Relay-Based Communication State Timing for Distributed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In network distributed control systems, the control performance and operating rate can fluctuate due to changes in communication states of transmission paths, necessitating monitoring of communication states and detection times.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising a first controller, a second controller, and a relay unit with detection units to monitor communication states of transmission paths and transmit state data, including detection times, to the second controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication state monitoring is implemented, then control performance stability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional detection and time management functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol performance stabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay unit performs multiple functions: data transfer between controllers, detection of communication states, and generation of detection time information. By consolidating these functions in a single component, the system achieves monitoring capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The relay unit autonomously detects communication states and generates detection time information without requiring controller intervention. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for controllers to implement their own monitoring logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If detection time information is transmitted to controllers, then ability to maintain operating rate is improved, but data transmission volume and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating rate maintenance abilityVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential detection time information from the full communication state data. By transmitting only the time stamp when communication state was detected, rather than complete communication diagnostics, the system minimizes data volume while maintaining the ability to analyze operating rate issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4546742A1Control system, relay device, and communication method
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 OMRON CORP
  • EP4546742A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4546742A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4546742A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system acquires a communication state of a transmission path and also a time of detection of the communication state. The control system includes a first controller including an interface for connection to a first transmission path, a second controller including an interface for connection to a second transmission path, and a relay unit including a first interface for connection to the first transmission path and a second interface for connection to the second transmission path. The relay unit includes a detection unit configured to detect a communication state of the first transmission path. The relay unit is configured to, in accordance with a transfer setting, transmit, to the second controller, output data transmitted from the first controller, and transmit, to the second controller, first state data indicating the detected communication state of the first transmission path and a time of detection of the state.