MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT

• US 20110022192A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Bliss, Ronald, Reichard, Douglas J., Govindaraj, Subbian, Brandes, Russell, Plache, Kenneth, Kalan, Michael, Jasper, Taryl, Kretschmann, Robert J., Staron, Raymond, Jarrett, James Harry, Seger, Daniel B. III, Hall, Kenwood
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/28
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4188 characterised by CIM planning or realisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31395 Process management, specification, process and production data, middle level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

System(s), apparatus(es) and method(s) are provided for to managing and developing an industrial system included in the industrial environment. Intelligence related to a configuration of the industrial system is collected and processed to generate information related to operational condition(s) of the industrial system. Intelligence can be collected actively or passively: In active collection, a platform that collects the intelligence retrieves configuration record(s) from the industrial system, whereas in passive collection, the platform received one or more configuration records from the industrial automation system. Collected intelligence is cast into a set of configuration units that defines industrial system and functionality thereof. In addition, a set of services configured to convey specific functionality associated with at least one configuration unit is composed. At least a portion of the generated information can be supplied to the industrial system or one or more components thereof in accordance with a policy configured by the industrial automation system.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one memory comprising one or more sets of computer-executable code instructions; and

at least one processor functionally coupled to the at least one memory and configured to execute the one or more sets of computer-executable code instructions, in response to execution by the at least one processor, at least one set of computer-executable code instructions implement a group of components comprising;

a configuration component that produces at least one configuration unit that conveys a set of configuration records related to an industrial system, the at least one configuration unit conveys functionality of the industrial system; and

a service generator that composes a service configured to expose specific functionality associated with the at least one configuration unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one configuration unit includes at least one data structure that characterizes logically the industrial system and conveys functionality thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the configuration component exploits a set of rules that dictate, at least in part, the manner in which the at least one data structure is to be constructed, the set of rules is specific to the industrial system and the at least one data structure is one of a data tree or a relational table.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration component produces a second configuration unit in response to an update of a configuration record related to the industrial system and conveyed by a first configuration unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the service is configured to expose the specific functionality associated with the at least one configuration unit through generation of at least one view of at the least one data structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the service generates the at least one view in response to reception of signaling that conveys occurrence of a predetermined event related to operation of a services provider platform that includes the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the interface service generates the at least one view in response to generation of or an update to the at least one configuration unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one view of the at least one data structure is a logical view that represents functional features disclosed in the at least one data structure, or a hardware view that discloses physical aspects of the industrial system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the specific functionality associated with the at least one configuration unit is provided by at least one interface component in the at least one configuration unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the service produces an inventory of physical features that enable functionality associated with the at least one interface component in the at least one configuration unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the service exposes at least one physical feature that enables functionality of the at least one interface component in the at least one configuration unit in response to execution of the service.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the group of components includes a management component that responds to a query from the industrial system, the query is related to availability of an update for at least one functional element of the industrial system.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management component compares at least one configuration record related to the industrial system with data associated with development of the at least one functional element, and delivers a response to the industrial system based at least on a result of the comparison.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the management component acquires the data associated with development of the at least one functional element from at least one repository related to at least one service provider platform other than the service provider platform that includes the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the response can be a report that conveys whether at least one update is available for the at least one functional element, the report can be supplied in accordance with at least one communication formats.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the management component generates an inventory of a current or last-known configuration of the industrial system with respect to a previous configuration thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the inventory is directed to physical aspects of the industrial system or software aspects thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the management component acquires a group of configuration records from the industrial system in accordance with an access policy configured by an administration host of the industrial system, the group of configuration records is a source of data, metadata, or both, for generation of the inventory.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the group of components includes a design component that identifies an area of operational improvement for the industrial system, an area of operational improvement includes at least one update to equipment, wherein the at least one update is at least one of a software update or a hardware update.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein as part of identification of an area of operation improvement, the design component analyzes one or more inventories of a current or last-known configuration of the industrial system.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein based on the analysis, the design component issues a report that discloses the area of operational improvement and at least one related solution.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein as part of issuance of the report, the design component delivers the report to at least the industrial system in accordance with a policy that includes a set of settings for delivery of the report.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein based on the analysis, the design component automatically generates a solution for an area of operational improvement.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the solution includes generation of a service from a plurality of two or more services available to the industrial system or developed by the service provider platform that includes the apparatus.

25. A method, comprising:

collecting a set of configuration records related to an industrial automation system;

generating a group of configuration units that defines the functionality of the industrial automation system based on the set of configuration records; and

generating at least one service configured to convey specific functionality associated with at least one configuration unit of the group of configuration units.

26. The method of claim 25, the acts further comprising:

detecting at least one area of operational improvement in an industrial automation system based on a set of configuration records; and

supplying information related to at least one of an area of operational improvement or at least one solution to address the at least one are of improvement.

27. The method of claim 26, the acts further comprising:

implementing the at least one solution, wherein the implementing includes generating a composite service; and

providing the at least one solution to the industrial automation system.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the generating includes at least one of:

combining a plurality of services;

combining a plurality of reusable definitions;

or

combining at least one service with at least one reusable definition.

29. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium that retains computer-readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

collect intelligence that conveys at least one operational condition of an industrial automation system;

generate a group of configuration units that defines the functionality of the industrial automation system based on the intelligence; and

generate at least one service configured to convey specific functionality associated with at least one configuration unit of the group of configuration units.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable storage medium further retains computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

detect at least one area of improvement in an industrial automation system based on a set of configuration records; and

supply information related to at least one of an area of improvement or a solution to address the at least one are of improvement.