Distributed Database Policies for Secure Industrial Field Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing monitoring systems for industrial field devices lack robust security measures to prevent manipulation of measurement datasets, which is critical for predictive maintenance, intrusion detection, and performance-based charging, as these systems rely on the integrity of data stored in centralized databases that are vulnerable to manipulation.
Innovation Solution
Storing measurement datasets and configuration datasets indicative of operational policies in a distributed database, such as a blockchain, to ensure data integrity and security through cross-referencing and cryptographic checksums, allowing for secure analysis and interpretation of device operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If measurement datasets are stored in centralized databases, then data access and processing are simple and efficient, but the security and integrity of the data are vulnerable to manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed database system as an intermediary between the measurement data collection and the analysis processes. This distributed database acts as a mediator that stores measurement datasets along with their associated configuration datasets in a decentralized manner across multiple nodes, providing cryptographic verification mechanisms that prevent manipulation while maintaining data accessibility for predictive maintenance and intrusion detection applications
2Reliability
If distributed databases are used to store measurement datasets, then security and integrity against manipulation are enhanced, but data access and processing become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanism where the distributed database stores not only the measurement datasets but also creates and stores associated configuration datasets that contain information about the measurement process, device parameters, and operational context. These configuration datasets are replicated across the distributed network, allowing any node to verify the integrity and proper interpretation of measurement data without requiring complex centralized access protocols
3Measurement precision
If configuration datasets are stored alongside measurement datasets in distributed databases, then data interpretation accuracy is improved, but storage requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data storage structure by dividing it into distinct measurement datasets and associated configuration datasets. Each measurement dataset is paired with its corresponding configuration dataset that contains contextual information about the measurement process, device state, and operational parameters. This segmentation allows for efficient indexing and retrieval where only relevant configuration data needs to be accessed alongside each measurement dataset, rather than storing all possible configuration information for all measurements
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration dataset indicative of a setting of one or more operational policies of a control of an industrial field device and a measurement dataset indicative of an event associated with the industrial field device is read from a distributed database. An analysis of the measurement dataset is performed, depending on the configuration dataset.