Industrial Ethernet Multiport Gateway With Rule-Based Matrix Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation processes face challenges in achieving high complexity, energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, cyber security, and ease of use with field devices, while requiring advanced programming and compatibility across different manufacturers' devices, leading to increased development costs and potential compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A multiport device with industrial Ethernet connections, featuring a matrix switcher and a control unit that uses neural networks to optimize data communication by learning patterns and updating communication rules, allowing for additional functionality to be hosted on the device rather than the field devices themselves, thereby reducing costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If field devices are made more compact and functional to meet increasing automation demands, then automation performance is improved, but device complexity and development costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex functionality from field devices and relocates it to a gateway device. The gateway contains a neural network that handles pattern recognition and communication optimization, while field devices are simplified to perform only basic data collection and transmission tasks. This extraction reduces field device complexity while maintaining overall automation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between the control system and field devices. It implements a neural network that learns communication patterns and optimizes data transmission, mediating between simple field devices and the control system. This intermediary approach allows field devices to remain simple while achieving complex automation goals through the gateway's intelligent processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If field devices include advanced features like cyber security and Internet access, then functionality is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts advanced features such as cyber security protocols, Internet access capabilities, and neural network processing from field devices and concentrates them in the gateway device. Field devices are simplified to perform only essential functions, while the gateway provides comprehensive advanced functionality including security management and communication optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device is designed as a universal platform that provides multiple advanced functions including cyber security, Internet access, neural network processing, and communication optimization. Instead of embedding these diverse functions in each field device, the gateway serves as a multi-functional hub that benefits all connected field devices.
3Productivity
If communication rules are optimized for each individual field device, then communication efficiency is improved, but programming complexity and compatibility issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a neural network in the gateway device that automatically learns communication patterns from field devices without requiring manual programming. The system performs self-service by observing and adapting to device-specific communication behaviors, generating optimized communication rules autonomously. This eliminates the need for complex manual configuration while maintaining high communication efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The neural network continuously monitors communication patterns between the gateway and field devices, using feedback to learn and adapt communication rules. The system observes successful and unsuccessful communication attempts, adjusts its strategies accordingly, and improves communication efficiency over time without requiring external programming intervention.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a multiport device adapted to be connected to a plurality of field devices, particularly using industrial Ethernet connections, wherein the multiport device comprises: - a plurality of communication ports for the connection of field devices and for data communication between the multiport device and the field devices, - a matrix switcher configured to enable data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices, - a control unit configured to generate a plurality of communication rules and to control said matrix switcher based on at least said plurality of communication rules in order to affect data communication between said communication ports and/or between said field devices, wherein the control unit is configured to group one or more of the communication rules into one or more function modules and wherein one or more function modules are assigned to at least one of the communication ports.