SD Process Control Visualization for Dynamic Resource Orchestration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial process control systems are inflexible and hardware-centric, leading to increased costs for initial engineering and change management, as well as cost overruns and supply-chain delays due to their dependence on purpose-built hardware.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined process control system (SDCS) that decouples software and hardware, implementing business logic as logical abstractions on top of computer resources and dynamically managing resources using a hyper-converged infrastructure, including a software-defined networking layer, application layer, and storage layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purpose-built hardware is used in industrial process control systems, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the control system using software-defined controllers that replicate the functionality of hardware controllers. This virtualization allows the system to maintain reliability through software-based control logic while eliminating the need for complex purpose-built hardware devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardware-based control system with a software-defined control system running on standard computer infrastructure. This substitution eliminates complex hardware while maintaining control functionality through software abstractions and virtualization techniques.
2Stability of the object's composition
If purpose-built hardware is used in industrial process control systems, then system stability is improved, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system where software-defined controllers can be dynamically created, modified, and deployed without changing the underlying hardware infrastructure. This allows the system to adapt to changing process requirements while maintaining stable operation through consistent software execution environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal control platform using standard computer hardware that can run multiple software-defined controllers for different control functions. This universal infrastructure provides both stability through standardized hardware and adaptability through software flexibility, allowing the same hardware to serve multiple control purposes.
3Measurement precision
If hardware-centric architecture is used, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces software-defined I/O layers that act as intermediaries between the physical measurement devices and the control logic. This abstraction layer maintains measurement precision by accurately representing physical measurements while significantly improving ease of operation through standardized software interfaces and centralized management capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If software-defined control is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into modular software-defined controllers that can be independently developed, deployed, and managed. This segmentation reduces software complexity by breaking down the overall system into smaller, more manageable components while maintaining high adaptability through the ability to modify individual segments without affecting the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A software defined (SD) process control system (SDCS) implements controller and other process control-related business logic as logical abstractions (e.g., application layer services executing in containers, VMs, etc.) decoupled from hardware and software computing platform resources. An SD networking layer of the SDCS utilizes process control-specific operating system support services to manage the usage of the computing platform resources and the creation, deletion, modifications, and networking of application layer services with devices disposed in the field environment and with other services, responsive to the requirements and needs of the business logic and dynamically changing conditions of SDCS hardware and/or software assets during run-time of the process plant (such as performance, faults, addition/deletion of hardware and/or software assets, etc.). A visualization system of the SDCS provides a user with a view as to the state of the SDCS as currently configured/running on the computing platform to enable a user to view currently configured interrelationships between logical elements of the control system and other logical and/or physical elements of the control system. The visualization system also provides performance metrics of the system as currently configured to enable a user to understand the operational health of the control system as currently configured.