External Data Integration System for Process Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current process control systems face inefficiencies and costs due to the cumbersome and costly process of configuring and integrating external and enterprise data sources, which often require separate configurations, leading to version compatibility issues and increased resource demands.
Innovation Solution
An external/enterprise data source integration system (EDIS) that provides a consolidated location for process control computing devices to access and manage external and enterprise data, reducing the need for individual configurations and enhancing data access efficiency by acting as a single point of access for multiple data sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate configurations are used for each external and enterprise data source at each workstation or controller, then each data source can be accessed individually, but the system complexity increases and configuration becomes cumbersome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an External/Enterprise Data Source Integration System (EDIS) that acts as an intermediary layer between process control computing devices and external/enterprise data sources. EDIS consolidates multiple data source connections and presentations, allowing workstations and controllers to access diverse data sources through a unified interface without requiring separate configurations for each data source. This mediator approach resolves the technical contradiction by maintaining data source accessibility while dramatically reducing configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The EDIS is designed as a universal integration system that can connect to and present data from multiple different external and enterprise data sources through a single configuration. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including data collection, validation, caching, and distribution to multiple consumers simultaneously. This universal approach allows the system to handle various data source types (stock market databases, OPC servers, enterprise systems) without requiring separate specialized configurations for each.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate configuration applications are developed and maintained for each external data source, then specific data access requirements can be met, but maintenance costs increase and version compatibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple separate configuration applications into a single EDIS platform. Instead of maintaining independent configuration applications for each data source, the system consolidates all data source connections, configurations, and management functions into one unified system. This merging eliminates the need to develop, test, and maintain multiple separate applications, thereby reducing maintenance costs and preventing version compatibility issues while preserving the ability to access diverse data sources with appropriate configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate databases are used to store configurations for external and enterprise data sources, then data can be organized by source, but database administration costs and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple separate configuration databases into a single unified database within the EDIS architecture. This unified database stores all configurations for external and enterprise data sources, eliminating the need for multiple separate databases. The system maintains proper data organization and retrieval capabilities through structured storage and indexing, while significantly reducing database administration costs and resource requirements by managing all configurations through one centralized database instance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If new external or enterprise data is added after initial configuration, then the system can adapt to new requirements, but existing data transfer may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The EDIS is designed with preliminary action capabilities that allow new external or enterprise data sources to be configured and integrated without disrupting existing data transfers. The system establishes new data connections and configurations in advance through a controlled process that validates compatibility and ensures proper integration before activating the new data sources. This preliminary configuration approach enables the system to adapt to new data requirements while maintaining the stability and reliability of existing data transfer operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for integrating external and/or enterprise data into a process control system are disclosed. A user interface may be provided to enable browsing and selection of a data item from an external and/or enterprise data source. The selected data item may be associated with a process control entity. At run time, independent of a configuration of the process control entity, an external data integration server or instance of an external data integration service at a process control computing device may periodically communicate with the data source to obtain an updated current value and updated current status for the selected data item for use by the process control entity. The external data integration server and/or external data integration service may consolidate access of external/enterprise data across process control entities, optimize communications with various data sources, and maintain a status of communication with each various data source.