APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USING AN INTERNET OF THINGS EDGE SECURE GATEWAY

• US 20170163444A1
• Filed: 12/08/2015
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Paul F., Felix, Joseph, Strilich, James A., Duca, Andrew, Hawkinson, Ellen B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,178,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• 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 67/12 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 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• 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: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A gateway is configured to perform a method that includes receiving data from a first device using a first protocol. The first protocol is a cloud based protocol. The method also includes determining that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol. The method further includes converting the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol. In addition, the method includes transmitting the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a gateway, data from a first device using a first protocol, wherein the first protocol is a cloud based protocol;

determining, by the gateway, that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol;

converting, by the gateway, the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmitting, by the gateway, the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different protocols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol utilizes OPC unified architecture (UA).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second protocol comprises at least one of Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, ProfiNet, IEC-61850, Modbus/TCP, HART/IP, or Modbus/RTU.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the gateway, the second protocol using a unified abstraction layer that maps data to protocols to provide a consistent namespace and set of data services for information publication to a cloud layer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway, data from the second device via the second protocol in response to transmitting the data to the second device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

discovering, by the gateway, the first device via a cloud network before receiving the data from the first device.

8. A gateway comprising:

processing circuitry configured to;

receive data from a first device using a first protocol, wherein the first protocol is a cloud based protocol;

determine that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol;

convert the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmit the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

9. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different protocols.

10. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the first protocol utilizes OPC unified architecture (UA).

11. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the second protocol comprises at least one of Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, ProfiNet, IEC-61850, Modbus/TCP, HART/IP, or Modbus/RTU.

12. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

identify the second protocol using a unified abstraction layer that maps data to protocols to provide a consistent namespace and set of data services for information publication to a cloud layer.

13. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

receive data from the second device via the second protocol in response transmitting the data to the second device.

14. The gateway of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

discover the first device via a cloud network before receiving the data from the first device.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive data from a first device using a first protocol, wherein the first protocol is a cloud based protocol;

determine that the received data is intended for a second device that uses a second protocol;

convert the received data from the first protocol to the second protocol; and

transmit the received data to the second device via the second protocol.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different protocols.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first protocol utilizes OPC unified architecture (UA).

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

identify the second protocol using a unified abstraction layer that maps data to protocols to provide a consistent namespace and set of data services for information publication to a cloud layer.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive data from the second device via the second protocol in response transmitting the data to the second device.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

discover the first device via a cloud network before receiving the data from the first device.