Cloud-Gateway Agent Configuration for Automation Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual configuration of software agents in automation systems is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially as the complexity of automation solutions increases, due to the significant data volume involved in configuring and parameterizing multiple agents connected to the cloud.
Innovation Solution
A method where software agents are connected to the cloud via a gateway, with pre-defined agent configurations stored in the cloud, allowing the gateway to automatically configure agents by matching device and service data with agent configurations, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of software agents is performed, then configuration accuracy can be ensured through user verification, but time consumption and error probability increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration where the automation system automatically configures software agents using pre-defined templates and captured device data, eliminating the need for manual user intervention while maintaining configuration accuracy through automated validation processes
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration templates are prepared in advance in the cloud with all necessary parameters and settings pre-defined. When a software agent needs configuration, the system automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-prepared template, significantly reducing configuration time while ensuring consistency and accuracy
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration of multiple software agents is performed, then configuration detail can be controlled, but complexity of the process increases with system size
Solution Approach 1:
A universal configuration template system is implemented that can be applied to multiple different software agents across various devices and data sources. The templates contain generic parameters that can be automatically instantiated for each agent, providing ease of operation while handling system complexity through standardization
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration process is segmented into distinct components: device data capture, template selection, parameter instantiation, and validation. Each software agent configuration is handled as an independent instance of the same template structure, making the overall complex process manageable and scalable
3Loss of information
If significant data volume is transferred for agent configuration, then complete configuration information is provided, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the essential configuration parameters in pre-defined templates in the cloud, rather than transferring complete configuration datasets. When configuring a software agent, only the necessary parameters are instantiated from the template and transferred, reducing data volume while maintaining configuration completeness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transferring original configuration data, the system uses template copying where a standardized configuration template is replicated and instantiated for each software agent. This allows complete configuration information to be provided through parameter substitution while minimizing actual data transfer volume
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for automatically creating data relating to an automation system, wherein a plurality of software agents is assigned to the automation system. The software agents are connected to the cloud via a gateway, wherein the cloud holds an agent configuration for each software agent. Data captured by at least some of the software agents and relate to at least one device, service, and/or data source of the automation system, which may be reached by the particular software agent, are received by the gateway. At least one software agent assigned to the automation system is configured by the gateway during processing of one or more agent configurations from the cloud and the captured data relating to at least one device, service, and/or data source may be reached by the particular software agent.