IED Runtime Add-On Execution With Deterministic Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for generating external add-on programs in intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) for electrical power grids are non-deterministic, making them unsuitable for automation and protection technology, and require complex hardware-dependent recompilation, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A deterministic verification step is introduced to ensure that additional programs exhibit predictable behavior before being integrated into the runtime environment, allowing for platform-independent bytecode execution and flexible function expansion without interrupting the existing runtime program.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If external add-on programs are generated using virtual machine environment in existing IEDs, then adaptability and ease of function expansion are improved, but determinism and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction expansion capabilityVSAvoiddeterministic behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing verification of deterministic behavior before the add-on program is activated in the runtime environment. The verification step checks whether the external program exhibits deterministic characteristics (finite execution time, no infinite loops, predictable output) before allowing it to run, thus ensuring reliability is established in advance rather than risking system stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism between the virtual machine environment and the runtime environment. This intermediary layer acts as a gatekeeper that validates external add-on programs for deterministic behavior, translating the non-deterministic nature of virtual machine execution into deterministic guarantees for the protection system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If hardware-dependent recompilation is performed to integrate additional functions, then system integrity is maintained, but productivity and ease of manufacture deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem integrityVSAvoidfunction integration speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses copying by creating a virtual machine environment that replicates the necessary execution context within the existing IED hardware. Instead of recompiling for different hardware configurations, the same bytecode can be copied and executed in the virtual machine, which then verifies deterministic behavior before activation, eliminating time-consuming hardware-dependent recompilation processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a hardware-independent virtual machine environment that can execute external add-on programs across different IED platforms. The verification mechanism ensures that the same deterministic behavior checks apply universally regardless of underlying hardware, allowing rapid deployment of additional functions without platform-specific recompilation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If non-deterministic external programs are executed in runtime environment, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision and control accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram flexibilityVSAvoidexecution predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary verification of execution predictability by analyzing the external program's bytecode for deterministic characteristics before allowing runtime execution. This includes checking for finite loop structures, bounded execution paths, and predictable control flow, thereby ensuring measurement precision and control accuracy are established before the flexible program is activated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4632557A1Method and ied for executing an external additional program in an existing runtime environment

Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SIEMENS AG

Figure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for generating an external additional program (12) which provides an additional function within an existing runtime environment (8) on an IED, comprising the steps of: - creating a virtual machine environment (9) in the runtime environment (8) by means of a processor of the IED, - loading external program instructions (11) for generating an additional program (12) into the virtual machine environment (9), and - executing the external program instructions (12) by the virtual machine environment (9) to obtain the additional function effective in the runtime environment (8).In order to be able to generate an external additional function with little effort without interrupting the runtime program, it is proposed that the additional program (12) has a deterministic behavior, wherein before the additional function becomes effective, the runtime environment (8) checks the deterministic behavior of the additional program (12) in a verification step.