Network Supervisor Device for Wireless Field Device Communication Restriction Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial process control systems face challenges in meeting communication restrictions in wireless communication networks, particularly in real-time control scenarios where simultaneous sensing and fast data transmission are required, leading to limitations that can jeopardize control activities.
Innovation Solution
A network supervisor device and computer program product that manage communication between field devices and process control devices by utilizing a second wireless communication network to redistribute and align communication schedules, allowing field devices to meet stringent communication restrictions, even with slow wireless technology, by relocating field devices between networks and aligning communication structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single wireless communication network is used for real-time control, then device complexity is reduced, but communication restriction requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the field devices into two groups: first field devices communicate via a first wireless communication network, while second field devices communicate via a second wireless communication network. This segmentation allows each network to handle a subset of communication requirements, enabling the system to meet stringent communication restriction requirements that a single network could not satisfy alone.
2Reliability
If a second wireless communication network is added to meet communication restrictions, then communication restriction compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A network supervisor device is introduced as an intermediary component that manages and coordinates communication between field devices and control devices across the two wireless networks. The network supervisor handles the complexity of dual-network management, including determining which devices communicate on which network and ensuring communication restrictions are met, thereby shielding the overall system from excessive complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If slow wireless communication technology is used, then cost is reduced, but real-time control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments field devices into two groups based on their communication requirements. Second field devices with stringent communication restriction requirements are assigned to a second wireless communication network optimized for fast real-time control, while first field devices can use the first wireless communication network which may use slower, more cost-effective technology. This allows the system to use economical slow wireless technology where applicable while maintaining real-time control capability where required.
Data Source
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AI summary
An industrial process control system (10) comprises a process control device (12), a first wireless communication network (11), a second wxreless communication network (27) and a first group of wireless field devices (16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26) interfacing the industrial process and being associated with the first network. The network supervisor device investigates if the field devices of the first group are able to communicate with the process control device via the first network while meeting a communication restriction requirement (?T), and redirects, in case the requirement is not met, communication between some of the field devices in the first group and the process control device to the second network so that the requirement is met for a first part (16, 18, 20) of the field devices using the first wireless communication network and for a second part (22, 24, 26) of the field devices using the second wireless communication network.