Process Automation Network Testing Using Communication Intents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing industrial networks require extensive hardware setup and high manual effort, resulting in low test coverage and high costs, especially when testing converged networks with dynamic capacity requirements like voice/video communication, which is economically infeasible for full-scale implementation.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for automatically testing process automation network topology and configuration using communication intents to configure traffic generators and analyzers, allowing for automated test case generation and execution, which reduces the need for physical hardware setup and enables parallel testing across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real applications and hardware are used for network testing, then test fidelity is high, but hardware availability and cost are major constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of network devices, applications, and traffic patterns through software-based network emulators. These virtual representations replicate the behavior and characteristics of physical hardware without requiring actual device presence, thereby maintaining test fidelity while eliminating hardware availability constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical hardware systems with software-based virtualization technologies. Network devices, applications, and traffic are emulated through software rather than requiring physical instantiation, substituting the mechanical/physical layer with a software abstraction layer that provides the same testing functionality
2Reliability
If all network devices and applications are connected for comprehensive testing, then test coverage is complete, but economic feasibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal software-based testing platform that can emulate multiple different network devices, applications, and traffic patterns within a single virtualized environment. This multi-functional emulator can represent various hardware configurations and application scenarios without requiring separate physical setups for each test case, achieving comprehensive coverage at low cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic modification of testing parameters including device configurations, traffic patterns, network topology, and application behaviors through software controls. This allows comprehensive testing of various scenarios by changing virtual parameters rather than physically reconfiguring hardware, maintaining test coverage while reducing economic burden
3Measurement precision
If manual configuration of artificial traffic is performed, then traffic representation accuracy is high, but manual effort and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated traffic generation capabilities within the virtualized testing environment that self-configure and self-adapt to match real-world traffic patterns. The system automatically learns and replicates communication behaviors, protocols, and traffic characteristics without requiring manual configuration, achieving both accuracy and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures virtual network devices, applications, and traffic patterns within the virtualized environment before actual testing begins. By preparing the entire testing scenario in advance through software deployment, the system eliminates on-site manual configuration requirements and enables immediate execution of comprehensive tests
4Reliability
If end-to-end application testing is performed, then real-world scenario validation is achieved, but test granularity and insight are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the end-to-end application testing into discrete, analyzable components at the network protocol and device interaction levels. The virtualized testing environment captures and analyzes individual protocol exchanges, device responses, and communication patterns separately, providing granular insights into each layer while maintaining the context of the complete end-to-end scenario
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a computer implemented method for creating a test setup for automatically testing a topology and/or configuration of a process automation network. The method comprises the following steps. In a first step (210), communication intents containing a definition of communication connections between communication endpoints and connection specifications between the communication endpoints are received, and at least one communication intent to be tested is selected. In a second step (220), topology information of the network to be tested is received and analyzed. In a third step (230), test cases for each of the at least one communication intents are generated by generating a configuration for at least one traffic generator and a configuration for at least one traffic analyzer using the selected communication intents and the topology information. In a fourth step (240), the at least one test case is deployed to test facilities on which test functions are to be run using the traffic generator and traffic analyzer, and the test functions are configured. In a fifth step (250), the process automation network is configured to receive data from traffic generator and provide data to the traffic analyzer.