Flexible Addressing Scheme for Intelligent Electronic Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) in substation automation face limitations due to fixed addressing schemes, which restrict the flexibility and uniqueness of data publication, especially for devices with arbitrary configurations like Process Controllers and 'Intelligent' Remote I/O systems, hindering interoperability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that employ a flexible addressing scheme, allowing dynamic updating of identifiers for data objects using an application configuration tool, enabling unique identification and mapping of data across IEDs, even with unknown or variable configurations, by associating short address attributes with data fields and dynamically updating them based on user-specific or automatic configuration data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed addressing scheme is used in IEDs, then the device structure is simple and easy to implement, but the flexibility and adaptability for arbitrary configurations are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic addressing scheme where the application configuration tool can modify the short address attribute of data objects at runtime based on user-specific configuration data. This allows the addressing structure to adapt flexibly to arbitrary device configurations while maintaining a relatively simple base structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the addressing parameter from fixed to dynamic by allowing the short address attribute to be updated based on configuration data. This parameter change enables the system to support arbitrary configurations (improving adaptability) while keeping the underlying addressing mechanism relatively simple (controlling complexity).
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible addressing scheme with dynamic updating is implemented, then the adaptability and functionality for arbitrary configurations are improved, but the device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an application configuration tool as an intermediary layer between the fixed addressing scheme and the need for flexible configurations. This tool handles the complexity of dynamic address updating, allowing the IED itself to maintain relative simplicity while still achieving high adaptability through the intermediary's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service configuration where the application configuration tool automatically updates addressing information based on user-specific configuration data. This automation reduces manual intervention and implementation complexity while maintaining high flexibility for arbitrary configurations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed addressing is used for data publication, then the addressing scheme is simple and constant, but the interoperability and data mapping capability for variable configurations are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the addressing scheme dynamic by allowing the application configuration tool to update short address attributes based on configuration data. This dynamic capability enables proper data mapping and publication for variable configurations (improving interoperability) while keeping the base addressing scheme relatively simple (controlling flexibility complexity).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method, a substation automation apparatus and an intelligent electronic device (IED) is provided for but not limited only to publishing data (data emanating) from the IED. The method includes assigning a unique identifier to one or more data field, where the one or more data field is associated with a short address attribute in the data emanating from the intelligent electronic device. The IED includes a list of functions; (each function being represented as a logical node; and each logical node containing data objects); and a flexible addressing scheme for configuring the data objects and publishing data from the IED but not limited only to data emanating from IED.