Relay Data Arbitration for Lower PLC Communication Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increase in communication load due to frequent data transmission in control systems, particularly when network-connected programmable displays update data periodically, is a challenge that existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines and transmits a data set based on the information about process data and currently-executed applications, using an arbitration mechanism to optimize data transmission and reduce communication load by selecting relevant data sets dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is transmitted every predetermined period on the network, then the information processing device can update and display the information held by the PLC, but the communication load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the specific process data that is actually used by the executed application, rather than transmitting all process data periodically. The relay device identifies which process data items are referenced by the application and transmits only those items, reducing the overall data volume while ensuring timely updates for relevant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic data transmission where the set of transmitted process data changes based on which application is currently executed. When the application changes, the relay device dynamically determines which process data items are needed and transmits only those, making the communication load adaptive to the current operational context rather than static and periodic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all process data is transmitted to ensure complete information availability, then the application can access any needed data, but the data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device extracts only the specific process data items that are actually referenced by the executed application from the complete set of process data. This selective extraction ensures that the application receives exactly the data it needs without unnecessary overhead, maintaining data accessibility for relevant items while reducing overall transmission volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different data sets to different applications based on their specific needs. Each application receives a customized data set containing only the process data items it references, rather than all applications receiving the same complete data set. This localized data provision optimizes the balance between data accessibility and transmission volume.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control system (1a) includes control means (102a), transmission means (80a), application execution means (200a), and arbitration means (300a) that arbitrates a data set exchanged between the transmission means and the application execution means. The arbitration means includes first acquisition means (330a) that acquires information (622a) about a plurality of pieces of process data (52) managed by the control means, second acquisition means (320a) that acquires information (612a) about application (220a) executed by the application execution means, determination means (340a) that determines process data to be included in a data set (50) based on the information about the plurality of pieces of process data acquired by the first acquisition means and the information about the application executed acquired by the second acquisition means, and notification means (350a) that notifies each of the transmission means and the application execution means of a content of the process data to be included in the data set determined by the determination means.