Network Management Unit Aggregates Multilayer Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
In factory automation network systems, as the scale increases, managing connection relationships and topologies across multiple layers with different protocols becomes complex, and existing solutions lack flexibility in acquiring and handling protocol information, leading to inefficiencies in error analysis and device configuration.
Innovation Solution
A network system with a master processing unit and slave processing units, where each device holds characteristic information indicating its role, allowing the master processing unit to acquire and generate single-layer network configuration information, and a network management unit to aggregate this information to create multilayer network configuration, facilitating connection relationship management across multiple layers and protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the network system scale is increased to connect more devices across multiple layers, then the network system functionality and coverage are improved, but the complexity of managing connection relationships and topologies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network configuration management into two distinct types: single-layer network configuration information (managed by master processing units) and multilayer network configuration information (managed by network management units). This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of network management independently, reducing the overall complexity of managing large-scale multilayer networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces network management units as intermediary components that aggregate single-layer network configuration information from multiple master processing units to generate multilayer network configuration information. This intermediary layer simplifies the management complexity by providing a standardized interface and aggregation mechanism, preventing the complexity from propagating throughout the entire network system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different protocols are used for different layers in the network system, then the adaptability and versatility of the system are improved, but the difficulty of performing error analysis and device configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal network configuration information structures that can represent multiple protocol types. The single-layer and multilayer network configuration information formats are designed to be protocol-agnostic, allowing the same data structures to accommodate different communication protocols across various network layers. This universality enables error analysis and device configuration to be performed using consistent methods regardless of the underlying protocol differences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If profile data regarding protocols is provided on a programmable display device, then the system can handle different protocols, but the flexibility is reduced and updates require frequent programming changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network management units to automatically acquire and aggregate network configuration information from master processing units without requiring manual programming or configuration. The system self-services by automatically generating multilayer network configuration information from the collected single-layer information, eliminating the need for frequent programming updates and maintaining high flexibility when handling different protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanism which can easily acquire a connection relationship of each device even in a multilayered network system having a plurality of protocols is provided. A network system has at least one network including a master processing unit and one or a plurality of slave processing units. Each of first, second, and third devices holds characteristic information indicating whether or not the device has a master processing unit or a slave processing unit. The first device includes a network management unit that acquires single-layer network configuration information from each master processing unit included in the network system to generate multilayer network configuration information indicating a connection relationship of each device in the network system.