Automation Controller Messaging via External Data Infrastructure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex automation systems with multiple controllers face challenges in efficient data communication and processing, leading to substantial computing power requirements that can impair control processes and require substantial effort in managing communication networks.
Innovation Solution
An external data infrastructure with a message-distributing module defines communication networks and identifies controllers as subscribers, enabling efficient data communication by forwarding messages only between relevant controllers, thereby reducing the computational load on individual controllers and simplifying network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If data communication and processing are handled by individual controllers in complex automation systems, then control functionality is maintained, but computing power requirements increase substantially and control processes are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data infrastructure as an intermediary component between field devices and controllers. This data infrastructure handles data processing, storage, and communication tasks that would otherwise burden the controllers. By offloading these computational tasks to the data infrastructure, the controllers can focus on control-critical functions, thereby reducing computing power requirements while maintaining or improving control process quality.
2Loss of information
If all controllers communicate directly with each other in a mesh topology, then complete information exchange is achieved, but network complexity and management effort increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into hierarchical layers: field devices, data infrastructure, and controllers. The data infrastructure acts as a central hub that manages communication between controllers, eliminating the need for direct peer-to-peer connections. This segmentation reduces network complexity while maintaining complete information exchange through the centralized data infrastructure that routes messages between all controllers.
3Productivity
If controllers process and analyze all recorded input data locally, then data processing capability is maintained, but substantial computing power is consumed and control processes are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts data processing and analysis functions from the controllers and relocates them to the data infrastructure. The controllers simply collect and forward input data to the data infrastructure, which then performs comprehensive data processing, analysis, and storage. This extraction of computational tasks from the controllers reduces their computing power consumption while improving overall data processing efficiency through the specialized data infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for operating an automation system having a first controller and a second controller and an external data infrastructure with a message-distributing module. The method includes defining a first communication network and identifying the first controller and the second controller as first communication subscribers of the first communication network via the message-distributing module, sending out a first network message via the first controller to the message-distributing module of the external data infrastructure, identifying the second controller as the first communication subscriber of the first communication network addressed via the first controller using the message-distributing module, forwarding the first network message sent out by the first controller to the second controller via the message-distributing module, and receiving the forwarded first network message via the second controller. Further, a data infrastructure system for execution of the method for operating an automation system is provided.