Monitoring and controlling industrial equipment

• US 10,579,050 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WellAware Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WellAware Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Figoli, David, Harrison, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Weidner, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/473,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20170285622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/26 Special purpose or proprietary protocols or architectures network applications for proprietary or special purpose networking environments H04L67/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium for communicating between an operational asset and a backend network that include the actions of receiving first data from an operational asset through a first communication interface that is configured to communicate with an operational asset, and where the first data is formatted according to a first data format that is specific to the operational asset. Processing the first data according to an asset template to generate second data, where the second data includes the first data and being formatted according to a second data format that is specific to the backend network. Causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by a second communication interface that is configured to communicate with a backend network.

Claims

1. A network edge device for communicating between an operational asset and a backend network, the device comprising:

a first communication interface configured to communicate with an operational asset;

a second communication interface configured to communicate with a backend network;

a controller coupled to the first communication interface and second communication interface; and

a computer-readable storage device coupled to the controller and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations to facilitate data communications between the operational asset and the backend network, the operations comprising;

receiving, from the first communication interface, first data from the operational asset, the first data formatted according to a first data format that is specific to the operational asset, and wherein receiving the first data comprises receiving a portion of the first data at each of a plurality of first time intervals;

storing each portion of the first data;

processing the first data according to an asset template to generate second data, the second data including the first data and being formatted according to a second data format that is specific to the backend network; and

causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by the second communication interface at an end of a second time interval, the second time interval being of a longer period of time than each of the first time intervals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving, from the second communication interface, instructions from the backend network to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, based on the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset in accordance with the instructions, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first data format includes a digital data format specific to the operational asset.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise causing the network edge device to enter a low power mode between each of the first time intervals.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise:

determining, based on the first data and the asset template, to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, in accordance with the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the network edge device is operating in a first mode in which changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by instructions from the backend network,

wherein the operations comprise:

determining that communications with the backend network have been lost; and

shifting the network edge device to operate in a second mode in changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by the network edge device in accordance with the asset template.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the asset template identifies:

the first data format for data received from the operational asset,

the second data format for data to be sent to the backend network,

a control signal format of control signals for controlling operating parameters the operational asset,

criteria for controlling operating parameters of the operational asset, and

alarm values associated with parameters of the operational asset.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations comprise performing an analysis on the first data to generate a result, and wherein the second data includes the result.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the second data includes an identifier for the operational asset.

10. A computer-implemented method for communicating between an operational asset and a backend network, the method being executed by one or more processors and comprising:

receiving, from a first communication interface at a network edge device, first data from the operational asset, the first data formatted according to a first data format that is specific to the operational asset, the first communication interface being configured to communicate with the operational asset, and wherein receiving the first data comprises receiving a portion of the first data at each of a plurality of first time intervals;

storing each portion of the first data;

processing the first data according to an asset template to generate second data, the second data including the first data and being formatted according to a second data format that is specific to the backend network; and

causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by a second communication interface at an end of a second time interval, the second time interval being of a longer period of time than each of the first time intervals, wherein the second communication interface is configured to communicate with the backend network.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the second communication interface, instructions from the backend network to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, based on the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset in accordance with the instructions, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining, based on the first data and the asset template, to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, in accordance with the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the network edge device is operating in a first mode in which changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by instructions from the backend network, and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining that communications with the backend network have been lost; and

shifting the network edge device to operate in a second mode in changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by the network edge device in accordance with the asset template.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the asset template identifies:

the first data format for data received from the operational asset,

the second data format for data to be sent to the backend network,

a control signal format of control signals for controlling operating parameters the operational asset,

criteria for controlling operating parameters of the operational asset, and

alarm values associated with parameters of the operational asset.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a first communication interface at a network edge device, first data from an operational asset, the first data formatted according to a first data format that is specific to the operational asset, the first communication interface being configured to communicate with the operational asset, and wherein receiving the first data comprises receiving a portion of the first data at each of a plurality of first time intervals;

storing each portion of the first data;

processing the first data according to an asset template to generate second data, the second data including the first data and being formatted according to a second data format that is specific to a backend network; and

causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by a second communication interface at an end of a second time interval, the second time interval being of a longer period of time than each of the first time intervals, wherein the second communication interface is configured to communicate with the backend network.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving, from the second communication interface, instructions from the backend network to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, based on the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset in accordance with the instructions, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

determining, based on the first data and the asset template, to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

generating, in accordance with the asset template, a control signal to change the operating parameter of the operational asset, the control signal being formatted according to a control format specific to the operational asset; and

causing the control signal to be transmitted to the operational asset by the first communication interface.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the network edge device is operating in a first mode in which changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by instructions from the backend network, and

wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that communications with the backend network have been lost; and

shifting the network edge device to operate in a second mode in changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by the network edge device in accordance with the asset template.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the asset template identifies:

the first data format for data received from the operational asset,

the second data format for data to be sent to the backend network,

a control signal format of control signals for controlling operating parameters the operational asset,

criteria for controlling operating parameters of the operational asset, and

alarm values associated with parameters of the operational asset.

20. A network edge device for communicating between an operational asset and a backend network, the device comprising:

a first communication interface configured to communicate with an operational asset;

a second communication interface configured to communicate with a backend network;

a controller coupled to the first communication interface and second communication interface; and

a computer-readable storage device coupled to the controller and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations to facilitate data communications between the operational asset and the backend network, the operations comprising;

receiving, from the first communication interface, first data from the operational asset, the first data formatted according to a first data format that is specific to the operational asset;

processing the first data according to an asset template to generate second data, the second data including the first data and being formatted according to a second data format that is specific to the backend network;

causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by the second communication interface;

determining that communications with the backend network have been lost, wherein the network edge device is operating in a first mode in which changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by instructions from the backend network; and

shifting the network edge device to operate in a second mode in changes to operating parameters of the operational asset are controlled by the network edge device in accordance with the asset template.