolidating management tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized software memory system serves multiple functions: storing programs for different equipment, managing program versions, controlling access rights, and enabling program transfer between equipment. This universal management platform handles diverse software management needs through a single system, reducing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If programs are individually maintained for each piece of technical equipment, then equipment-specific requirements are met, but the time and resources required for program updates and adaptations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing and managing all equipment-specific programs in advance within the centralized software memory. Programs are prepared and version-controlled beforehand, allowing quick retrieval and transfer when needed, rather than creating or searching for them at the moment of update or maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized software memory acts as an intermediary between program development and equipment deployment. It serves as a buffer that stores, manages, and facilitates program transfer, reducing the direct time burden on equipment maintenance while ensuring reliable program availability.
3Reliability
If access control is implemented for the managed software memory, then unauthorized changes to programs are prevented, but the complexity of access rights management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access rights management system operates autonomously within the centralized software memory. It automatically controls program access, modification, and transfer based on predefined user permissions, without requiring manual intervention for each access decision. This self-service approach maintains program integrity while minimizing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing programs (12, 14) for control devices of technical equipment (26, 28), in particular machinery and/or plants, wherein, in particular, programs (12, 14) for control devices of electric drive systems are provided. The programs (12, 14) are provided in a software memory (10) managed by software memory management software, wherein the software memory management software comprises access rights management. The access rights of users (30, 32, 34) to access the programs (12, 14) are managed in the managed software memory (10) by means of the access rights management. Users (30, 32, 34) are granted access rights which enable the users (30, 32, 34) to store programs (12, 14) created, in particular by means of a development environment, in the managed software memory. Users (30, 32, 34) are further granted access rights, in particular by a user (30, 32, 34) authorized for this purpose, said access rights enabling the users (30, 32, 34) to use specific programs (12, 14) provided in the software memory (10), in particular to transfer a copy of a specific program (12, 14) provided in the managed software memory (10) onto a control device of technical equipment (26, 28).