Architecture for network-enabled tools

• US 8,468,231 B1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Vance, Jonathan Blake
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N
• Application Number:
  US12/761,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 73/191, 731/524.5, 320/109, 340/693.5, 702/6, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25064 Update component configuration to optimize program execution
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45127 Portable, hand drill
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising a wireless network, a number of tools, and a central server. The number of tools is connected to the wireless network. The number of tools is configured to perform a number of tasks and collect process data while performing the number of tasks. The central server is connected to the wireless network. The central server is configured to monitor the number of tools performing the number of tasks and receive the process data collected by the number of tools over the wireless network.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an enterprise-level network architecture including a communication system;

a first tool in communication with the communication system and configured to perform a first number of tasks using a first number of process parameters;

a first sensor system in communication with the communication system and configured to collect first process data while the first tool performs the first number of tasks;

a second tool in communication with the communication system and configured to perform a second number of tasks using a second number of process parameters, the second tool being different than the first tool, the second number of tasks being different than the first number of tasks, and the second number of process parameters being different than the first number of process parameters;

a second sensor system in communication with the communication system and configured to collect second process data while the second tool performs the second number of tasks, the second sensor system being different than the first sensor system; and

a central server that is part of the enterprise-level network architecture, the central server configured to monitor the first tool as the first tool performs the first number of tasks and also to monitor the second tool as the second tool performs the second number of tasks, the central server further configured to receive the first process data and the second process data, the central server further configured to analyze the first process data and the second process data to determine whether a process parameter update is needed for the first tool, for the second tool, or for both;

wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further includes an authentication control server, and wherein the system further comprises;

a first access point providing communication between the first tool and the authentication control server, wherein a first security certificate is associated with the first tool, and wherein the authentication control server is configured to authenticate the first tool using the first security certificate; and

a second access point providing communication between the second tool and the authentication control server, wherein a second security certificate is associated with the second tool, and wherein the authentication control server is configured to authenticate the second tool using the second security certificate.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the central server is configured to send the process parameter update to the first tool, to the second tool, or to both.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further comprises a data processing system configured to send the first process data and the second process data to the central server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tool further comprises a first data processing system in communication with the communication system and configured to receive a first number of process parameter updates from the central server while the first tool performs the first number of tasks, and wherein the second tool further comprises a second data processing system in communication with the communication system and configured to receive a second number of process parameter updates from the central server while the second tool performs the second number of tasks.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first tool and the second tool are selected from a contour drilling machine, a drill motor, and a fastener.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further includes a tool controller in communication with the communication system, and wherein the tool controller is configured to control the first tool to perform the first number of tasks and to control the second tool to perform the second number of tasks.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the tool controller is configured to receive the process parameter update and is further configured to adjust control of at least one of the first tool and the second tool based on the process parameter update.

8. A method performed in an enterprise-level network architecture including a communication system, a first tool in communication with the communication system and configured to perform a first number of tasks using a first number of process parameters;

a first sensor system in communication with the communication system and configured to collect first process data while the first tool performs the first number of tasks;

a second tool in communication with the communication system and configured to perform a second number of tasks using a second number of process parameters, the second tool being different than the first tool, the second number of tasks being different than the first number of tasks, and the second number of process parameters being different than the first number of process parameters;

a second sensor system in communication with the communication system and configured to collect second process data while the second tool performs the second number of tasks, the second sensor system being different than the first sensor system; and

a central server that is part of the enterprise-level network architecture, the central server configured to monitor the first tool as the first tool performs the first number of tasks and also to monitor the second tool as the second tool performs the second number of tasks, the central server further configured to receive the first process data and the second process data, the central server further configured to analyze the first process data and the second process data to determine whether a process parameter update is needed for the first tool, for the second tool, or for both, the method comprising;

operating, using the central server, the first tool to perform the first number of tasks;

operating, using the central server, the second tool to perform the second number of tasks;

analyzing, using the central server, one of the first process data and the second process data using the central server; and

determining, using the central server, whether the process parameter update is needed for the first tool, for the second tool, or for both;

wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further includes an authentication control server in communication with the communication system, and wherein the method further comprises;

providing communication between the first tool and the authentication control server using a first access point, wherein a first security certificate is associated with the first tool;

authenticating the first tool using the first security certificate and the authentication control server;

providing communication between the second tool and the authentication control server using a second access point, wherein a second security certificate is associated with the second tool; and

authenticating the second tool using the second security certificate and the authentication control server.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

sending the process parameter update to the first tool, to the second tool, or to both.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further comprises a data processing system configured to send the first process data and the second process data to the central server, and wherein the method further comprises:

sending the first process data and the second process data to the central server.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first tool further comprises a first data processing system in communication with the communication system and configured to receive a first number of process parameter updates from the central server while the first tool performs the first number of tasks, and wherein the second tool further comprises a second data processing system in communication with the communication system and configured to receive a second number of process parameter updates from the central server while the second tool performs the second number of tasks, the method further comprising:

receiving the first number of process parameter updates at the first tool while the first tool performs the first number of tasks; and

receiving the second number of process parameter updates at the second tool while the second tool performs the second number of tasks.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the enterprise-level network architecture further includes a tool controller in communication with the communication system, and wherein the method further comprises:

controlling the first tool with the tool controller to perform the first number of tasks; and

controlling the second tool with the tool controller to perform the second number of tasks.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving, at the tool controller, the process parameter update; and

adjusting, using the tool controller, control of at least one of the first tool and the second tool based on the process parameter update.