IED Data Push via Gateway Bypassing Firewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current energy efficiency solutions for utility systems require time-consuming and expensive custom configuration of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) for data communication, which is prone to human error and complex, especially when IEDs need to push data to central servers.
Innovation Solution
Configuring IEDs to automatically push data via the Internet to a central server using unique identifiers and web services, allowing for remote configuration updates and eliminating the need for on-site servers and manual configuration, enabling plug-and-play functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If IEDs are configured to push data automatically via Internet, then configuration time and cost are reduced, but system complexity increases due to Internet protocol integration
Solution Approach 1:
A gateway device is introduced as an intermediary between the IEDs and the Internet. The gateway handles Internet protocol communication, authentication, and data routing, while IEDs continue to operate with their existing protocols. This mediator absorbs the complexity of Internet integration, allowing IEDs to push data automatically without requiring complex internal modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional layers: the IED layer for data collection and pushing, the gateway layer for protocol translation and Internet communication, and the server layer for data processing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while enabling automatic data pushing functionality.
2Reliability
If custom configuration is performed for each IED during commissioning, then data communication reliability is improved, but commissioning cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
IEDs are equipped with self-configuration capabilities through unique identifiers and automatic authentication mechanisms. When an IED connects to the gateway, it automatically authenticates using its unique ID, and the gateway automatically configures communication parameters. This self-service approach maintains communication reliability through automated validation while eliminating manual configuration steps, dramatically improving commissioning productivity.
3Ease of operation
If central computing system polls IEDs for data, then data collection control is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the central system polling IEDs (downward control), the system is inverted so that IEDs automatically push data upward to the gateway and server. This inversion maintains data collection control through automated pushing schedules and authentication mechanisms while eliminating the need for complex polling infrastructure, reducing system complexity and costs.
4Ease of manufacture
If IEDs push data to external servers via Internet, then on-site server cost is reduced, but communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway serves as an intermediary that simplifies Internet communication for IEDs. It handles complex tasks including SSL/TLS encryption, authentication, protocol translation, and data formatting. This allows IEDs to push data to external servers via Internet with minimal configuration complexity, as the gateway absorbs most of the communication complexity while enabling cost savings by eliminating on-site servers.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy efficiency solution for automatically pushing data measured by IEDs in a utility system to an Internet server. Before the utility system is commissioned, the manufacturer pre-configures each IED to automatically push measured data to the server at regular intervals and associates each IED with a unique identifier that is transmitted with the data and with a customer who has purchased the solution. After commissioning, the IEDs come online and begin to automatically push their measured data to the server. The customer logs into the website via a manufacturer-provided access code to access the measured data instantly. Requests to change the type of data pushed from IEDs and other configuration changes can be made via the website. Periodically, the IEDs ask whether any configuration updates exist, and if so, the server makes available to the IEDs the updated configuration. By having IEDs initiate communications for data transmission and configuration updates, intervening firewalls are bypassed.