Industrial Machine Setting Change Tracking With User Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing changes made to setting data in industrial machines is laborious for users, as these changes are often made without their knowledge, making it difficult to track and manage effectively.

Innovation Solution

An industrial machine management system that includes a management server, robot system, and user terminal, which periodically backs up setting data and notifies users of changes through a user-friendly interface, ensuring that users are informed of any modifications made to programs or parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If setting data changes are made without user knowledge to improve operational flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information occurs as users cannot track modifications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidchange tracking information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The management server automatically detects setting data changes and sends notifications to user terminals, providing feedback about modifications. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational flexibility while preventing information loss through automated change detection and notification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The management server acts as an intermediary between the industrial machine and the user terminal. It monitors setting data changes and transmits notification information to users, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between automated changes and user awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual tracking of setting data changes is implemented to reduce information loss, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional management systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechange detection accuracyVSAvoidmanagement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management server performs automated change detection and notification transmission without requiring manual user intervention. The system serves itself by automatically monitoring setting data, detecting changes, and communicating with user terminals, thereby achieving precise change tracking while minimizing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual tracking mechanisms with an automated information communication system. Instead of physical or manual monitoring methods, the system uses electronic data transmission and automated detection algorithms to track setting changes, reducing mechanical complexity while improving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If comprehensive change monitoring is implemented to reduce loss of information, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased management overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechange management reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated notification system operates independently without requiring user intervention for change detection or monitoring. The management server automatically identifies changes and communicates them to user terminals, ensuring reliable change tracking while minimizing the time and effort users spend on management tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively notifies users of setting data changes before they can cause operational issues. By providing advance notification of modifications, the system ensures reliable change management while allowing users to focus on productive tasks rather than continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3686821B1Industrial machine management system, method for managing industrial machine, and program
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 YASKAWA DENKI KK
  • EP3686821B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3686821B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3686821B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An industrial machine management system includes a collector, a determiner, and an outputter. The collector is configured to collect changeable setting data of an industrial machine. The determiner is configured to, based on the setting data at each time point of a plurality of time points, determine whether a change has been made to the setting data. The outputter is configured to output change information regarding the change when the change is determined as being made to the setting data.