SDN Architecture for Centralized Industrial Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial networks in automation processes are complex and difficult to manage, requiring significant time and resources for configuration and maintenance, often leading to factory downtime and financial losses due to the lack of centralized control and the need for network engineering expertise.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Software-Defined Network (SDN) architecture within a Software Defined Automation (SDA) system allows for centralized management and automation of industrial networks, enabling direct access for application developers to design and manage control applications, provision devices, and monitor network events without relying on network engineers, using a decoupled control and data plane architecture and open standards like OpenFlow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional industrial network architecture is used, then network stability and reliability are maintained, but network management complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into two distinct planes: the data plane (infrastructure plane) for packet forwarding and the control plane for network management and decision-making. This segmentation allows complex control functions to be separated from simple data forwarding, reducing the operational burden on network devices while maintaining management complexity in a centralized controller that can be programmatically accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an SDN controller as an intermediary between the infrastructure plane and application plane. This controller acts as a mediator that translates high-level application requirements into low-level network configuration commands, simplifying network management for application developers while maintaining precise control over the complex network infrastructure.
2Productivity
If network configuration and reconfiguration tasks are performed manually, then network control precision is maintained, but time consumption and factory downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network to reconfigure itself automatically based on application requirements and network conditions. The SDN controller programmatically adjusts network parameters, routes, and resources in response to changing demands, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing both time consumption and factory downtime associated with network reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows network reconfiguration to be prepared and executed in advance. Application developers can define network requirements programmatically, and the SDN controller can pre-configure network paths and resources before actual network changes are needed, reducing the time required for urgent reconfigurations and minimizing factory downtime.
3Ease of operation
If network engineers are required for all network tasks, then network control accuracy is maintained, but operational costs and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between application developers and the complex network infrastructure. It provides a simplified, programmable interface that allows developers to access and control network resources without requiring deep networking expertise, while the controller itself handles the complex translation and enforcement of network policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal control plane that can serve multiple applications and network functions through a single programmable interface. This multi-functional controller reduces the need for specialized network engineers for each application by providing general-purpose network management capabilities that can be adapted to various application requirements through software configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial software defined network (SDN) architecture, system and methods for centralized and simplified management of an industrial network is disclosed. The industrial SDN architecture comprises of an infrastructure plane including physical and virtual devices, a control plane comprising controllers to control and manage the physical and virtual devices in the infrastructure plane, the logically centralized controllers including a network controller, a virtualization management controller and a cybersecurity controller, an application plane comprising one or more end user industrial applications, and a platform plane comprising a set of software services and application programming interfaces (APIs) to define a communication interface to the application plane to the north and the control plane to the south to provide an industrial application in the application plane programmatic access to one or more of the plurality of the controllers in the control plane for simplified and centralized management of the industrial network.