Device for monitoring and controlling industrial equipment

• US 10,698,391 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2019
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• 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): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US16/454,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20190317484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 4555521, 700 28
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0421 Multiprocessor system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41855 by local area network [LAN], network structure
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25175 Modem, codec coder decoder
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25274 Communication processor, link interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

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 operational assets at industrial sites and a backend network, the device comprising:

a housing;

a control board inside the housing comprising;

one or more processors;

a memory device coupled to the one the one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon;

a wiring bay comprising a plurality of different types of wiring interfaces providing hardwired connections for communications between one or more operational assets and the network edge device, the wiring interfaces coupled to the one or more processors; and

a communication interface port coupled to the one or more processors and configured to receive a detachable radio frequency (RF) modem board that comprises one of two or more different types of RF modems,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

automatically identifying a type of an RF modem on an RF modem board that is connected to the communication interface port, and

communicating with the RF modem according to a communication protocol specific to the type of the RF modem.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the two or more different types of RF modems comprise a satellite modem, a cellular modem, and a random phase multiple access (RPMA) modem.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wiring interfaces include a serial data communication interface, an analog signal input interface, an analog signal output interface, and a digital signal input interface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wiring interfaces include serial data communication interfaces, an analog current signal input interface, an analog current signal output interface, an analog voltage signal input interface, a pulse signal input interface, a digital signal input interface, and a temperature sensor input interface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the control board comprises an input/output expansion port for receiving a detachable input/output expansion board.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the input/output expansion board includes a motor controller.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the network edge device meets a National Electric Code (NEC) classification for an explosion proof device in an explosive gas area.

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

receiving, from at least one of the wiring interfaces and through a hardwire connection, first data from an operational asset connected to the at least one of the wiring interfaces, 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 a backend network; and

causing the second data to be transmitted to the backend network by the RF modem.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving, from the RF modem, instructions from the backend network to change an operating parameter of the operational asset;

causing a control signal to be generated, based on the asset template, 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 through the at least one of the wiring interfaces.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the first data format includes analog voltage or current levels.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the first data format includes a digital data format specific to the operational asset.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein receiving the first data comprises receiving a portion of the first data at each of a plurality of first time intervals,

wherein the operations further comprise storing each portion of the first data, and

wherein the second data is caused to be transmitted 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.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise causing the network edge device to enter a low power mode between each of the first time intervals.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the operations comprise:

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

causing a control signal to be generated, in accordance with the asset template, 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 through the at least one of the wiring interfaces.

15. The device of claim 8, 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;

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.

16. The device of claim 8, 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.

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

establishing communication with a backend network through a first network connection using the RF modem;

establishing communication with a user computing device through a second, different network connection;

receiving an asset template that identifies communication protocols of the backend network and communication protocols of an operational asset to which the network edge device is coupled through the second network connection; and

in response to receiving an instruction from the user computing device, sending registration data to the backend network to register the network edge device and the operational asset with the backend network.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the asset template facilitates communication between the operational asset and the backend network while permitting the operational asset to be agnostic to communication protocols of the backend network and permitting the backend network to be agnostic to the communication protocols of the operational asset.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the first network connection is one of a cellular network connection, a satellite network connection, or a random phase multiple access (RPMA) network connection, and wherein the second network connection is a low-power local network connection.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise determining a type of the operational asset;

and requesting an asset template that is specific to the determined type of the operational asset.