Wireless Path Setting Apparatus for Industrial Network Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial wireless communication standards like ISA100 and WirelessHART face challenges in real-time responsiveness and maintenance due to unpredictable transmission delays and battery life, as well as increased costs for vendors and operators from managing different standards, and the dynamic switching of wireless paths based on communication quality leads to uncertainty in system design and maintenance planning.
Innovation Solution
A path setting apparatus and method that allows for the pre-definition of wireless paths using a path setting file, which is generated by an operator using a path setting apparatus, to secure real-time responsiveness, maintenance, and conservativeness by fixing wireless paths during system design and preventing dynamic changes, thereby enabling accurate estimation of transmission delays and battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless paths are dynamically switched based on communication quality, then communication reliability is improved, but transmission delay becomes unpredictable and real-time responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining wireless paths in advance during system design phase before actual operation. The path setting apparatus calculates and stores optimal wireless paths based on pre-collected communication quality information, so that devices can follow predetermined paths without real-time switching, ensuring both reliability and predictable transmission delay for real-time control applications.
2Reliability
If wireless paths are dynamically switched based on communication quality, then communication quality is improved, but maintenance planning becomes difficult and conservativeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent determines wireless paths in advance during system design and stores them in a path setting file. This preliminary determination allows operators to know the exact wireless paths before deployment, enabling proactive maintenance planning such as scheduling battery replacements and identifying potential obstacles in advance, thereby improving conservativeness and ease of maintenance operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple industrial wireless communication standards are supported, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity and management cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a standard化的 path setting apparatus and path setting file format that can work across different wireless communication standards (ISA100, WirelessHART, etc.). The apparatus provides unified functionality for determining and managing wireless paths regardless of the specific standard being used, thereby supporting multiple standards while reducing system complexity and management burden through a single tool.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A path setting apparatus sets wireless paths fixed by a wireless network formed by a wireless connection device and a plurality of wireless devices. The path setting apparatus may include an editing unit that edits and sets positions of the wireless connection device and the wireless devices and wireless paths between the wireless connection device and the wireless devices and between the wireless devices, and edits and sets communication timings of the wireless connection device and the wireless devices where the wireless paths are set, based on an input instruction, a storage unit that stores power performance information of the wireless devices, and calculating unit that calculates at least one of transmission delays between the wireless devices and the wireless connection device, transmission delays between the wireless devices, consumption power of the wireless devices, and battery life of batteries used as power supplies of the wireless devices.