Edge Connection Control for Secure Abnormality-Triggered Remote Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial plants with rotating machinery, existing systems lack the ability to automatically establish remote monitoring connections when abnormalities occur, requiring on-site personnel for maintenance, which can be inefficient and risky due to data security concerns.

Innovation Solution

An edge device with a controller and connection establishment unit that detects abnormalities and securely connects with a remote monitoring device only when predefined conditions are met, allowing remote access for diagnosis and manipulation of the machinery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the plant is disconnected from external networks to ensure data security, then data security is improved, but the ability to perform remote monitoring and maintenance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidremote monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures security policies and authentication mechanisms before any remote access is needed. The edge device is prepared with the ability to detect abnormalities and automatically initiate secure connections, so that when security threats are anticipated, the system is already configured to handle them while maintaining normal disconnection state for security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection state of the plant is made dynamic rather than static. The system transitions between disconnected and connected states based on real-time conditions (normal operation vs. abnormality detected). This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain data security during normal operations while enabling remote monitoring when necessary, resolving the contradiction between security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If remote access is always enabled for monitoring, then remote monitoring capability is improved, but data security is worsened due to potential leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote monitoring capabilityVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different security policies are applied to different operational states. When the plant is operating normally, the system maintains a disconnected state with high security. When abnormalities are detected, the system transitions to a connected state with controlled remote access. This local quality approach applies different connection qualities to different operational conditions, ensuring security is maintained while enabling remote monitoring when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The edge device acts as an intermediary between the plant and remote monitoring systems. It controls and mediates all connection requests, automatically establishing secure connections only when abnormalities are detected and authorized. This intermediary function prevents direct unauthorized access while enabling legitimate remote monitoring, thus improving remote capability without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If on-site personnel are deployed for maintenance when abnormalities occur, then remote monitoring capability is worsened, but response capability is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse capabilityVSAvoidremote monitoring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service remote monitoring and diagnostics. When abnormalities are detected, the edge device automatically establishes secure connections with remote monitoring systems, allowing remote experts to diagnose and guide repairs without requiring immediate on-site personnel deployment. This self-service capability improves response time while reducing the need for physical travel and on-site presence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of deploying physical personnel to remote locations with an electronic/telecommunication-based remote monitoring system. The edge device facilitates electronic communication and data transmission between the plant and remote monitoring centers, substituting the need for physical travel and on-site presence with digital remote access, thereby improving both response capability and operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11336729B2Edge device, connection establishment system, connection establishment method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

An edge device is configured to automatically establish a connection with a remote monitoring device when an abnormality has occurred in a plant. The edge device includes a controller configured to detect the abnormality based on data regarding an observation target device, and a connection establishment unit configured to establish a connection with the remote monitoring device such that the remote monitoring device is able to remotely access the edge device when the controller has detected the abnormality and determined that the abnormality matches a predetermined condition, wherein the remote access is a connection for remotely checking a state of the observation target device, or for enabling a remote manipulation of the observation target device.