I/O Station Diagnostics Storage for Direct Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems rely on interrupt-driven diagnostics data collection, which is inefficient for service and asset management tools, as they indirectly access data via alarm and event lists, lacking direct access to local diagnostics data from I/O stations.
Innovation Solution
An I/O station with integrated data storage and network interface that stores diagnostics data and sends it upon request, allowing direct access to a network device, enabling proactive data collection and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If interrupt-driven diagnostics data collection is used, then the controller can respond to I/O module diagnostics events, but service and asset management tools cannot directly access diagnostics data from I/O stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostics data access function by introducing a dedicated data storage component within the I/O station that separates the storage function from the controller. This allows network devices to directly access diagnostics data stored locally at the I/O station without requiring controller mediation, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of access and information availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data storage component that sits between the I/O modules and network devices. This intermediary stores diagnostics data locally and provides direct access to network devices, eliminating the need for indirect access through alarm and event lists while maintaining the interrupt-driven diagnostic collection functionality.
2Ease of operation
If diagnostics data is stored locally at the I/O station, then direct access is enabled for network devices, but the I/O station requires additional data storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data storage function with the existing I/O station structure by integrating a data storage component within the I/O station itself. This combining approach enables direct access for network devices while incorporating the storage capability into the existing device architecture, thereby managing the increase in device complexity through integration rather than addition.
3Productivity
If service tools collect diagnostics data directly from the I/O station, then proactive maintenance is enabled, but the I/O station must continuously maintain diagnostics data in storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the I/O station pre-collect and store diagnostics data locally as it becomes available from I/O modules. This preliminary storage action enables service tools to efficiently retrieve data for proactive maintenance without requiring continuous active maintenance of the data storage, as the data is already prepared and available when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an I/O station (10), connected with a plurality of network devices in an automation system. The I/O station comprises a plurality of I/O modules (12), each I/O module providing one or more I/O channels (20), each I/O channel connecting a respective field device (21). The I/O station also comprises an I/O network interface (11) for forwarding data between the I/O modules (12) and the network devices via a network (3). The I/O station also comprises a data storage (22) storing a set of diagnostics data, the set comprising a plurality of entries of diagnostics data, each entry relating to performance of the automation system. The I/O station is operative to, in response to a request from anyone of the network devices, send the stored set of diagnostics data to the requesting network device.