Modbus Alarm Data Transmission via Two-Step Timestamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modbus protocol lacks a standardized method for transmitting alarm data from servers to clients, leading to complex implementations and difficulties in identifying the original cause of alarms due to the absence of time stamps, making it challenging to manage multiple alarms and events efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A two-step method for transmitting alarm data, where the client requests and checks for changes in alarm data using operation code 3, and then retrieves specific time stamps using operation code 101, utilizing Modbus registers to represent alarm events and timestamps, allowing for accurate timestamp reconstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If alarm data is transmitted without standardized timestamp methodology, then transmission complexity is reduced, but the ability to identify original alarm causes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission complexityVSAvoidalarm cause identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm data transmission is segmented into two distinct steps: first transmitting alarm occurrence information, then transmitting specific timestamp data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple initial transmission while ensuring complete information is eventually received for accurate alarm cause identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The client sends a preliminary request (operation code 3) to check for alarm data changes before requesting detailed timestamp information (operation code 101). This preliminary action filters out unnecessary detailed transmissions, reducing overall communication complexity while ensuring timestamps are only retrieved when alarm changes occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If multiple alarms are polled at fixed intervals, then system operation is simplified, but the accuracy of alarm timing information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolling operationVSAvoidalarm timing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback mechanism where the client checks alarm data changes (operation code 3) before requesting timestamp details (operation code 101). This feedback loop ensures that timestamp information is retrieved based on actual alarm state changes rather than fixed intervals, maintaining both operational simplicity and timing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturer-specific methods are used for alarm data transmission, then implementation flexibility is improved, but system compatibility and ease of implementation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation flexibilityVSAvoidimplementation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a universal two-step methodology using standardized Modbus operation codes (operation code 3 for alarm check, operation code 101 for timestamp retrieval) that can be implemented across different manufacturers' systems. This universal approach maintains implementation flexibility through the structured two-step process while significantly improving ease of manufacture and deployment across diverse systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2122425B1Method and arrangement for transmitting alarm data from the server to the client via MODBUS communication

Publication Date: 2014.10.15 WARTSILA FINLAND OY

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AI summary

The present invention is a simple way of transmitting alarm data from a server to a client. The alarm data is sent from the server to the client in two steps.In the first steps the system sends the information about the occurrence of at least one alarm event.In the second step the alarm event specific time stamps are sent.