Self-Describing Industrial Data Packets for Adaptive Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in efficiently delivering self-describing industrial data to graphical interfaces, requiring updates in client-side interface applications whenever new data items or services are added, leading to logistical hardships due to tight coupling between data services and visualization applications.
Innovation Solution
Industrial devices are equipped with an interface server component and metadata retrieval component that send data items along with presentation metadata, allowing client-side interface applications to render data using identified graphical formats, widgets, or objects, enabling self-describing data packets that adapt visualization without requiring corresponding updates in client-side software.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If client-side interface applications are updated whenever new data items or services are added, then data visualization remains synchronized with data services, but logistical complexities and maintenance burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into two independent components: raw data items and presentation metadata. The interface server component sends data items with associated presentation metadata that includes graphical format information, widgets, or objects. This segmentation allows client-side applications to receive self-describing data packets that contain all necessary information for rendering, eliminating the need for application updates when new data items are added.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by making data items self-describing through embedded presentation metadata. Each data item carries its own rendering instructions, allowing client-side applications to automatically render new data items without requiring manual configuration or application updates. The data services and visualization applications become loosely coupled, with the visualization side able to adapt to new data independently.
2Stability of the object's composition
If tight coupling exists between data services and visualization applications, then data rendering remains consistent, but adaptability to new data items deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces presentation metadata as an intermediary layer between data services and visualization applications. This metadata acts as a contract or interface definition that describes how data items should be rendered graphically. The interface server component generates this metadata, and client-side applications consume it to render data items. This intermediary enables loose coupling while maintaining consistent rendering through standardized metadata formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data packet structure that can accommodate various types of data items and services through a common presentation metadata format. The metadata includes graphical format identifiers, widget specifications, and object definitions that can represent different data types uniformly. This universal structure allows client-side applications to handle diverse data items without requiring specialized processing logic for each data type.
3Manufacturing precision
If client-side applications are updated frequently to support new data items, then data visualization accuracy is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining presentation metadata templates and graphical format specifications in advance. The interface server component is configured with knowledge of various data item types and their corresponding presentation formats. When new data items are added, the server can automatically generate appropriate presentation metadata using pre-established templates, ensuring accurate visualization without requiring client-side application updates.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial devices are configured to provide their associated industrial data to client-side user interface applications in a self-describing manner that instructs the interface applications how the data is to be rendered. In response to a request for a data item from a user interface application, the industrial device sends the requested data item together with presentation metadata that identifies a widget or graphical objects to be used by the interface application to render the data item on a user interface. By providing the industrial data in a self-describing manner, additional data or services can be added to the industrial device without requiring a corresponding update to the client-side interface application.