Industrial Wireless Network Monitoring for Gateway Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial wireless networks in plants face connectivity issues due to dynamic changes in network conditions, such as increased traffic and interference, which are not detectable during pre-deployment planning, leading to transmission losses and performance deficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method for condition monitoring of wireless networks in industrial plants, where an industrial device periodically receives information from access nodes and wired gateways to estimate parameters like packet transfer rates, channel errors, and stability factors, determining the connectivity status of field devices and rendering recommendations for improving network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pre-deployment planning and network design strategies are used to configure access nodes, then initial network setup is simplified, but the system cannot accurately foresee and avert bottlenecks and performance deficiencies due to dynamic network condition changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors network conditions including packet transfer rates, channel errors, interference levels, and traffic load. This feedback is used to dynamically adjust network parameters and identify connectivity issues in real-time, resolving the contradiction between simplified initial configuration and reliable ongoing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic monitoring and adjustment of network parameters based on changing conditions. Access node configurations are not static but adapt to varying traffic loads, interference patterns, and network topology changes, allowing the system to maintain reliability despite dynamic environmental factors
2Productivity
If access nodes are configured to handle predetermined traffic amounts during design, then initial deployment is straightforward, but transmission losses occur when actual demand exceeds predetermined capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of access nodes with baseline parameters during deployment, enabling quick initial setup. However, it also establishes continuous monitoring mechanisms that detect when traffic demand exceeds predetermined capacity, triggering automatic adjustments to prevent transmission losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes network parameters such as transmission power, modulation schemes, and channel allocation based on monitored traffic demand. When actual demand exceeds predetermined capacity, the system adjusts these parameters to optimize data transmission and prevent losses
3Loss of time
If routing algorithms make path decisions during configuration window, then initial network setup is efficient, but real-time connectivity issues cannot be detected or addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops that monitor packet transfer success rates, channel access conditions, and interference levels. This real-time information flows back to the control system, enabling detection and correction of connectivity issues that static configuration cannot address
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system between the routing algorithms and the physical network. This intermediary continuously collects network condition information and provides real-time data to both the routing algorithms and operators, bridging the gap between initial configuration and ongoing network state
4Device complexity
If wired gateways serve multiple access nodes to reduce infrastructure complexity, then network structure is simplified, but performance deficiencies arise when gateways become bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors gateway performance metrics including packet transfer rates, channel errors, and traffic load for each served access node. When a gateway becomes a bottleneck, the feedback triggers load balancing actions or identifies the need for additional gateway capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic load distribution where access nodes can switch between different gateways based on current gateway performance. This dynamic behavior allows the simplified network structure to adapt to changing traffic patterns and prevent gateway bottlenecks from degrading overall productivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to condition monitoring of wireless networks in industrial plant, wherein a wireless network has two or more wired gateways and a plurality of access nodes connected wirelessly with at least one wired gateway. Here, each access node is associated with at least one field device of the industrial plant. The condition monitoring is performed with an industrial device connected with the two or more wired gateways. The condition monitoring comprises periodically receiving information associated with packet transfer, channel access, and connection links for each node of the plurality of access nodes and each wired gateway. One or more parameters are estimated based on the received information, to determine connectivity status of the field devices in the industrial plant. The connectivity status is rendered on a user interface of an industrial device.