Mobile Field Device Configuration Without Direct LAN Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial field devices in plants often require complex configuration and maintenance, but direct LAN connections are not feasible due to safety, security, and hardware limitations, making centralized configuration procedures error-prone and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method using mobile devices with wireless communication interfaces to receive and transfer configuration data between field devices, allowing for decentralized configuration and reducing errors by identifying and matching device-specific data, even across different radio interfaces and locations, facilitating faster and safer configuration updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If field devices are connected to LAN for centralized configuration, then configuration management is improved, but safety and security requirements cannot be met due to hardware limitations and explosion protection constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) as intermediary tools that enable configuration of field devices without direct LAN connection. The mobile device acts as a mediator that communicates with field devices via wireless interfaces (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), allowing configuration personnel to access and modify device parameters safely without compromising intrinsic safety requirements or explosion protection constraints.
2Productivity
If direct LAN connection is implemented for field devices, then configuration speed is improved, but hardware upgrades and infrastructure changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables field devices to serve themselves by providing configuration data that can be read and transferred by mobile devices. Field devices maintain their existing narrow-band interfaces and do not require hardware upgrades to LAN capabilities. The configuration process is simplified to reading, transferring, and writing data, allowing field devices to be configured without complex infrastructure changes or additional hardware investments.
3Loss of information
If configuration data is transferred centrally via server, then data management is improved, but error-prone procedures and inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the configuration data transfer process from the centralized server architecture and performs it directly at the field device level using mobile devices. Instead of routing all configuration operations through a central server, the system allows configuration personnel to directly access field devices, read their configuration data, make necessary modifications, and write changes back, eliminating unnecessary intermediate steps and reducing errors associated with centralized data management procedures.
4Reliability
If field devices use narrow-band interfaces for communication, then intrinsic safety and explosion protection are maintained, but configuration and data transfer capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes mobile devices universal configuration tools that can work with multiple field device types and various wireless communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth). The mobile device application can detect available field devices, establish appropriate communication channels, and perform configuration operations across different device types without requiring device-specific tools or infrastructure, thereby enhancing configuration versatility while maintaining the narrow-band interface requirements for intrinsic safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for configuring a target field device in an industrial plant by way of at least one mobile device including receiving configuration data characterizing the behavior of a source field device in the industrial plant from the source field device through the mobile device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device, which is also supported by the source field device, receiving at least one identification feature characterizing a target field device and/or function of the target field device in the industrial plant by a mobile device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device, which is also supported by the target field device checking by way of the mobile device, using the identification feature, whether the configuration data are suitable and/or intended for the configuration of the target field device, and in response to the configuration data being suitable and/or provided for the configuration of the target field device, transmitting at least a subset of the configuration data from the mobile device to the target field device by way of a radio interface of the mobile device which is also supported by the target field device.