IED Gateway Auto-Configuration for IEC 61850 Controller Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In industrial systems, controllers often cannot communicate with intelligent electrical devices (IEDs) using different communication protocols, requiring manual and time-consuming configuration to read and write data, which is arduous and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A configuration system that automatically configures controllers to communicate with IEDs using a different protocol through a gateway device, generating XML files to define I/O parameter data and device mapping, reducing manual programming by facilitating communication and data exchange between controllers and IEDs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration is used to enable communication between controllers and IEDs with different protocols, then communication capability is achieved, but configuration time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically discovering IEDs on the network and pre-configuring communication parameters before actual operation begins. The configuration server proactively identifies available IEDs, retrieves their capability information, and prepares communication settings in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual configuration during deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing IEDs to automatically provide their own capability information to the configuration server through standardized data models. The IEDs self-identify their supported protocols, data points, and communication parameters, allowing the configuration system to automatically generate appropriate communication settings without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration is used to map I/O parameters between different protocols, then data exchange is enabled, but programming complexity and effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidprogramming complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements universality by using a standardized data model that can represent I/O parameters across multiple different protocols uniformly. The configuration server translates various protocol-specific data formats into a universal internal representation, allowing the same configuration logic to handle diverse protocols without requiring protocol-specific programming complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration server acts as an intermediary between controllers and IEDs with different protocols. It receives capability information from IEDs, processes the data through standardized models, and generates appropriate mapping configurations automatically. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of protocol translation, eliminating the need for manual mapping programming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If automatic configuration is implemented using standardized data models, then configuration time is reduced, but system setup complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration speedVSAvoidsystem setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies parameter changes by transforming raw protocol-specific parameters into standardized data model parameters automatically. The configuration server modifies parameter representations, data types, and communication settings according to standardized models, enabling automatic configuration generation without requiring users to understand or manually adjust complex protocol parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3859461B1Systems and methods for automatic configuration of intelligent electronic devices
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • EP3859461B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3859461B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3859461B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method includes receiving one or more data files that have one or more user-selected input parameters associated with one or more electrical devices (122, 124, 126) in an industrial system, one or more output parameters associated with the electrical devices, one or more input/output parameter tags, a frequency or a condition associated with data transmission for each electrical device, or a combination thereof. The electrical devices may communicate via a first communication network (128) based on the International Electrotechnical Commission 61850 standard, and the controller (116) may communicate via a different communication network (130) . The method also includes automatically programming the controller to control one or more operations of each electrical device based on the data files and transmitting the data files to a gateway device communicatively coupled to the controller along a backplane of a chassis system. The gateway device (120) is automatically configured based on the one or more data files.