IoT Process Data Multicasting With a Blast List for Embedded Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributed control systems face limitations due to resource constraints in embedded devices, which restrict the ability to publish and collect a large fraction of available parameter data, necessitating careful data collection schemes to balance operator, process, and historical needs.
Innovation Solution
A third data access mechanism is introduced using broadcasting, where a system server defines a 'blast list' of high-value parameters, and embedded controllers efficiently multicast this data to multiple clients, reducing the burden on controllers and enhancing data availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional request/response or publish/subscribe methods are used in distributed control systems, then data can be communicated between embedded controllers and supervisory level clients, but the limited resources in embedded devices restrict the ability to publish and collect a large fraction of available parameter data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a blast list mechanism that selectively publishes only high-value parameters at high rates (excessive action for critical data) while using normal publish/subscribe for other parameters. This partial application of high-rate publishing to only essential parameters resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient data quantity for critical monitoring without overwhelming embedded device resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the publication rate parameter dynamically - high-value parameters are published at high rates (e.g., every second) while other parameters use lower publication rates. This parameter differentiation allows the system to optimize data quantity for critical parameters without proportionally increasing resource consumption across all parameters.
2Loss of information
If embedded controllers publish a small fraction of available parameter data due to resource constraints, then resource consumption is managed, but data accessibility and availability to multiple clients are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments parameters into high-value parameters (published via blast list) and other parameters (published via normal mechanisms). This segmentation allows critical data to be highly available to multiple clients without requiring all parameters to consume resources at the same level, thus improving data availability for essential information while managing overall resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The blast list mechanism acts as an intermediary that enables efficient data distribution. Instead of each client directly subscribing to all parameters from embedded controllers, the blast list serves as a mediator that multicasts high-value parameters to multiple clients simultaneously, improving data availability without proportionally increasing controller resource consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple clients connect to embedded controllers for data collection, then comprehensive data access is enabled, but the communication workload on embedded controllers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blast list mechanism provides a universal data distribution channel that serves multiple clients simultaneously through multicasting. Instead of each client requiring individual communication channels from the embedded controller, the blast list acts as a multi-functional mechanism that delivers high-value parameters to all subscribed clients through a single efficient pathway, reducing communication workload while maintaining versatility.
4Productivity
If high-rate data collection is implemented for all parameters, then comprehensive and timely data is collected, but resource constraints in embedded devices are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies high collection rates locally only to high-value parameters that require timely and comprehensive data, while other parameters use lower collection rates. This localized high-rate collection resolves the contradiction by achieving high productivity for critical parameters without exceeding embedded device resources through universal high-rate collection.
Data Source
AI summary
A distribution system that provides for multicast transmission of the most important data that is of highest interest and value to client applications including HMI stations, historians, trend views, alarm management functions, advanced process controls, peer-peer communications and supervisory control. A blast list containing the types of data that are to be collected is formulated and stored in a system server and sent to embedded controllers which then multicasts that data to the system server and all console stations in the system.