Relay-Based Field Wireless Configuration for Remote Plant Settings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Engineers face inefficiencies in setting and changing setting information for gateways and field devices due to the need for separate engineering tools and the requirement to physically visit distant or securely/safely restricted plant locations, complicating the association of PLC and gateway/device settings.
Innovation Solution
A management device and relay device system that enables wireless communication, allowing setting information to be transmitted and received via Ethernet, with storage units and communicators to write and manage settings for relay and field devices, facilitating remote configuration and integration of PLC, gateway, and field device settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If engineers use separate gateway engineering tools and PLC engineering tools to configure settings, then each tool can be optimized for its specific device type, but the work efficiency decreases due to the need to separately prepare and switch between multiple tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gateway engineering tool and PLC engineering tool into a single integrated engineering tool. This unified tool can configure both the gateway device and PLC device without requiring engineers to switch between separate tools, thereby improving work efficiency while maintaining the specialized configuration capabilities for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The engineering tool is designed with multi-functionality to handle configuration of multiple device types (gateway and PLC) through a single interface. The tool can automatically identify device types and switch between appropriate configuration modes, providing universal access to both gateway and PLC settings without requiring separate specialized tools.
2Reliability
If engineers physically visit the plant location to connect the engineering tool to the gateway, then direct access to the gateway is ensured, but work efficiency decreases when the control room and plant are located far apart or have different security standards
Solution Approach 1:
The PLC device serves as an intermediary between the engineering tool in the control room and the gateway device in the plant. By connecting the engineering tool to the PLC via the wireless communication network instead of directly to the gateway, the system enables remote configuration without requiring physical presence at the plant location, thus saving travel time while maintaining reliable connection through the mediator PLC.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate engineering tools are used for PLC and gateway configuration, then each tool can be dedicated to specific device requirements, but the association of setting information between PLC and gateway becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
By combining gateway and PLC configuration capabilities into a single engineering tool, the patent simplifies the association of setting information between devices. The unified tool can automatically link gateway settings with PLC settings through integrated project management, eliminating the complexity of manually associating settings across separate tools while maintaining device-specific configuration capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A management device according to an aspect of the present invention transmits and receives information to and from a relay device that is able to communicate with a field device installed in a plant. The management device includes a storage unit including a first setting storage area configured to store first setting information that is setting information of the relay device and a second setting storage area configured to store second setting information that is setting information of the field device and a first setting management unit that writes the first setting information and the second setting information to the relay device.