Virtual Device Encapsulation for Legacy Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy control and software systems in enterprises face challenges due to rapid obsolescence, security threats, and discontinued OS support, leading to high maintenance costs and competitive pressure from newer companies with modern infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
The establishment of virtual devices that isolate and migrate legacy systems to different OS and machine architectures, allowing them to run on modern hardware while maintaining access to legacy hardware and enhancing security through secure trust relationships and modern security mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If enterprises continue to run legacy control or software systems on original hardware and OS, then the systems can operate with original functionality, but the systems become vulnerable to security threats and OS support discontinuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the legacy control system and the modern hardware/OS environment. This virtual machine acts as a mediator that allows the legacy system to run on modern infrastructure while maintaining security isolation, thus resolving the contradiction between security reliability and OS compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the system into distinct layers: the legacy control system runs in an isolated virtual environment, separated from the modern host OS. This segmentation allows the legacy system to maintain its original security boundaries while the host system provides modern security mechanisms, resolving the conflict between maintaining original functionality and adapting to modern security requirements.
2Reliability
If enterprises port control or software systems to modern hardware and OS versions, then the systems gain security updates and support, but the enterprise enters a perpetual cycle of continuous porting as technology evolves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the legacy system environment within the modern infrastructure. This copy allows the system to run on modern hardware with current security updates while the virtualization layer abstracts away the underlying hardware changes, eliminating the need for continuous physical porting and reducing migration effort over time.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If enterprises expend capital and resources to support outdated hardware and OS, then the legacy systems can continue to operate, but the maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the modern hardware platform universal by using virtualization to support multiple legacy systems and different OS versions on the same physical infrastructure. This multi-functionality allows a single modern server to replace multiple outdated hardware systems, reducing maintenance costs while ensuring continuous operation of legacy applications.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for establishing virtual devices are presented. A legacy control system is encapsulated as a virtual device. The virtual device is isolated within a host hardware associate with a host OS and access to and from the virtual device is authenticated and controlled by the host OS. Legacy hardware used by the legacy control system is connected to the host hardware, thereby permitting the legacy control system to continue to access the legacy hardware when the virtual device processes.