Logical Module Framework for Industrial Control System Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems face challenges in interoperability and consistency between components from different vendors, leading to complex integration and high costs due to varied interfaces and lack of focus on functional requirements, which complicates system management and reduces productivity.
Innovation Solution
A logical module framework that abstracts complex interfacing details, allowing control engineers to interact with standardized functionality across diverse components, reducing integration and maintenance needs by associating logic with resources and providing generic interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple products from different vendors are integrated, then system functionality is enhanced, but interoperability and consistency between components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a standardized interface layer that acts as an intermediary between diverse control components and the control system. This interface layer translates and normalizes communications from different vendors' products, enabling interoperability without requiring engineers to learn multiple proprietary interfaces. The standardized interface mediates between the heterogeneous components and the control logic, resolving compatibility issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal standardized interface that can work with multiple different vendors' products and control systems. This interface is designed to be vendor-agnostic and can handle various communication protocols and data formats, allowing a single interface design to serve multiple functions across different product lines and vendors, thereby improving consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control engineers learn multiple unique products and interfaces, then system capability is improved, but integration time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized interface is designed to work universally with multiple vendors' products and control systems. Engineers only need to learn this single standardized interface rather than multiple proprietary interfaces, significantly reducing training time and integration effort. The universal interface handles diverse communication requirements through a consistent programming model.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface allows engineers to change communication parameters such as data format, protocol, and timing characteristics through configuration rather than requiring different interface implementations. This parameter-based approach enables the same interface to adapt to different vendors' requirements without changing the fundamental interface design, reducing integration complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If engineers focus on technical details and implementation, then system integration is achieved, but focus on functional requirements and values deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the technical implementation details into the standardized interface layer, separating them from the functional requirement definitions. This allows engineers to focus on specifying functional requirements at a high level without being burdened by low-level technical details, as the interface handles the technical complexity independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized interface acts as a mediator that handles technical implementation concerns, allowing engineers to work with functional requirements without directly engaging with technical details. The interface layer absorbs the complexity of implementation while presenting a simplified view to functional requirement specifications.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple technologies and vendors are involved, then system capability is improved, but configuration and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized interface provides a universal configuration and management mechanism that works across multiple vendors' products and technologies. Configuration parameters and management commands follow a consistent structure regardless of the underlying vendor or technology, significantly simplifying system configuration and ongoing management.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface enables configuration of diverse technologies through a unified parameter structure. By changing parameters within the standardized interface framework, engineers can configure different vendors' products without learning vendor-specific configuration procedures, reducing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A logical module for an industrial automation system is provided. This includes one or more resources to perform an action and a logic component to control a state of the resources. A module employs the resources and the logic component to expose functionality of the module while providing generic interfaces to external components of the module.