Industrial Device Auto-Configuration via Server Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for updating industrial control systems are manual, time-consuming, error-prone, and require significant bandwidth, as they often necessitate offline updates and the transmission of large data packages, leading to user dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
Industrial devices auto-configure by broadcasting a message to a server, which determines and transmits the necessary configuration information and software, establishing a secure link for seamless updates without human intervention, using protocols like Predix and OSGI, allowing for decentralized messaging and automatic configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual updating methods are used for industrial assets, then configuration updates can be applied, but the process becomes time-consuming, error-prone, and requires significant bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The industrial device automatically configures itself by receiving configuration information from the server based on its device type, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and reducing both time and errors in the configuration process
Solution Approach 2:
The server pre-prepares configuration information packages tailored to specific device types before they are needed, so that when a device requires configuration, the correct information is already available for immediate transmission, reducing update time
2Reliability
If control code and diagnostics code are transmitted with parametric updates, then complete asset updates are achieved, but bandwidth requirements and transmittal time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary configuration information from the complete asset package, separating it from the full control code and diagnostics code, and transmits only this extracted configuration data to reduce bandwidth consumption while maintaining update effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting the complete control and diagnostics code packages, the system transmits only the partial configuration information needed for the specific update, which is sufficient for the intended purpose without the excess data transfer
3Reliability
If industrial devices require manual configuration approval, then security and control are maintained, but the process becomes complex and requires user interface interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The device autonomously receives and applies configuration information from the server without requiring operator approval or interface interactions, simplifying the operation while maintaining security through the server's authorized transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that pre-validates and prepares configuration information, transferring the security approval function from the user interface to the backend system, thereby simplifying the user experience while maintaining security controls
Data Source
AI summary
A message is broadcast from an industrial device to a server. The message includes information identifying the type of the industrial device and indicates that the industrial device is to be configured. The message is received at the server, and at the server responsively determines correct configuration information associated with the type of the industrial device. The configuration information is transmitted from the server to the industrial device and a secure link is established between the server and the industrial device. The configuration information is received at the industrial device and the industrial device responsively ceases the broadcasting. Subsequently, the industrial device is configured according to the configuration information. Software from a storage unit is accessed according to the configuration information. Updated configuration information from the server to the industrial device over the secure link.