Non-Invasive Image Data Acquisition for Legacy Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a cost-effective, non-invasive method to extract and digitize data from secured or locked industrial control systems for real-time monitoring and record-keeping, especially in legacy systems where access is restricted, and migration to IoT technology is not feasible.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a graphic signal receiver unit, a grabber unit, and an image processing unit that captures and processes graphic signals from industrial displays, identifies numeric values using digit recognition, digitizes them with timestamps, and communicates the data to a remote location without interfering with the existing system, utilizing a signal splitter device to split graphic signals and a network-based device for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If migration to IoT technology is implemented, then data extraction capability is improved, but initial capital investment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the display screen and extracts data from this copy rather than directly accessing the original display. The graphic signal receiver captures the visual output, and the digit recognition system processes this visual copy to extract numeric values, enabling data extraction without direct system access or migration to IoT technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the graphic signal receiver, grabber unit, and digit recognition module. This intermediary chain bridges the gap between the legacy display system and the data extraction requirement, allowing data to be captured and processed without modifying or accessing the secured control system directly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing unsecured control systems are tweaked to access data, then data access is enabled, but system security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy of the display output and extracts data from this copy. The graphic signal receiver captures the display signal, and the digit recognition system processes this visual representation to extract numeric values, enabling data access without modifying the original secured control system or its software.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based data extraction methods with a hardware-based visual capture approach. Instead of using software to access or manipulate the control system, the system uses optical/electrical signal capture to read the display output directly, avoiding any software modification of the secured system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If access to secured or locked distributed control systems is attempted, then data extraction is enabled, but system integrity is violated
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts data by capturing and processing visual copies of the display output. The graphic signal receiver and grabber unit create a visual representation of the display, and the digit recognition system processes this copy to extract numeric values, completely avoiding any direct access to or modification of the secured control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data extraction chain that includes the graphic signal receiver, grabber unit, and digit recognition module. This intermediary system acts as a buffer between the external data extraction process and the internal secured control system, allowing data to be obtained without compromising system integrity or requiring any access to the locked system.
4Productivity
If legacy control systems are upgraded to modern standards, then data processing capability is improved, but system replacement cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of replacing the legacy display system, the patent creates a visual copy of its output and processes this copy to extract data. The graphic signal receiver captures the display signal, and the digit recognition system processes the visual information, enabling modern data processing capabilities without replacing the legacy hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data extraction function from the legacy control system by introducing separate functional modules: the graphic signal receiver for signal capture, the grabber unit for image acquisition, and the digit recognition system for data extraction. This segmentation allows the legacy system to remain intact while adding modern data processing capabilities through independent modules.
Data Source
AI summary
Present invention relates to an apparatus for image data acquisition and processing. A graphic signal receiver unit receives graphic signal from a source machine. A grabber unit captures data images from the received graphic signals at a predefined time interval. An image processing unit processes the captured data images. The image processing unit includes processors and a computer readable medium storing instructions. The processors execute the instruction and perform the steps of: identifying, by an identification module, a numeric value present in each of the captured data images using a digit recognition technique, digitizing, by a digitizer, each of the identified numeric values with corresponding time stamps to provide digitized data files, collecting, by a recording module, the digitized data files, and communicating, by a communication module, the data files to a destination device.