Embedded Web Application Redundancy in Industrial Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in providing reliable monitoring, control, and regulation functions, especially in large and complex process control systems, due to high requirements for real-time communication, transparency in communication protocols, and operational safety, which can lead to system instability and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An industrial automation system that embeds a web application into a surrounding web application using at least two web servers, allowing for redundancy, flexibility, and fault tolerance by determining the appropriate web server based on a defined criterion, reducing data traffic, and enabling seamless switching in case of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single web server provides the embedded web application, then the system structure is simple, but the system reliability and fault tolerance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundancy by providing the embedded web application through multiple web servers (at least two) instead of a single server. Each server hosts a copy of the web application, ensuring that if one server fails, the application remains accessible through another server, thereby improving system reliability and fault tolerance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of which web server should provide the embedded web application based on predefined criteria (such as server load, response time, or geographic location) before actual access occurs. This pre-established server selection mechanism enables seamless failover and load balancing, improving availability without adding operational complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple web servers provide the embedded web application, then the redundancy and fault tolerance are improved, but the communication traffic and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the surrounding web application or a load balancer continuously monitors the status and performance metrics of multiple web servers. Based on this feedback information (such as server availability, response time, and current load), the system dynamically determines which web server should handle requests for the embedded web application, optimizing communication traffic and preventing unnecessary data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (such as a load balancer or reverse proxy) that sits between the client and multiple web servers. This intermediary receives requests, determines the most appropriate web server based on predefined criteria, and forwards requests accordingly. This mediator optimizes communication traffic by routing requests to the most efficient server and prevents direct client-to-server communication overhead.
3Ease of operation
If the web application is embedded into the surrounding web application, then the user interface is integrated, but the access control and security requirements become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal authentication and authorization mechanism that works across both the surrounding web application and the embedded web application. By using common security protocols, shared user credentials, and centralized identity management, the system provides integrated user interface access while maintaining consistent security controls, thereby avoiding the need for separate access control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary authentication service or security gateway that mediates access control between the surrounding web application and the embedded web application. This intermediary handles authentication requests, validates user permissions, and enforces access policies, thereby simplifying the overall access control architecture while maintaining security requirements for both applications.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial automation system with a system for embedding a web application to be embedded in a surrounding web application and method for embedding a web application into a surrounding web application, wherein the web application to be embedded is provided to run in a separate execution and display region of the surrounding web application, the web application to be embedded is provided by at least two web servers so as to increase redundancy, monitoring capability and operability and therefore fault tolerance, to reduce complexity, to reduce communication traffic and to obtain improved options for access restriction for personnel, particularly in large industrial automation systems, such as process control systems.