Gateway Virtual Address Mapping for Fieldbus Linking Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional asset management systems (AMSs) are limited in their ability to communicate with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices, typically only supporting direct communication via a single Fieldbus Ethernet network and being capable of communicating with a limited number of linking devices, such as up to eight.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device is introduced to facilitate the identification and communication with multiple Foundation Fieldbus linking devices by utilizing virtual addresses, allowing a single virtual address to represent multiple linking devices, enabling communication across multiple Fieldbus networks and providing write protection to prevent configuration changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional AMSs communicate directly with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices via a single Fieldbus Ethernet network, then communication simplicity is maintained, but the number of linkable devices is limited to approximately eight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the AMS and multiple Foundation Fieldbus linking devices. The gateway maintains virtual addresses that represent multiple physical linking devices, allowing the AMS to communicate with more than eight devices through the gateway's abstraction layer, thus resolving the limitation without requiring complex changes to the AMS itself
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication bridge, maintains virtual address mappings, routes messages between AMS and multiple linking devices, and provides write protection. This multi-functional approach allows a single device to enable communication with numerous linking devices while managing the complexity centrally
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual addresses are used to represent multiple linking devices, then communication capability is enhanced, but address management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual address copies that represent physical linking devices. Instead of requiring the AMS to manage multiple physical addresses, the gateway maintains virtual address copies that map to the actual devices. This abstraction simplifies the AMS's address management while enabling communication with multiple devices through a unified interface
3Adaptability or versatility
If write operations are enabled on Fieldbus devices, then configuration flexibility is improved, but data integrity risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as an intermediary that controls write operations to Fieldbus devices. It provides write protection by filtering or blocking write commands from the AMS, thereby preventing unauthorized or erroneous configuration changes while still allowing read operations and normal communication. This mediation maintains data integrity without completely eliminating configuration flexibility when needed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
Systems (100) and methods (400) for facilitating communication with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices (115) are described. A first Foundation Fieldbus linking device (115a) associated with a first Ethernet network (135a) and a second Foundation Fieldbus linking device (115b) associated with a second Ethernet network (135b) may be identified (410) by a gateway device (105) that includes one or more computers. At least one virtual address representative of the first linking device (115a) and the second linking device (115b) may be determined (425) by the gateway device (105). Communications between the first and second linking devices (115a,b) and an external system (125) may be facilitated (440) by the gateway device (105), and the at least one virtual address may be utilized to represent the linking devices (115a,b) to the external system (125).