Virtual Peripheral Provisioning for Intrinsically Safe Industrial Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial processes, such as painting and finishing, require efficient communication systems that balance high-speed data transfer with intrinsic safety, especially in environments with combustible fumes, while also allowing for flexible device reuse and user-friendly software design.
Innovation Solution
A communication system utilizing a master controller and slave modules connected in a daisy chain, employing a communication schedule to reduce header information and processing latency, and abstracting industrial components as virtual peripherals for easy integration and reuse, with low-voltage connections for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed communication is implemented for monitoring and control of industrial processes, then communication bandwidth is improved, but intrinsic safety is compromised due to increased electrical and thermal energy available for ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary provisioning system that acts as a mediator between the control hardware and field devices. This intermediary layer manages device connections, generates provisioning configurations, and handles device identification without requiring high-energy communication protocols in the hazardous zone, thus maintaining intrinsic safety while enabling efficient communication bandwidth utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the communication parameters by implementing a two-stage provisioning process: first identifying devices with low-energy intrinsic safety protocols, then establishing optimized communication channels. This parameter transformation allows the system to operate at safe energy levels for ignition while achieving high communication bandwidth through efficient data packet management and header reduction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If device changes are allowed over time for system flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but system setup complexity increases due to reconfiguration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning system implements self-service functionality where devices automatically perform identification, configuration, and linking when connected to the control system. The system autonomously generates provisioning configurations and maps virtual peripherals to physical devices without requiring manual reconfiguration, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing setup complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining virtual peripherals and their associated parameters before physical devices are connected. When devices are added or changed, the system matches them against pre-configured virtual peripheral definitions, automatically generating the necessary provisioning configurations. This eliminates the need for complex manual setup and reduces system configuration complexity while maintaining full adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If virtual peripherals are used to abstract industrial components, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the provisioning system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified copies of physical devices in the form of virtual peripherals that represent the essential functionality and interface characteristics of actual industrial components. These virtual copies enable user-friendly software design by providing standardized, abstracted interfaces. The provisioning system automatically manages the mapping between virtual and physical devices, hiding the complexity of device-specific configurations from users while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of provisioning a system includes defining one or more virtual peripherals such that each of the virtual peripherals corresponds to a respective device; identifying one or more enabled virtual peripherals; and identifying one or more control modules. Each of the control modules includes one or more terminals for connecting to one or more devices. The method further includes linking each of the enabled virtual peripherals to a respective terminal of the one or more control modules to form a link; generating a provisioning configuration that represents the link between the respective terminal and the corresponding one of the enabled virtual peripherals; and writing the provisioning configuration to each of the control modules. The method further includes connecting the respective device to the respective terminal consistent with the link between the respective terminal and the corresponding one of the enabled virtual peripherals.