Digital Twin Semantic Mapping for Interoperable Device Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information systems for devices lack interoperability, leading to broken information flow and increased errors due to incompatible data models and missing semantic relationships, hindering seamless data exchange across the device's life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A digital twin of the device is augmented with semantic descriptions and a discovery module to dynamically match data from various information sources with consumer requirements, using model providers and a semantic relations library to enable interoperable data exchange without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate databases/tools are used to store device life cycle information in different proprietary or standardized formats, then each information source can maintain its own data model, but interoperability between information systems is lost and data exchange fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a digital twin service as an intermediary component that mediates between heterogeneous information sources and information consumers. The digital twin service contains a digital twin that stores device data in a standardized format, acting as a mediator that translates between different proprietary formats and enables interoperable data exchange without requiring direct compatibility between information sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming device data from various proprietary formats into a standardized digital twin data model. The digital twin service dynamically adapts data parameters from different information sources (engineering data, operational data, maintenance data) into a unified structure, enabling consistent data exchange across heterogeneous systems.
2Ease of operation
If manual efforts are used to address different semantics and syntax for different use cases, then data can be extracted and utilized, but the process becomes error-prone and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The digital twin service implements self-service by automatically discovering information sources, retrieving device data, and maintaining the digital twin without manual intervention. The service autonomously handles data extraction, transformation, and integration from heterogeneous sources, eliminating the need for manual data extraction efforts while reducing errors and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the digital twin structure and data models before data exchange is needed. The digital twin service is configured in advance with the appropriate data models and relationships, enabling automatic and efficient data retrieval and integration when required, rather than performing manual extraction at the time of need.
3Loss of information
If information flow is broken across the device life cycle due to lack of interoperability, then data can be stored in separate systems, but seamless data exchange and access fail
Solution Approach 1:
The digital twin service implements universality by providing a single, unified interface for accessing device data across all life cycle phases. The digital twin consolidates engineering data, operational data, and maintenance data from multiple heterogeneous sources into one accessible entity, enabling seamless information flow without requiring complex point-to-point integrations between systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computer system (100) for interoperable data exchange between a plurality of information systems (201 to 20n) via a digital representation service (S1, S2, Sn) associated with a digital representation (111) of a physical device. The system has a digital representation service (S1 to Sn) for said physical device which includes an interface (110) to receive a request for device related data; a management module (120) configured to generate and update the digital representation (111) of the device, the digital representation being configured to store a plurality of data models (DM1) with each stored data model being associated with a particular information system (201 to 20n); and a semantic relations library (150) storing semantic relations between model element types from data models of different information sources (201 to 20n). The digital representation service is configured to discover model providers (231 to 23n) associated information systems (201 to 20n); generate mappings between model elements provided by information sources and corresponding model elements of the digital representation via the semantic relationships; and in response to the request, execute data exchange between at least two information systems in accordance with the mapping.