Process Control With Instance-Specific Signatures on Shared Hardware

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Solution Overview

Problem

In hyper-converged infrastructures, executing multiple control processes on a common hardware platform challenges the detection of swapped process values between identical control processes due to shared application programs, necessitating individual parameterization and encoding for each instance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where control processes generate loop-dependent signatures with individually adapted initial values and increments, allowing differentiation of coded process values across multiple instances without requiring separate encoding for each instance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the same application program is executed multiple times on a host system, then resource utilization is improved, but the ability to detect swapped process values is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoiddetection of swapped process values
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the signature generation process instance-specific through individual seed values and loop iteration counts for each control process instance. This allows the same application program to be executed multiple times while maintaining the ability to detect swapped process values, as each instance produces unique signatures locally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing instance-specific seed values and loop iteration counts that vary between different executions of the same application program. These parameter changes enable the generation of different signatures for each control process instance, resolving the contradiction between reusing the same program and maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If individual parameterization and coding is performed for each control process instance, then detection of swapped process values is improved, but device complexity and programming effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of swapped process valuesVSAvoidprogramming effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a single application program that can serve multiple control process instances through the use of instance-specific parameters (seed values and loop iteration counts). This universal program maintains the ability to detect swapped process values without requiring individual customization, thereby reducing device complexity and programming effort.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by allowing the same application program to be copied and executed multiple times on the host system. Each copy automatically receives unique instance parameters, enabling detection of swapped process values without manual reprogramming, thus reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional signature methods are used with identical control processes, then program reusability is improved, but signature uniqueness is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram reusabilityVSAvoidsignature uniqueness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the signature generation process adaptive to each control process instance through instance-specific seed values and loop iteration counts. This dynamic approach allows the same application program to generate unique signatures for each instance, maintaining both program reusability and signature uniqueness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning unique seed values and determining loop iteration counts for each control process instance before execution. This preliminary configuration enables the same application program to produce unique signatures for each instance without requiring modification, thus maintaining both reusability and uniqueness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4300221B1Process control system and device and method for controlling a process system
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4300221B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention provides a device and a method for controlling a process plant in which several control processes are executed on a common hardware system. Coded process variables are encoded in each of the control processes based on signatures that are individually defined in each of the control processes.