Industrial Topology Discovery with Point-to-Point Path Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating accurate and complete system topology information for industrial automation systems is challenging due to their large and heterogeneous collection of devices and complex communication paths across various networks.
Innovation Solution
An industrial topology discovery system that autonomously discovers and documents automation system topologies using orchestrated discovery agents, which deploy and orchestrate various types of agents to collect device and network information, and aggregates this information into a comprehensive topology model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual documentation methods are used for industrial automation systems, then documentation accuracy can be maintained for small systems, but the process becomes prohibitively challenging and time-consuming for large heterogeneous systems with complex communication paths
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-documentation by deploying discovery agents that autonomously traverse the automation system, collect topology data from devices and networks, and generate comprehensive topology models without requiring manual intervention for each device or connection
Solution Approach 2:
Manual documentation processes are replaced with an automated electronic discovery system that uses software agents to collect, aggregate, and process topology information from industrial devices, networks, and communication paths
2Loss of information
If comprehensive system topology information is generated for large heterogeneous automation systems, then complete documentation is achieved, but the complexity of the documentation process becomes prohibitively challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The discovery system is segmented into multiple specialized discovery agents, each responsible for specific device types or network protocols. These agents independently discover portions of the topology and report findings to a central aggregation component, which synthesizes the complete system topology model
Solution Approach 2:
The discovery agents are designed with multi-functionality to handle various device types (controllers, I/O devices, network equipment) and communication protocols (Ethernet, Profibus, remote I/O, controller backplanes) through a unified discovery framework, reducing the need for separate specialized tools
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial topology discovery system autonomously discovers and documents industrial automation system topologies using orchestrated discovery agents of various types. The topology discovery system can reside on a cloud platform or another high level network and deploy discovery agents on plant networks and devices within an industrial facility. These discovery agents can implement different strategies for discovering system information, and can include agents configured to monitor and report on communication traffic across respective types of networks, agents configured to probe respective device types for identity and configuration information, and other types of agents. Discovery services executed by the topology discovery system can collect device and network information obtained by the agents and use this information to document the topology of the automation system as well as to orchestrate the discovery behavior of the agents to extract further information about the system based on defined discovery rules.