Digital Twin Communication via Administration Shell Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently consolidating and orchestrating asset information from various systems within a company's technical facility, particularly in the context of Industry 4.0, where multiple asset management shells are created for different stakeholders, and existing systems lack a unified and efficient method for data exchange and access.

Innovation Solution

A method for communication between a technical query system and a physical object, utilizing a digital twin and an information service implemented on separate computers, which facilitates uniform access and data exchange through standardized interfaces, allowing dynamic adaptation to system changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a centralized system consolidates all asset information from multiple systems, then data exchange efficiency is improved, but system complexity and the need for complete system knowledge increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized information consolidation task into distributed digital twins, where each digital twin independently manages its own asset information. This eliminates the need for a single complex centralized system while maintaining efficient data exchange through standardized interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an administration shell as an intermediary layer between the technical request system and digital twins. This shell handles standardized communication protocols and data exchange, reducing the complexity burden on individual components while maintaining efficient information flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a centralized system with complete system knowledge is implemented, then unified data access is achieved, but adaptability to system changes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunified data accessVSAvoidadaptability to system changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic digital twins that can independently adapt to system changes through standardized administration shell interfaces. Each digital twin can be modified, added, or removed without affecting the entire system, enabling unified data access while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The administration shell provides universal standardized interfaces that work across different digital twins and systems. This allows unified data access through consistent protocols while each individual digital twin maintains its own specific characteristics and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If multiple asset management shells are created for different stakeholders, then information completeness is improved, but data consolidation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoiddata consolidation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates digital twin copies of physical assets, where each stakeholder receives relevant information through their own administration shell instance. This maintains information completeness for each stakeholder while avoiding the complexity of consolidating all data into a single system, as each shell independently manages its own data subset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4610910A1Communication method with digital twins
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4610910A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4610910A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4610910A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for communication between a technical request system (6) and a physical object is proposed, comprising: a) by the technical request system (6), directing a request for information to an interface (7) of an information service, wherein the interface (7) is designed as a communication interface of an administration shell according to the specifications of DIN EN IEC 63278-1 as of the time of registration, and wherein the information service is implemented on a first computer (2) and has at least one reference to a digital twin of a physical object, which digital twin comprises data belonging to the physical object, and wherein the digital twin is implemented on a second computer (3) which is independent of the first computer (2),b) querying the information requested by the technical query system (6) from the second computer (3) with the digital twin by the information service implemented on the first computer (2), c) forwarding the requested information to the technical query system (6) by the information service.