Working Bus Data Capture for Bandwidth-Limited Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation systems underutilize information from working bus subscribers, leading to data loss and inefficient operation, as only a limited volume of data can be transmitted from the field level to the higher-level control device, resulting in discarded non-essential data.
Innovation Solution
A data acquisition unit that processes, stores, and forwards data from working bus participants using a standardized protocol, allowing for temporary storage and user-specific processing, and enables communication with external databases to update program versions and settings, thereby utilizing data more effectively and maintaining device operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only a limited volume of data is transmitted from field level to higher-level control device, then the first bus system can operate within its transmission capacity, but valuable data is lost and discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The data acquisition unit extracts and separates important data from the data stream on the work bus before it reaches the field unit. By taking out valuable data that would otherwise be discarded due to bandwidth limitations, the system preserves information that is relevant for analysis while allowing the bus system to operate within its capacity constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The data acquisition unit acts as an intermediary component between the work bus and the higher-level control device. It captures data from the work bus, processes it locally, and selectively forwards only essential information to the higher-level control device, thereby preventing data loss while managing transmission volume.
2Loss of information
If all data from work bus participants is transmitted to higher-level control device, then complete information is available, but the first bus system becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting all available data or none at all, the data acquisition unit implements partial action by selectively capturing and forwarding only the most relevant data portions. This approach provides sufficient information for higher-level control while maintaining efficient bus operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The data acquisition unit applies local quality processing by evaluating data locally at the field level and determining which portions are worth transmitting. Different data receive different treatment based on their importance, with critical data being forwarded and less important data being processed or discarded locally.
3Loss of information
If data is processed and stored locally at the data acquisition unit, then data availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data acquisition unit provides self-service functionality by autonomously capturing, processing, and storing data locally without requiring complex external infrastructure. This self-contained approach improves data availability while keeping the added complexity manageable and localized to a single component.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention concerns a data-capture unit for an automation system (1), with at least one communications interface (21) which is designed to connect to a working bus (5) and which is arranged to receive control commands from a field unit (4) and data from working bus users (6, 7, 8, 9), and with a processor arrangement which is designed to process the control commands received and/or data concerning processing results, and with a storage arrangement which is designed to store processing results.