Gateway Data Format Conversion for Mixed ISA100.11a Versions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of devices conforming to different versions of the ISA100.11a communication standard, such as ISA100.11a-2009 and ISA100.11a-2011, poses challenges due to format differences in data types like OctetString, Bitstring, and VisibleString, leading to issues with normal data transmission and reception, as existing management apparatuses struggle to handle these variations without extensive program modifications.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device equipped with a receiving unit, conversion unit, and transmitting unit that identifies the data format type in responses from field devices and converts data accordingly to ensure compatibility with the management apparatus, allowing seamless communication between devices of different versions without requiring significant program modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data format conversion is implemented at the management apparatus level, then communication compatibility between old and new version devices is achieved, but program modification effort and system complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between field devices and the management apparatus. It automatically performs data format conversion based on version identification, eliminating the need for management apparatus program modifications. The gateway mediates communication by translating between old and new data formats transparently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: field devices, gateway device, and management apparatus. The data format conversion function is separated and assigned to the gateway device, allowing the management apparatus to remain unchanged while still achieving compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all management apparatus programs are modified to handle new data formats, then full functionality with new version devices is achieved, but the effort and time required become impractically large
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs data format conversion in advance, before data reaches the management apparatus. By preprocessing the data and converting it to the appropriate format, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming program modifications at the management apparatus level.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device automatically identifies device versions and performs appropriate data format conversion without requiring manual intervention or program modification. The system serves itself by handling format compatibility issues autonomously at the gateway level.
3Ease of operation
If a unified data format is enforced across all devices, then simplicity in processing is maintained, but compatibility with both old and new version devices cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The data format handling is made dynamic through automatic version identification. The gateway device adapts its processing behavior based on the detected device version, selecting appropriate data formats dynamically rather than enforcing a static unified format.
Solution Approach 2:
Different data formats are applied locally based on the specific device version being communicated with. The gateway device applies old version formats when communicating with legacy devices and new version formats when appropriate, while maintaining simple processing at the management apparatus level.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a response of a field device with respect to a request from a management apparatus managing the field device; a conversion unit configured to reference type information included in the response received by the receiving unit, the type information indicating a type of data format, and convert data included in the response to a data format suitable for processing by the management apparatus, the conversion being made in accordance with the type information; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit to the management apparatus the data converted by the conversion unit.