Controller Email Transmission via Integrated Mail Client
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote monitoring systems for manufacturing equipment incur additional labor and costs due to reliance on public networks or the need for dedicated mail servers, and often result in unnecessary alarm notifications and delayed understanding of alarm states.
Innovation Solution
A controller with integrated event detection, composition, storage, and direct email transmission capabilities, allowing for efficient communication of machine or controller information to terminals via email without requiring public networks or additional mail servers, using protocols like POP and IMAP for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a public network or dedicated mail server is used for remote monitoring, then email transmission capability is achieved, but additional labor and costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mail client functionality directly into the controller, merging previously separate components (controller and mail client) into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for dedicated mail servers and public network infrastructure, resolving the contradiction between achieving email transmission capability and reducing infrastructure complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions including both machine control and email transmission. By making the controller universal and capable of handling both control operations and communication tasks, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated mail servers, thereby reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining email transmission capability
2Loss of time
If alarm information is transmitted immediately upon occurrence, then timely notification is achieved, but unnecessary notifications occur when alarms are cleared quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary monitoring and evaluation before triggering email transmission. The system monitors alarm conditions and evaluates whether they persist for a predetermined time period before sending notifications. This preliminary action prevents premature notifications while maintaining timely alerting for genuine issues
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors alarm status and uses feedback from the alarm state to determine whether to transmit emails. By implementing feedback mechanisms that check alarm persistence and current status before and during the notification process, the system avoids sending unnecessary notifications while maintaining timely alerts for actual problems
3Loss of information
If continuous alarm monitoring is implemented, then accurate alarm state tracking is achieved, but multiple emails are sent when alarms persist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of alarm conditions at predetermined time intervals rather than continuous monitoring. This periodic action allows the system to track alarm states accurately while limiting the frequency of email notifications, thereby reducing notification volume while maintaining sufficient monitoring accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial monitoring action by checking alarm conditions at specific intervals rather than continuously. This partial monitoring approach provides sufficient alarm state tracking accuracy while significantly reducing the number of email notifications sent, balancing information accuracy with notification volume
Data Source
AI summary
A controller that controls a machine detects an event that has occurred in the controller or the machine to compose and store event information that contains the event. Upon receiving an e-mail acquisition request from a terminal, the controller retrieves the stored event information, composes an e-mail that contains the event information, and transmits the e-mail directly to the terminal.