Wireless Field Device Addressing via Tag Name Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large-scale field control systems using the ISA100.11a wireless standard, engineers face challenges in preparing conversion tables for field devices due to vendor-specific algorithms for generating IPv6 addresses, leading to difficulties in offline engineering and re-engineering requirements during device exchanges.
Innovation Solution
A field communication system that includes a connection allowing unit, address issuance unit, address management unit, and communication unit, which uses a field device list to determine connections, automatically issues communication addresses, establishes correspondences between tag names and communication addresses, and transmits data to field devices designated by tag names, thereby reducing the need for manual engineering and updating conversion tables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conversion table is manually prepared for offline engineering, then the system can access field devices by tag name, but the engineer cannot prepare the conversion table because the IPv6 address generation algorithm is vendor-specific and unknown
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating the conversion table through the system manager, eliminating the need for manual preparation by engineers. The system manager autonomously generates IPv6 addresses for field devices and creates the conversion table mapping tag names to IPv6 addresses, resolving the contradiction between ease of offline engineering and the inability to prepare conversion tables due to vendor-specific algorithms.
2Extent of automation
If the system uses vendor-specific algorithms for generating IPv6 addresses, then the system manager can automatically assign addresses, but the system requires re-engineering when field devices are exchanged because the conversion table must be updated
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the system manager continuously monitors field device connections and automatically updates the conversion table when devices are exchanged. When a new field device connects or an existing device is replaced, the system manager detects the change, generates or reassigns IPv6 addresses, and updates the conversion table accordingly, eliminating the need for manual re-engineering while maintaining automation.
3Ease of operation
If the system requires a conversion table for accessing field devices by tag name, then the system can use user-friendly tag names, but the system complexity increases due to the need to maintain the conversion table
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates conversion table management complexity by implementing self-service automation. The system manager automatically generates and maintains the conversion table, mapping user-friendly tag names to IPv6 addresses without requiring manual intervention. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation for accessing field devices by tag name while removing the burden of conversion table management from users.
Data Source
AI summary
A field communication system may perform wireless communication with field devices. The field communication system may include a connection allowing unit that determines whether or not to allow a connection to the field device by referring a field device list, the field device list listing tag names related to the field devices, an address issuance unit that automatically issues a communication address for the field device if the connection allowing unit allows the connection with the field device, an address management unit that establishes correspondences between the communication addresses and the tag names of the field devices by using the field device list, and a communication unit that transmits data to the field device designated by the tag name, the communication unit receiving the data transmitted from the field device, the data being used to control the field device designated by the tag name.