Optical Code Data Transfer for Isolated Industrial Instruments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for accessing data from industrial instruments require physical visits, which are impractical and disruptive, and often violate security protocols due to the isolated nature of industrial communication networks.
Innovation Solution
A data transfer system using optical codes to securely and conveniently transfer data from isolated industrial instruments to external applications without establishing physical or wireless connections, utilizing a data transfer computing device to encode and decode data in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical visits are used to access instrument data, then data can be obtained, but it requires disruptive physical presence and violates network security protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical codes as an intermediary medium to transfer data from instruments to external applications. The computing device generates optical codes that encode instrument data, which can then be scanned and decoded by external devices without establishing direct network connections. This intermediary approach maintains network security while enabling convenient data access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical system of direct network connections and physical visits with an optical system. Data is converted into optical code format (visual codes) that can be transmitted through light without requiring physical presence or direct network connectivity, thus substituting mechanical interaction with optical transmission.
2Ease of operation
If direct network connections are established for data transfer, then data access is convenient, but network security protocols are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The optical code serves as a mediator that bridges the gap between the isolated instrument network and external applications. Instead of creating direct network connections, the system converts data into optical format that can be externally accessed and then converted back, maintaining security boundaries while enabling data transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies of the instrument data that can be externalized without moving the original data or establishing persistent connections. The data is copied into optical code format, allowing external applications to access data representations without compromising the security of the original networked instruments.
3Reliability
If optical codes are used for data transfer, then network security is maintained and data access is convenient, but data encoding and decoding complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal optical code standards that can encode multiple types of instrument data using a single, standardized format. This multi-functional approach allows the same encoding system to handle various data types (process data, diagnostic data, configuration data) without requiring separate encoding mechanisms for each data type, thus reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A data transfer system for transferring data from one or more instruments to one or more applications is provided. The data transfer system includes a data transfer computing device including at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. The at least one processor is programmed to receive an action of obtaining an optical code corresponding to an application among one or more applications, retrieve, from one or more instruments, data requested by the application, and encode the data into the optical code. The data include data of the one or more instruments at an instant of the action. The one or more applications are disconnected from the one or more instruments.