Wireless Field Device Location via Provisioning Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating wireless field devices in industrial control and automation systems is challenging due to the lack of physical wires, leading to inaccurate triangulation and difficulties in identifying device positions, especially in complex facilities and when devices cannot transmit signals.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a provisioning device to identify its location and communicate this information to the field device during provisioning, allowing the field device to store and retrieve its location, even when unable to transmit signals, thereby enhancing location accuracy and availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If triangulation is used to locate wireless field devices, then location information can be obtained, but the accuracy is insufficient especially in complex facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning device determines the location of the field device during the provisioning process before the field device begins operation. This preliminary action ensures location information is captured when the device is first deployed, avoiding the need for complex triangulation systems and ensuring high accuracy from the start.
2Loss of information
If triangulation is used to locate wireless field devices, then location information can be obtained, but the system becomes impractical when neighboring nodes are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning device acts as an intermediary that directly determines and communicates location information to the field device. This eliminates the need for triangulation through multiple neighboring nodes, making the system practical and adaptable even when such nodes are insufficient or unavailable.
3Loss of information
If triangulation is used to locate wireless field devices, then location estimation can be performed, but the method fails when field devices cannot transmit signals
Solution Approach 1:
The provisioning device determines the location of the field device during the provisioning process before the field device begins operation. This ensures location information is captured when the device is first deployed and is reliable even if the field device later becomes unable to transmit signals due to power failures or other issues.
4Ease of operation
If physical wires are used to identify field device locations, then location identification is straightforward, but wireless field devices cannot use this approach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of tracing physical wires with an electronic/provisioning-based system. The provisioning device electronically determines and communicates location information to wireless field devices, maintaining ease of operation while adapting to wireless technology.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes identifying a location of a provisioning device at the provisioning device. The method also includes providing data from the provisioning device to a field device in an industrial control system in order to provision the field device. The method further includes communicating the identified location to the field device for storage. In addition, the method includes storing the identified location in association with information identifying the field device at the provisioning device. The location of the provisioning device could represent GPS coordinates of the provisioning device. Also, the data and the identified location can be provided to the field device through an out-of-band communication interface, such as a direct wired interface and an infrared interface.