Fieldbus Cloud Interface Gateway Protocol Conversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for data interchange between fieldbus networks and clouds require multiple data connections, leading to increased administrative effort for IT-security and maintenance, as well as the need for multiple protocol stacks in fieldbus components, which complicates configuration and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An interface apparatus with a first interface matching the cloud's application programming interface (API) is used to convert and transfer requests from fieldbus components to the cloud, allowing for centralized data interchange via a single connection, reducing the need for multiple protocol stacks and simplifying IT-security management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data connections are established between fieldbus components and the cloud, then data interchange capability is improved, but IT-security management complexity and administrative effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data connections between fieldbus components and the cloud into a single connection through the introduction of a gateway device. This gateway consolidates the communication interface, allowing multiple fieldbus components to access the cloud through one unified connection point, thereby reducing IT-security management complexity while maintaining data interchange capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device acts as an intermediary between fieldbus components and the cloud. It mediates all communication requests, centralizing the connection point and simplifying security management. The gateway handles protocol conversion and data routing, enabling multiple components to communicate with the cloud through a single managed interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol stacks are implemented in fieldbus components, then compatibility with different cloud interfaces is improved, but configuration and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that handles protocol conversion between fieldbus components and the cloud. Fieldbus components only need to implement their native protocol, while the gateway translates to the required cloud protocols, eliminating the need for multiple protocol stacks in each component and simplifying configuration and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple protocol translations and communication standards. This universal approach allows a single gateway device to support various fieldbus protocols and cloud interfaces, reducing the need for each component to be equipped with multiple specialized protocol stacks.
3Productivity
If a local copy of the cloud's application programming interface is provided in the fieldbus network, then request processing efficiency is improved, but interface apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway provides a local copy of the cloud's application programming interface (API) within the fieldbus network. This local API mirror allows fieldbus components to submit requests directly to the gateway using the same interface format as the cloud, improving request processing efficiency by eliminating format conversion steps while the gateway handles the actual cloud communication.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is an interface apparatus for performing data interchange, or exchange, between a fieldbus network and a cloud. The interface apparatus includes a first interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with at least one fieldbus component of the fieldbus network, and a second interface, via which the interface apparatus is connectable with the cloud. The first interface is embodied as an interface corresponding to the application programming interface of the cloud, wherein an interface definition of the first interface agrees with an interface definition of the application programming interface of the cloud. The interface apparatus is embodied to convert a request for a cloud service received via the first interface from a fieldbus component of the fieldbus network into a request addressed to the cloud for a cloud service and to transfer such via the second interface to the cloud.