DMU Service Registry for Runtime Automation Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automation systems are inflexible and costly due to their hard-wired configurations, requiring significant engineering efforts and downtime for reconfiguration, especially when new hardware or changes in production requirements occur.
Innovation Solution
The Discover Match Use (DMU) system automatically generates and reconfigures automation system configurations by discovering available machines and services, matching production goals with resources, and dynamically updating service catalogs, allowing for seamless integration and adaptation during runtime without manual re-engineering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automation systems use hard-wired configurations binding hardware with software at engineering phase, then system stability and reliability are improved, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate, requiring significant downtime and engineering effort for reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic service binding where hardware and software are not permanently coupled but can be reassociated at runtime. The service registry maintains loose couplings between hardware identifiers and software services, allowing the system to dynamically reconfigure which software services bind to which hardware components without physical rewiring or system shutdown, thus maintaining reliability while enabling flexible adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the automation system into independent service components with distinct identifiers. Hardware components are represented as separate service entries in the service registry, and software services are independently deployable. This segmentation allows individual components to be modified, added, or removed without affecting the entire system, enabling reconfiguration while maintaining overall system stability through the registry's coordination mechanism.
2Reliability
If automation systems require manual re-engineering for new hardware or reconfiguration needs, then system reliability is maintained through controlled changes, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate due to system downtime during reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-registering hardware services and software services in the service registry before runtime operations. Hardware components are registered with unique identifiers and capabilities in advance, and software services are pre-configured with their requirements. This preliminary registration enables rapid matching and binding during runtime without requiring manual re-engineering, thus maintaining reliability through structured processes while dramatically improving reconfiguration speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The service registry implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically discovers available services, matches them based on compatibility criteria, and binds them without human intervention. When new hardware is added or reconfiguration is needed, the registry autonomously manages the service discovery, matching, and binding processes, eliminating downtime and manual re-engineering efforts while maintaining system stability through automated validation and coordination.
3Reliability
If automation functions are implemented in proprietary and platform-specific manners, then vendor-specific optimization and reliability are improved, but interoperability and ease of integration deteriorate, making system integration cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The service registry implements a universal interface layer that abstracts vendor-specific proprietary implementations. Each hardware component and software service is registered with standardized identifiers and capability descriptions that are vendor-agnostic. This universal registry interface allows different vendor platforms to interoperate through a common service discovery and binding mechanism, maintaining the reliability of vendor-specific optimized functions while enabling seamless integration across multiple platforms through standardized service descriptions and matching criteria.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial automation systems are often inflexible, which can result in delays that are costly and inconvenient. In particular, it is recognized herein that the engineering phase of automation system implementation currently represents a significant portion of the overall cost of an automation system. As described herein, automation system configurations can be automatically generated. For example, a discover match use (DMU) system described herein can reduce engineering time while providing design flexibility.