On-Premise Gateway Symbolic Access for Industrial Automation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face increased complexity due to interactions between devices of different brands, types, and generations, which generate diverse data formats, complicating commissioning and maintenance processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing symbolic data operations using symbol and template object instances to facilitate consistent data reporting and control across devices, reducing the need for complex look-up operations and computing resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices of different brands, types, and generations are integrated into the industrial automation system, then the system's adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of coordination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal data access interface that allows diverse industrial automation devices from different brands, types, and generations to communicate through a common protocol. The gateway device translates various device-specific data formats into a standardized symbolic data model, enabling one system to handle multiple device types without requiring separate integration logic for each device family.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between legacy industrial automation devices and the control system. It receives data from devices using proprietary protocols, translates it into the standardized symbolic data model with templates and instances, and forwards it to the control system. This mediator approach isolates the complexity of device-specific protocols from the control system while maintaining broad device compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse data formats from different devices are supported, then the system's adaptability is improved, but the computing resources required for data processing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary data normalization at the gateway level by translating diverse device data formats into the standardized symbolic data model before data reaches the control system. Templates are pre-configured for different device types, defining the expected data structure and symbolic representation. This upfront transformation eliminates the need for complex real-time format detection and conversion at higher system levels, reducing overall computing resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms physical device parameters into standardized symbolic parameters through the template instance mechanism. Device-specific data fields are mapped to universal symbolic representations (e.g., mapping different voltage measurement formats from various devices to a standardized 'voltage' symbolic parameter). This parameter standardization enables consistent data processing across diverse devices without requiring device-specific processing logic.
3Measurement precision
If complex look-up operations are performed to handle diverse device protocols, then data accuracy is improved, but the time required for data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Device protocol mappings and data structure transformations are pre-configured in templates during system setup. When a device connects, the gateway retrieves the appropriate template based on device identification and automatically applies the predefined transformation rules. This eliminates the need for complex runtime protocol analysis and look-up operations, maintaining data accuracy through predefined mappings while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses template instances as standardized copies of device data structures. Instead of performing complex look-ups to interpret raw device data, the gateway creates standardized symbolic copies of device data according to pre-defined templates. These template instances serve as reusable data models that accurately represent device information in a uniform format without requiring repeated interpretation logic.
4Ease of operation
If symbolic data operations are implemented to standardize data access, then ease of operation is improved, but the initial system setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device automatically performs device discovery, identification, and template matching during commissioning. When a new device is added to the network, the gateway autonomously detects the device type, retrieves the appropriate template configuration, and establishes the symbolic data mapping without requiring manual configuration. This self-service capability simplifies ongoing system operation while the initial setup complexity is concentrated in the automated commissioning process.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this present disclosure may include systems that perform operations including receiving a request to access data of an industrial automation device (86) from a requesting device and identifying the industrial automation device based on the request. The operations may include sending a query for template data to the industrial automation device based on the request and symbolic data operations. The template data may include one or more instantaneous values associated with the industrial automation device. The operations may include sending the template data to the requesting device.