Proxy Components for Legacy-to-Newer Automation Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in interfacing components from different manufacturers and generations, leading to data interpretation issues and communication barriers, which hinder efficient operation and integration.
Innovation Solution
A system tool that identifies legacy components unable to communicate with newer components and recommends proxy-interface components to translate data formats, enabling seamless communication and data exchange between disparate systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If legacy components are integrated into the industrial automation system, then system compatibility and operational continuity are improved, but communication barriers and data interpretation issues arise between components from different manufacturers and generations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy component that acts as an intermediary between legacy components and newer automation components. This proxy component receives data from legacy components using their original communication protocols and data formats, then translates and forwards the data in formats compatible with newer components, thereby resolving communication barriers without requiring changes to the legacy components themselves
2Adaptability or versatility
If proxy-interface components are added to translate data formats, then communication between disparate systems is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies or representations of legacy component interfaces within the proxy component. These virtual interfaces replicate the communication behavior of original legacy components, allowing newer components to interact with legacy systems through standardized protocols without direct physical or architectural integration, thereby managing complexity through virtualization
3Ease of operation
If manual integration of legacy components is performed, then customization and control over data translation are improved, but time consumption and operational inefficiency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-configured proxy components with built-in translation capabilities for common legacy protocols and data formats. These proxies are prepared in advance with standardized translation rules and communication templates, allowing rapid deployment and integration without requiring extensive manual configuration or customization during the integration phase
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial automation component may receive design information associated with an arrangement of one or more industrial automation components in an industrial automation system and identify a first portion of the industrial automation components in the industrial automation system that is unable to interface with a second portion of industrial automation components based on the design information. The industrial automation component may then generate a list of industrial automation components based on the first portion of the industrial automation components and the second portion of industrial automation components, wherein each of the list of industrial automation components is configured to translate a first set of data associated with the first portion of the industrial automation components to a second set of data configured to be at least partly interpretable by the second portion of industrial automation components.