阅读说明：本技术 用于监视自动化设施的方法和云网关 (Method and cloud gateway for monitoring an automation installation ) 是由 阿克塞尔·波施曼 迈克尔·迈尔 米夏埃尔·马内瓦尔 于 2018-03-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于监视自动化设施(A)的方法,其中设施(A)中集成多个现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4),所述方法包括：将云网关(CG)连接到设施(A)的第一通信网络(KN1)；确定连接到第一通信网络(KN1)的现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)；对于至少一部分所确定的现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4),测试与所确定的现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)相对应的设备描述是否存在于经由第二通信网络(KN2)连接到云网关(CG)的服务器(SE)中；从服务器(SE)下载与所查明的现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)相对应的设备描述,并且将设备描述安装在云网关(CG)中；借助于服务器(SE)创建至少一个配置计划(KP),其中该配置计划(KP)定义要被查询的至少一个现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)、从现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)所查询的数据的类型、和针对每一个要被查询的所述现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)的数据被查询的频率；将配置计划(KP)发送到云网关(CG)；根据位于云网关中的配置计划(KP),借助于云网关(CG)从要被查询的现场设备(F1、F2、F3、F4)查询数据；通过云网关(CG)将所查询的数据发送到服务器(SE)；以及,在服务器(SE)中收集和评估所发送的数据。本发明还涉及用于执行根据本发明的方法的云网关(G)。(The invention relates to a method for monitoring an automation installation (A), wherein a plurality of field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) are integrated in the installation (A), comprising: connecting a Cloud Gateway (CG) to a first communication network (KN1) of a facility (A); determining field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) connected to a first communication network (KN 1); testing, for at least a part of the determined field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4), whether a device description corresponding to the determined field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) is present in a Server (SE) connected to the Cloud Gateway (CG) via the second communication network (KN 2); downloading a device description corresponding to the ascertained field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) from a Server (SE) and installing the device description in a Cloud Gateway (CG); creating at least one configuration plan (KP) by means of a Server (SE), wherein the configuration plan (KP) defines at least one field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) to be queried, the type of data queried from the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4), and the frequency with which data is queried for each of said field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) to be queried; transmitting the configuration plan (KP) to the Cloud Gateway (CG); querying data from field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) to be queried by means of a Cloud Gateway (CG) according to a configuration plan (KP) located in the cloud gateway; transmitting the queried data to a Server (SE) through a Cloud Gateway (CG); and collecting and evaluating the transmitted data in the Server (SE). The invention also relates to a cloud gateway (G) for carrying out the method according to the invention.)

1. Method for monitoring an automation installation (a), wherein a plurality of field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) are integrated in the automation installation (a), wherein the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) generate data, in particular data in the form of measurement data, control data, calibration/parameterization data, diagnostic data, history data and/or status data, and wherein the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) can communicate with one another and with at least one superordinate unit (WS1, WS2) by means of a first communication network (KN1), the method comprising:

-connecting a Cloud Gateway (CG), in particular a router or a switch, with the first communication network (KN1) of the installation (a);

-ascertaining the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) connected to the first communication network (KN1) by means of the Cloud Gateway (CG);

-for at least a part of the ascertained field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4), testing whether a device description corresponding to the ascertained field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) is present in a Server (SE) connected to the Cloud Gateway (CG) via a second communication network (KN 2);

-downloading from the Server (SE) via the second communication network (KN2) a device description corresponding to the ascertained field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) and installing the device description in the Cloud Gateway (CG);

-creating at least one configuration plan (KP) by means of the Server (SE), wherein the configuration plan (KP) defines at least one field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) to be queried, the type of queried data of the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4), and the frequency of querying or one or more points in time for querying of data for each of the field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) to be queried;

-sending the configuration plan (KP) to the Cloud Gateway (CG);

-querying data from the queried field devices (F1, F2, F3, F4) by means of the Cloud Gateway (CG) according to the configuration plan (KP) located in the Cloud Gateway (CG);

-sending the queried data to the Server (SE) through the Cloud Gateway (CG); and

-collecting and evaluating the transmitted data in the Server (SE).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the incorporation of a new field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) into the installation (a) is automatically detected by the Cloud Gateway (CG).

3. the method of claim 2, wherein the Cloud Gateway (CG) downloads from the Server (SE) and installs for the new field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) a device description corresponding to the new field device (F1, F2, F3, F4).

4. method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration plan (KP) currently located in the Cloud Gateway (CG) is adapted by means of the Server (SE) so that the Server (SE) has a copy of the configuration plan (KP), wherein an operator accesses the Server (SE) and changes the definitions contained in the copy of the configuration plan (KP).

5. method according to claim 4, wherein the adapted copy of the configuration plan (KP) is loaded into the Cloud Gateway (CG) in order to update the configuration plan (KP) currently located in the Cloud Gateway (CG).

6. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the Cloud Gateway (CG) independently optimizes and updates the configuration plan (KP) currently located in the Cloud Gateway (CG) based on historical information.

7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the updating of the configuration plan (KP) is performed in an ongoing operation of the Cloud Gateway (CG).

8. method according to at least one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the adapted copy of the configuration plan (KP) or the configuration plan (KP) updated by the Cloud Gateway (CG) is stored in the Server (SE) and suggested as a criterion for the product type of the field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) and/or the process location of the field device (F1, F2, F3, F4).

9. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein, when, for at least one field device (F1, F2, F3, F4), no suitable device description exists in a database, the field device (F1, F2, F3, F4) generates and sends an alert report to the Server (SE).

10. A Cloud Gateway (CG) implemented for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for monitoring an automation installation, wherein a plurality of field devices are integrated in the installation, wherein the field devices generate data, in particular measurement data, control data, calibration/parameterization data, diagnostic data, historical data, and/or status data, and wherein the field devices can communicate with each other and with at least one superordinate unit by means of a first communication network. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cloud gateway implemented for performing the method of the invention.

Background

known from the prior art are field devices for use in industrial installations. Field devices are often used in automation technology and in manufacturing automation. In principle, what are referred to as field devices are all devices that are applied in the vicinity of a process and that communicate or process-related information. Thus, field devices are used to register and/or affect process variables. Used to register the process variable are measuring devices or sensors. These measuring devices or sensors are used, for example, for pressure and temperature measurements, conductivity measurements, flow measurements, pH measurements, fill level measurements, etc., and register the corresponding process variable, pressure, temperature, conductivity, pH value, fill level, flow, etc. Used to affect the process variable are actuators. These actuators are, for example, pumps or valves, which can influence the liquid flow in the tube or the filling level in the container. In addition to the measurement devices and actuators mentioned above, also known as field devices are remote I/O, radio adapters, and devices that are typically set at the field level.

The Enaddress + Hauser group company produces and sells a large number of such field devices.

In modern industrial installations, the field devices are usually connected to the field devices via a bus such as, for example, the fieldbus (f: (f))a field bus for the purpose of connecting the power supply to the power supply,Etc.) to the superordinate unit. The superordinate unit relates to a control unit, such as, for example, a PLC (programmable logic controller). The superordinate unit is used, among other things, for process control and for the start-up of field devices. The measured values registered by the field devices, in particular by their sensors, are transmitted via a specific bus system to a superordinate unit (or, in given cases, to a plurality of superordinate units), which in given cases further process the measured values and forward them to a control station of the installation. The control station is used for process visualization, process monitoring and process control via the superordinated unit. Furthermore, a data transmission from the superordinate unit to the field devices via the bus system is required, in particular for configuring and parameterizing the field devices and for operating the actuators.

today's available systems for monitoring plant components (so-called "asset health" systems) query data from field devices (e.g., information about the health of the devices) on a recurring basis. However, information about which data should be downloaded is stored locally in the monitoring system. A disadvantage of this solution is that the monitoring system is moved locally and that information about the data to be queried is only available locally. Thus, no automatic updating or remote configuration of the monitoring system is provided. For example, when a new field device type is installed, the locally stored information must be updated, otherwise the monitoring system recognizes that no field device is present or is only able to retrieve standardized field device data. Such as manufacturer-specific diagnostic data of "heartbeat" diagnostic data, which is available, for example, in the case of the field device of the applicant, cannot be interrogated in this way.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a cloud gateway which enable user-friendly and particularly flexible monitoring of components of an automation installation.

This object is achieved by a method for monitoring an automation installation, in which a plurality of field devices are integrated in the installation, wherein the field devices generate data, in particular data in the form of measurement data, control data, calibration/parameterization data, diagnostic data, historical data and/or status data, and wherein the field devices can communicate with one another and with at least one superordinate unit by means of a first communication network, comprising:

-connecting a cloud gateway, in particular a router or a switch, with a first communication network of a facility;

-ascertaining a field device connected to a first communication network by means of a cloud gateway;

-testing, for at least a part of the ascertained field devices, whether a device description corresponding to the ascertained field devices is present in a server connected to the cloud gateway via the second communication network;

-downloading a device description corresponding to the ascertained field device from a server via a second communication network and installing the device description in the cloud gateway;

-creating at least one configuration plan by means of the server, wherein the configuration plan defines at least one field device to be queried, the type of queried data of the field device, and the frequency of queries or one or more points in time for queries of the data for each field device to be queried;

-sending the configuration plan to the cloud gateway;

-querying data from the queried field device by means of the cloud gateway according to a configuration plan located in the cloud gateway;

-sending the queried data to a server through a cloud gateway; and

-collecting and evaluating the transmitted data in the server.

A great advantage of the method according to the invention is that monitoring of automation-related field devices in a facility can be established in a simple manner. The cloud gateway has a virtual "plug and play" functionality because it automatically detects all field devices connected to it and downloads their respective device descriptions from the server. In this case, only the device description of the actually present field device is downloaded. Ideally, the operator need only connect the cloud gateway to one or more field buses and enter parameters for communicating with the server via the second communication network. These parameters are, for example, the access data of the server.

the cloud gateway is implemented in such a way that it can be connected to a plurality of different communication networks which differ both in terms of hardware (OSI layer 1, for example as plug type, transmitted electrical power, etc.) and also as usage protocol. In this case, the first communication network may be implemented either wired or wirelessly. However, supported are, for example, field buses of automation technology such as, for example, HART, Profibus, Foundation field buses, and, by way of example, IT communication networks such as, for example, ethernet. The cloud gateway enables simultaneous connection of a plurality of first communication networks that may be different from each other.

The second communication network is in particular the internet or a communication network enabling access to the internet. In the case where the second communication network is implemented wirelessly, the second communication network is in particular GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G, etc. The server is advantageously reachable by an operator by means of the internet and enables cloud functionality.

The creation of the configuration plan is performed either automatically by the server or with the aid of an operator. In the latter case, the operator connects with the server, for example by means of a PC, and creates the configuration plan, for example by means of an input screen.

Examples of field devices for use in the method of the invention are given above in the introductory part of the description.

an advantageous further development of the method of the invention provides for the incorporation of a new field device into the installation to be detected automatically by the cloud gateway.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, it is provided that the cloud gateway downloads from the server and installs for the new field device a device description corresponding to the new field device.

thus, new field devices can be added without problems in order to increase the monitoring flexibility. Here, the detection and downloading of the device description also takes place automatically, so that the operator does not have to perform these steps.

furthermore, it may be provided that the device description for one or more field devices is updated independently when the field device receives a new hardware configuration or is reparameterized, or the firmware is updated, or when an updated device description becomes available for one or more field devices or field device types.

An advantageous further development of the method of the invention provides for adapting a configuration plan currently located in the cloud gateway by means of a server, wherein the server has a copy of the configuration plan, wherein an operator accesses the server and changes definitions contained in the copy of the configuration plan. In this case it may be the server that sends the queried data or the server from which the device description is downloaded. Alternatively, the server is local to the operator/client. It may also be provided that the server with which the operator edits the configuration plan is implemented as a network server of the cloud gateway.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, an adapted copy of the configuration plan is loaded into the cloud gateway to update the configuration plan currently located in the cloud gateway. In this case, it can be provided that a preexisting configuration plan is stored in the history record, in order to be able to reuse this configuration plan if necessary.

A particularly advantageous further development of the inventive method provides that the cloud gateway independently optimizes and updates the configuration plan currently located in the cloud gateway based on the historical information. An example of such historical information may be events generated in the case of diagnosing a field device. It may also be provided to allow independent optimization of the configuration plan by the server when the server has access to historical information.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, it is provided that the updating of the configuration plan is performed in an ongoing operation of the cloud gateway. Thus, the operation of the cloud gateway is not interrupted, which thus enables a flexible and simple adaptation.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that an adapted copy of the configuration plan or the configuration plan updated by the cloud gateway is stored in the server and is suggested as a criterion for the product type of the field device and/or the process location of the field device. The user may adopt a pre-configured configuration plan suitable for the application in this manner.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that the field device generates and sends an alert report to the server when, for at least one field device, no appropriate device description exists in the database. For example, the operator is requested by the alert report to load the missing device description into a server, or to an internet address where the missing device description is available.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a cloud gateway implemented for performing the method of the present invention. A cloud gateway is a network device, in particular a switch or router, which establishes a connection of a field device to a server.

Drawings

The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the accompanying drawings, the only figures of which show the following:

Fig. 1 is an example of an embodiment of the system of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the system of the invention in the context of an automation installation a. Connected to the data bus D1 are a plurality of workstations PC, WS1, WS2 at the control level of facility a. In addition to these things, these workstations PC serve as superordinate units (control systems or control units) for process visualization, process monitoring and engineering, for example for servicing and monitoring field devices. The data bus D1 operates, for example, according to the Profibus DP standard or the HSE (high speed ethernet) standard of the Foundation field bus. The data bus D1 is connected with the fieldbus segment SM1 via a gateway G1, also called linking device, field controller or even segment coupler. The fieldbus segment SM1 is composed of a plurality of field devices F1, F2, F3, F4, which are connected to one another via a first communication network KN 1. The field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 may be sensors or actuators.

In the case of the first communication network, it is in particular a field bus of automation technology, which operates in accordance with one of the known field bus standards, for example Profibus, Foundation field bus or HART.

Examples and functions of such field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 are set forth in the introductory portion of the description above.

connected to the first communication network KN1 is a cloud gateway CG. The cloud gateway CG is in particular a router or a switch. The cloud gateway CG is connected via a second communication network KN2 to communicate with a cloud-capable server SE. The second communication network KN2 is in particular the internet. The cloud gateway CG may be connected to a number of other different communication networks in addition to the first communication network KN 1.

When first connecting with the first communication network KN1, the cloud gateway CG searches for field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 connected to the first communication network KN 1. To this end, it observes, for example, the circulating data traffic between the field devices and the gateway G1 and extracts it from these field bus addresses of the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4. The cloud gateway then queries the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 for other information, such as serial number, device type, firmware version, etc., by means of acyclic communication. To this end, the cloud device is implemented as a master device according to a field bus.

With the aid of this additional information, the cloud gateway CG can unambiguously determine the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 and download and install the appropriate device descriptions or drivers from the server SE. These processes occur automatically and represent a great convenience for the operator BE. If no adapted device description exists for one or more field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 in the server SE, the cloud gateway CG generates an alarm message, which is sent to the server SE.

If field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 are updated or new field devices are installed, the cloud gateway CG automatically detects these changes and downloads the device description appropriate for the changed field devices F1, F2, F3, F4.

Located in the cloud gateway CG is at least one configuration plan KP or flow plan. The configuration plan KP establishes, by means of the cloud gateway, which data should be downloaded from which field device F1, F2, F3, F4 at which point in time. If a plurality of first communication networks are connected to the cloud gateway CG, each of these first communication networks may have its own configuration plan in the cloud gateway CG.

The creation of such a configuration plan KP can BE performed by an operator BE by means of a server SE. For this purpose, the operator BE is connected to the server SE, for example by means of a PC via the internet, and authenticates by establishing the right to use the server. After public authentication, the operator BE accesses the software tool ST of the server SE, which displays a list of all cloud gateways CG associated therewith and the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 connected therewith. In this case, the operator BE is also shown an alarm message generated without an adapted device description for the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 of the cloud gateway CG. By means of the input screen, the operator BE can then comfortably create the configuration plan KP for the different cloud gateways CG. Furthermore, the operator BE is shown an already existing configuration plan KP located in the cloud gateway CG and the operator BE can review them and update them if necessary.

After creating or updating the configuration plan KP, it is sent to the cloud gateway CG, where such configuration plan KP is then installed, or an already existing configuration plan KP is overwritten. For this reason, the operation of the cloud gateway CG is not interrupted, so that there is no need to occasionally time-consuming restart the cloud gateway CG in the field. Advantageously, an automatic optimization component OK is provided in the server SE, which can independently update the configuration plan KP based on historical information.

Alternatively, the server SE does not contain the software tool ST and/or the automatic optimization component OK, but, instead, the facility a has a PC WS3 connected to the first communication network KN1 and containing the software tool ST and/or the automatic optimization component OK.

Alternatively, the cloud gateway CG contains a software tool ST and/or an automatic optimization component OK. In this case, the operator BE may access these components, for example via a network server of the cloud gateway CG.

Based on the configuration plan KP, the cloud gateway CG queries data from the field devices F1, F2, F3, F4 and transmits the queried data to the server SE by means of the second communication network KN 2. There, the data is collected and can BE reviewed by the operator BE and used for other processing.

List of reference numerals

a Automation facility

CG cloud gateway

D1 data bus

F1, F2, F3, F4 field devices

G1 gateway

KN1 first communication network

KN2 second communication network

KP configuration plan

OK automatic updating assembly

BE operator

SE server

ST software tool

WS1, WS2 Upper level Unit