SCADA Slave Interface Generation for Flexible EMS Data Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current SCADA interfaces for energy management systems are cumbersome to set up, fragile, and require extensive custom coding, leading to high project costs, fragility, and difficulties in maintaining data consistency and quality.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for automatically generating a SCADA slave interface using a SCADA configuration file that maps SCADA data points to EMS data objects, employing an object access framework and SCADA binding framework to create communication protocol-specific bindings, reducing the need for custom coding and enhancing flexibility and consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional custom coding approach is used for SCADA interface setup, then flexibility in customization is improved, but device complexity and project costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization flexibilityVSAvoidinterface setup complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses template-based automatic generation to create SCADA slave interfaces. Pre-defined templates capture common interface patterns, allowing rapid deployment of standardized interfaces while maintaining customization capability through configuration parameters. This eliminates manual coding of routine interface elements while preserving adaptability for specific project requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring interface templates with common SCADA protocols and data structures before actual project deployment. These templates contain pre-established mappings, data types, and communication patterns that are prepared in advance, significantly reducing on-site configuration complexity and setup time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If extensive custom coding is performed, then specific project requirements are met, but reliability and data consistency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproject requirement fulfillmentVSAvoiddata consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By using validated templates for interface generation, the system ensures that all generated interfaces follow consistent data structures, validation rules, and communication protocols. This template-based approach guarantees data consistency across different projects while still allowing customization through configuration, eliminating manual coding errors that would compromise reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic generation system incorporates validation mechanisms that check generated interfaces against defined standards and requirements. This feedback loop ensures that customized interfaces maintain data consistency and reliability by automatically detecting and correcting configuration errors before deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual SCADA interface configuration is used, then customization capability is improved, but ease of operation and setup time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface customizationVSAvoidsetup ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration work by preparing reusable templates that contain pre-defined interface structures, data mappings, and protocol configurations. These templates are created in advance with best practices embedded, allowing users to deploy interfaces quickly by simply selecting and configuring templates rather than building from scratch, dramatically improving setup ease while maintaining customization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The template-based system creates multi-functional interface configurations that can serve multiple project types and SCADA platforms. A single template can be adapted to different energy management scenarios through configuration parameters, providing universal applicability that reduces setup effort while maintaining customization capability across diverse applications.

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

4Adaptability or versatility

If custom coding is required for each project, then specific data needs are met, but productivity and deployment speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata requirement specificityVSAvoiddeployment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary work by pre-configuring interface templates with common data structures, mappings, and protocols specific to energy management systems. These templates encapsulate project-specific data requirements that recur across multiple deployments, allowing rapid replication and acceleration of deployment speed while maintaining the ability to meet specific data needs through configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The templates are designed to be universally applicable across different energy management projects and SCADA platforms. A single template framework can accommodate various data requirements by adjusting configuration parameters, enabling the system to meet project-specific needs without requiring custom coding for each deployment, thereby significantly improving productivity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3867710B1Apparatus, device and computer implemented method for automatic generation of scada slave interface
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 WAERTSILAE ENERGY STORAGE INC
  • EP3867710B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3867710B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3867710B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A computer implemented method at an energy management system (EMS) controller apparatus for automatic generation of a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) slave interface for an energy management system (EMS), comprising storing a SCADA configuration file mapping SCADA data points to EMS data objects, providing site configuration information of the energy management system (EMS); scanning, by an object access framework (OAF), EMS data objects with EMS annotations and combining them with the site configuration information to generate an object binding repository (OBR); and compiling, the SCADA configuration file to combine the SCADA data points mapping with the object binding repository to generate SCADA bindings information as a part of the SCADA slave interface for the energy management system (EMS).