Warehouse Control System Message Broker Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current warehouse control systems (WCS) lack user customization and are often proprietary 'black box' solutions, requiring skilled software engineers for configuration and updates, which creates barriers for integrators and increases costs due to vendor dependence and complex customization processes.
Innovation Solution
A user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) based WCS that allows users to customize configurations, map message fields, and connect devices across different protocols, enabling communication between various systems and devices without the need for extensive software development expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary black box WCS solutions are used, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to lack of user customization and vendor dependence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a configurable message broker as an intermediary layer between the WMS and automation hardware. This broker enables user customization of message routing, filtering, and transformation without requiring direct modification of proprietary software, thus maintaining system reliability while improving ease of operation through user-friendly configuration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system architecture is segmented into distinct modular components: WMS interface, message broker with configurable rules engine, and hardware interface layer. This segmentation allows users to customize individual message handling rules without affecting the entire system, enabling granular control and customization while maintaining overall system stability and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom WCS development is performed, then adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to software engineering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The message broker implements self-service capabilities through automated message routing, filtering, and transformation based on user-configurable rules. The system automatically adapts to different message formats and protocols without requiring manual software development, thus improving adaptability while reducing the complexity and time associated with custom WCS development.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter-based configuration where users can modify system behavior by changing message routing parameters, filter criteria, and transformation rules through configuration files or graphical interfaces. This approach enables high adaptability through parameter adjustment rather than code modification, significantly reducing software development complexity and deployment time.
3Reliability
If vendor coordination is required for WCS updates, then system reliability is maintained, but loss of time and productivity deteriorate due to slow update processes
Solution Approach 1:
The message broker is designed with preliminary configurability, allowing users to pre-configure message routing rules, filters, and transformations during system deployment. This preliminary configuration enables rapid adaptation to new requirements without requiring vendor coordination for updates, thus reducing update time while maintaining system stability through a controlled architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic configuration capabilities where message handling rules can be modified in real-time without system downtime or vendor intervention. Users can dynamically add, remove, or modify message routing rules, filters, and transformations through the configuration interface, enabling rapid response to changing requirements while maintaining system stability through graceful rule updates.
Data Source
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AI summary
The warehouse control system (WCS) coordinates communication between communicating devices and systems. The WCS stores mappings of different message types that are transmitted between different components of a warehouse. The WCS accepts inbound messages from the components, parses the inbound messages, and handles the data accordingly. The WCS also transmits outbound messages to components of the warehouse. The WCS forms the outbound message according to protocols defined in the WCS. The WCS maps positions of each message to predefined data fields to define the message type. The mapping of the fields to positions of each message type defines the fields of the message for future message handling.