Unified Interface Circuit for Industrial Network Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developing applications for industrial networks requires complex and time-consuming custom integrations with various network protocols, leading to slow development and increased error rates due to the significant differences in software interfaces and architectures between protocols.
Innovation Solution
A unified interface circuit with an abstraction layer and messaging layer that converts protocol-specific messages to protocol-agnostic messages, allowing applications to communicate with multiple industrial network protocols using a single interface, thereby eliminating the need for customizations for each protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom integrations are implemented for each network protocol, then protocol compatibility is achieved, but development complexity and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer between the application and various network protocols. This intermediary component receives protocol-specific messages, translates them into a universal internal format, and routes them to the application. Conversely, it converts application messages into protocol-specific formats for transmission. This mediator approach enables single application code to work with multiple protocols without requiring custom integration for each protocol, thus resolving the contradiction between protocol compatibility and integration complexity.
2Reliability
If protocol-specific software interfaces are used, then protocol-specific optimization is achieved, but ease of operation and development ease deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional layers: a protocol-specific translation layer and a protocol-agnostic application layer. The translation layer handles protocol-specific optimizations and variations, while the application layer operates with a unified, simplified interface. This segmentation allows the system to maintain protocol-specific optimization capabilities while providing ease of operation to developers who only need to interact with the simplified application layer, without dealing with protocol complexities.
3Reliability
If custom development is performed for each protocol, then protocol-specific requirements are met, but productivity and time-to-market decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal translation infrastructure that serves multiple protocols through a single codebase. The translation layer is designed to handle various protocols using a common architecture and message format, making it multi-functional. This universality allows the same application code to be deployed across different protocol environments without custom development for each protocol, thereby maintaining protocol-specific requirements while dramatically improving development productivity and reducing time-to-market.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for interfacing an application circuit to an industrial network include first and second interfaces, one or more controllers, and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices store instructions, which when executed, cause the controllers perform operations to convert messages between a specified message format according to a protocol of the industrial network and a protocol agnostic format.