Plant Device Data Routing via Tag-Based Format Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data processing technologies require significant development and maintenance efforts when expanding functionality, as administrators need to implement new data formats and processing orders, making it difficult to manage data processing loads.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that utilizes a device setting information storage unit to associate tag information and data type codes, allowing for automatic determination of output destinations based on data formats, reducing the need for manual implementation and enabling easy changes to processing configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data processing execution parts are generated for each data format and all data are registered in a single database, then data processing flexibility is improved, but development complexity and maintenance difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configuration management table as an intermediary component that stores mapping relationships between data formats and processing execution parts. This table acts as a mediator between the data format layer and the processing layer, allowing flexible data format support without increasing code complexity. The configuration table enables the system to adapt to new data formats by simply adding entries to the configuration rather than modifying existing processing code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of data format to processing execution part mappings in the configuration management table before actual data processing occurs. This preliminary setup allows the system to automatically determine which processing execution part should handle which data format, eliminating the need for complex runtime decision-making logic and reducing development complexity while maintaining flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If processing order of data processing is determined by implementation, then data processing control is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases when adding new data formats or processing
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration management table serves as an intermediary that decouples the data processing control logic from the implementation details. By storing processing order information in the configuration table rather than hardcoding it, the system maintains easy control over processing sequences while making maintenance simple - new processing steps can be added by configuring them in the table without modifying existing code.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the processing order dynamic by storing it in the configuration management table rather than fixing it in implementation. This allows the processing sequence to be easily changed or extended by updating the configuration table, maintaining operational flexibility while significantly reducing maintenance difficulty compared to implementation-based ordering.
3Device complexity
If all data are registered in a single database, then data storage simplicity is improved, but data processing load on administrator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing responsibilities by creating separate processing execution parts for different data formats, each handled by dedicated code modules. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a single database while reducing the administrator's processing load through automated format-specific handling, as each data format has its own optimized processing execution part that operates independently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A server apparatus (10) stores therein device setting information that includes tag information that is set in association with a plant device (20) that is included in a plant and a data type code that indicates a data format, receives device data that is transmitted by the plant device (20), determines an output destination of the device data in accordance with the data format based on the tag information, and outputs the device data to the determined output destination based on the data type code.