Automation Datapoint Configuration via UI Annotation Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial automation systems, accessing and configuring relevant datapoints for monitoring and analysis is challenging due to the vast number of available datapoints and lack of standardized naming conventions, requiring domain expertise and manual effort, which is time-consuming and error-prone for IT staff and data scientists.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method generates a configuration for external datapoint access by searching and capturing input/output fields, extracting annotation data, attributing it to datapoints, building a data scheme with linked components, querying for pre-selected automation process values, and outputting the configuration in a readable format, allowing external access without modifying the automation system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual configuration of datapoints is performed by domain experts, then configuration accuracy is improved, but time consumption and engineering costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically extracting datapoint information from user interface surfaces and generating configurations without requiring manual intervention from domain experts. The automated extraction and matching processes allow the system to configure itself, eliminating the time-consuming manual work while maintaining accuracy through structured data extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual configuration process with an automated computer-implemented method. Instead of engineers manually identifying and configuring datapoints, the system uses automated extraction, matching, and generation processes to substitute human labor with computational operations, reducing time consumption while preserving configuration quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If OPC UA companion specification is used for datapoint access, then data exchange capability is improved, but modelling effort and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidmodelling effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential datapoint information needed for external access from the automation system's user interface surfaces, rather than implementing a complete OPC UA companion specification. This extraction approach provides data exchange capability while avoiding the extensive modeling effort and complexity of full OPC UA implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary configuration layer that sits between the automation system and external data connectors. This intermediary automatically generated configuration enables data exchange without requiring the complex OPC UA companion specification modeling, acting as a simplified mediator that reduces system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If extensive manual identification of datapoints is performed, then configuration completeness is improved, but error rate increases due to manual effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration completenessVSAvoiderror rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual datapoint identification with automated extraction and matching processes. By substituting human operators with computational algorithms that systematically extract information from user interface surfaces and match datapoints, the system achieves comprehensive configuration coverage while eliminating human errors associated with manual identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated matching process incorporates feedback mechanisms to verify datapoint identification accuracy. The system uses the extracted annotation data and supplemental information to validate configurations, providing feedback loops that ensure completeness while maintaining high reliability by detecting and correcting potential errors automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230325205A1System and computer-implemented method to generate a configuration for external datapoint access

Publication Date: 2023.10.12 SIEMENS AG

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for generating a configuration for external datapoint access is provided, whereby the configuration includes at least one datapoint within an automation system, including: a) searching for and capturing at least one input and/or output field; b) extracting annotation data near to a visualized automation process value in a found I/O-field and surrounding the I/O-field; c) attributing extracted annotation data to at least one datapoint within the automation system; d) providing a data scheme built with via edges linked components representing elements of the user interface surface; e) querying a search through the data scheme for one or more visualized pre-selected automation process values and f) generating a configuration with at least one datapoint along with linked supplemental information as a result from the search; and g) outputting the configuration in an automation system readable and/or computer-readable format.