Industrial Channel Mapping for Robust Process Control Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual configuration of network communication channels in industrial control systems is error-prone and leads to suboptimal resource utilization, especially with the introduction of dynamic scenarios where requirements were not known at design time, resulting in inflexible and underutilized systems.
Innovation Solution
An automatic channel mapping agent that optimizes communication channel configurations by determining mappings that maximize robustness and reduce resource usage, utilizing signal characteristics, timeliness, and resource constraints, and allowing for user-weighted preferences, which can be applied both offline during engineering and online at runtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of communication channels is used, then system design flexibility is maintained, but engineering time increases and error-proneness occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically discovers devices and configures communication channels autonomously without manual intervention. The channel mapping agent performs self-service by autonomously analyzing device requirements, signal characteristics, and resource constraints to generate optimized channel mappings, thereby eliminating human errors and reducing engineering time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical configuration process with an automated software-based channel mapping agent. This agent uses algorithms to automatically determine optimal channel mappings based on device requirements and system constraints, substituting human operators with an intelligent automated system that reduces both time and errors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If overprovisioning of resources is performed to handle dynamic scenarios, then system adaptability improves, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel mapping system is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to changing system conditions. The mapping agent can re-evaluate and reconfigure channel mappings in real-time based on current device requirements, signal characteristics, and resource availability, allowing the system to adapt to dynamic scenarios without permanent overprovisioning of resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes configuration parameters dynamically based on actual system needs. The channel mapping agent adjusts communication channel assignments, data rates, and resource allocations according to real-time requirements, enabling the system to handle dynamic scenarios efficiently without permanent overprovisioning, thus improving resource utilization efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If static configuration is used during design time, then system stability is ensured, but inability to handle runtime dynamic scenarios occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary device discovery and channel mapping configuration during design time to establish a stable baseline configuration. This preliminary action ensures system stability while the automated mapping agent remains capable of runtime adjustments, bridging the gap between static design-time configuration and dynamic runtime adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of channel mapping in an industrial process control system, the method comprising: a) discovering a plurality of devices within an industrial process control system; b) obtaining at least one signal characteristic for each of the plurality of devices; c) determining channel mapping by a processing unit acting as a channel mapping agent, wherein the plurality of devices are mapped to a plurality of communication channels, wherein the channel mapping maps each device to a communication channel for signal transmission, and wherein the determining comprises utilizing the at least one signal characteristic for each of the plurality of devices; and d) configuring the devices according to the channel mapping.