Field Bus Diagnostic Apparatus for Parallel Network Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for field bus systems are limited by their inability to perform continuous, simultaneous, and independent status analysis across multiple systems, often requiring manufacturer-specific software, causing delays and limited accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A method and arrangement utilizing multiple field bus diagnostic apparatuses that detect and store data locally, exchange data via servers, and make it available through a network, allowing simultaneous and independent access from any location, with each apparatus having an interface, evaluation unit, and storage medium, and using a server to facilitate data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single diagnostic apparatus is used to monitor field bus systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity decreases because only one field apparatus can be diagnosed at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the diagnostic function into multiple independent diagnostic apparatuses, each responsible for monitoring specific field bus systems. This segmentation allows parallel diagnosis of multiple field apparatuses simultaneously, improving productivity while keeping each individual apparatus relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each diagnostic apparatus is designed with universal functionality to monitor any field bus system through standard interfaces. The diagnostic apparatuses can exchange data with each other and access diagnostic information from multiple field apparatuses, achieving multi-functionality that improves throughput without requiring complex specialized equipment for each field bus.
2Reliability
If diagnostic apparatuses actively subscribe to the field bus for diagnosis, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but the field bus becomes congested and interference with normal operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer where diagnostic apparatuses exchange diagnostic data through a controlled interface rather than directly subscribing to the field bus for all communications. This intermediary mechanism allows reliable monitoring while minimizing harmful interference with the field bus traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous active subscription, the diagnostic apparatuses use periodic data exchange mechanisms where diagnostic information is transferred at scheduled intervals. This periodic action maintains monitoring reliability while significantly reducing the continuous presence of diagnostic traffic on the field bus, thereby minimizing congestion.
3Measurement precision
If manufacturer-specific evaluation software is used, then the measurement precision for specific field apparatus is improved, but the adaptability decreases because the solution cannot be applied across different manufacturers
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic apparatuses are designed with universal evaluation software that can handle multiple manufacturers' field apparatus through standardized communication protocols. This universality maintains measurement precision by properly interpreting different protocols while enabling cross-manufacturer compatibility, eliminating the need for manufacturer-specific software.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts evaluation parameters and communication settings based on the detected field apparatus type and manufacturer. This parameter adaptation allows the universal software to maintain high measurement precision across different manufacturers by automatically configuring appropriate diagnostic parameters for each specific apparatus type.
4Loss of information
If all diagnostic data is transmitted continuously through the network, then the availability of real-time information is improved, but the network load increases and data loss may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system transmits only the necessary diagnostic data portions rather than all possible data continuously. Each diagnostic apparatus selectively exchanges relevant diagnostic information with others based on actual needs, maintaining data availability for critical information while reducing unnecessary network traffic to prevent bandwidth exhaustion.
Solution Approach 2:
Diagnostic data is exchanged periodically at optimized intervals rather than continuously. This periodic transmission maintains real-time information availability for important diagnostic data while significantly reducing network load by allowing silence periods between data exchanges, preventing bandwidth saturation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for diagnosing networks including networks of field bus systems utilizes an arrangement for diagnosing the networks. The arrangement includes at least two field bus diagnostic apparatuses with each of the field bus diagnostic apparatuses being assigned to a corresponding field bus. The method is carried out with the steps of: causing each of the field bus diagnostic apparatuses to detect current data traffic of the corresponding one of the field busses as a data record and storing the data record on an allocated storage medium; diagnosing the detected data record in an evaluation unit integrated into the corresponding field bus diagnostic apparatus and storing the diagnosed data record in the storage medium allocated to the corresponding field bus diagnostic apparatus; making the detected, diagnosed and stored data record available in the network via a server integrated into each of the field bus diagnostic apparatuses; causing the field bus diagnostic apparatuses to exchange the data records with each other via the servers thereof and the network and storing the exchanged data records on the storage mediums of corresponding ones of the field bus diagnostic apparatuses so that, on each of the storage mediums, the exchanged data records of all other field bus diagnostic apparatuses are stored in addition to the detected, diagnosed and stored data records of the field bus diagnostic apparatus; and, inspecting the detected, diagnosed and stored data records via at least one output unit with each output unit being connected via a client to the network and the data records being made available in the network by at least one arbitrary server.