阅读说明：本技术 用于将待嵌入的网络应用嵌入到周围网络应用中的方法和系统 (Method and system for embedding a web application to be embedded into a surrounding web application ) 是由 本杰明·卢茨 于 2020-03-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：在用于将网络应用(24)嵌入到周围网络应用(23)中的方法和系统(100)中,其中,待嵌入的网络应用(24)被设置用于在周围网络应用(24)的单独的实施区域和显示区域(25)中运行,根据本发明通过至少两个网络服务器(5’、6’)提供待嵌入的网络应用(24)。这特别能够在大型工业自动化系统、即例如过程控制系统中使用,以增加冗余、可监视性和可操作性,进而增加失效安全性、降低复杂性,减少通信流量,并获得对于人员的访问限制更好的可能性。(In a method and a system (100) for embedding a web application (24) into a surrounding web application (23), wherein the web application (24) to be embedded is provided for running in separate implementation and display areas (25) of the surrounding web application (24), the web application (24) to be embedded is provided according to the invention by at least two web servers (5', 6'). This can be used in particular in large industrial automation systems, i.e. for example process control systems, to increase redundancy, monitorability and operability, thereby increasing fail-safety, reducing complexity, reducing communication traffic and achieving better possibilities for access restrictions to personnel.)

1. A method for embedding a web application (24) to be embedded in a surrounding web application (23), wherein the web application (24) to be embedded is provided for running in separate implementation and display areas (25) of the surrounding web application (24), characterized in that the web application (24) to be embedded is provided by at least two web servers (5', 6').

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one criterion (K) is defined, according to which a web server of the at least two web servers (5', 6') is determined such that the provided web application (24) to be embedded of the web server is embedded in the surrounding web application (23).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the network application (24) to be embedded and the at least two network servers (5', 6') are communicatively connected to each other via a communication device (10), and the criterion (K) relates to communication in the communication device (10).

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the criterion (K) is a reduction of data traffic in the communication device (10), in particular between the at least two network servers (5', 6').

5. The method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein a web server (5') providing the surrounding web application (23) derives a web server of the at least two web servers (5', 6') from the criterion (K) such that the provided web application (24) to be embedded of the web server is embedded in the surrounding web application (23).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the web server (5') providing the surrounding web application (23) informs the surrounding web application (23) of the derived web server (6') when implementing the surrounding web application.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the web server (5') providing the surrounding web application (23) additionally also informs the surrounding web application (23) of other web servers (5', 13', 14') providing the web application (24) to be embedded when implementing the surrounding web application.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein functions in an industrial automation system (2) are provided by the web application (24).

9. A system (100) for embedding a web application (24) to be embedded into a surrounding web application (23), wherein the web application (24) to be embedded is provided for running in separate implementation and display areas (25) of the surrounding web application (23), characterized in that the web application (24) to be embedded is provided by at least two web servers (5', 6').

10. The system (100) according to claim 9, which is designed to determine a web server of the at least two web servers (5', 6') according to at least one criterion (K) such that the provided web application (24) to be embedded of the web server is embedded in the surrounding web application (23).

11. The system (100) according to claim 10, wherein the network application (24) to be embedded and the at least two network servers (5', 6') are communicatively connected to each other via a communication device (10), and wherein the criterion (K) relates to a communication in the communication device (K), preferably to a reduction of data traffic in the communication device (10), in particular between the at least two network servers (5', 6').

12. The system (100) according to claim 11, wherein the web server (5') providing the surrounding web application (23) is configured to derive a web server of the at least two web servers (5', 6') from the criterion (K) such that the provided web application (24) to be embedded of the web server is embedded in the surrounding web application (23).

13. The system (100) according to claim 12, wherein the web server (5') providing the ambient web application (23) is configured to inform the ambient web application (23) of the derived web server (6') when implementing the ambient web application.

14. The system (100) according to claim 13, wherein the web server (5') providing the surrounding web application (23) is configured to additionally inform the surrounding web application (23) of other web servers (5', 13', 14') providing the web application (24) to be embedded when implementing the surrounding web application as well.

15. An industrial automation system (2), in particular a process control system, having a system according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method and a system for embedding a web application to be embedded into a surrounding web application according to claim 1 or 9. The invention also relates to an industrial automation system with such a system according to claim 15.

Background

Industrial automation systems are used for monitoring, controlling and regulating engineering processes, in particular in the field of process automation, process automation and building automation, and enable the operation of control devices, sensors, machines and industrial installations as autonomously as possible and independently of human intervention. Based on the increasing importance of information technology for automation systems comprising a large number of networked control or computing units, methods for reliably providing functions distributed over the automation system in order to provide monitoring functions, control functions and regulating functions are becoming increasingly important.

It is known from EP 2902857B 1 to provide the functionality of an industrial automation system via web applications, which are combined on the client side into web applications linked to one another and provided at the user interface on the client side during the running of a control program or during Runtime (Runtime). The network applications each comprise at least one application component for which at least one component entity is generated. The client side user interface preferably comprises a web browser.

The web application is an application program according to a client-server model (see, e.g., Wikipedia: "Webanwendung, web application", https:// de. wikipedia. org/wiki/Webanwendung, 11/17/2018).

From EP 3151503 a1, a method and a system for embedding a web application to be embedded into a surrounding web application are known, wherein a surrounding first web application is implemented in a browser and a second web application to be embedded is provided for running in a separate implementation area and display area of the surrounding first web application, wherein the surrounding first web application is provided by a first web server and the second web application to be embedded is provided by a second web server.

From US 2007/0005689 a1 a content distribution system is known, in which basic html documents of a web page are provided by a server of a content provider, while data objects (image files, audio files and video files) to be embedded in the web page are provided by other servers, preferably located near a client.

US 2010/0042724 a1 also discloses a content distribution system in which data objects (image files, audio files, video files) are embedded in web pages of content providers. The data object to be embedded is provided by a web server providing a web page or by another server depending on the location of the client.

Thus, in the case of US 2007/0005689 a1 and US 2010/0042724 a1, only the data objects, and not any applications, are embedded in the web page.

In the case of distributed services, there is a high demand for the communication infrastructure of the automation system, with the service components of the distributed services being provided by a plurality of different control units or computing units for implementing the functions of the automation system. On the one hand, the requirements for being able to communicate in real time are generally met, and on the other hand, the different communication protocols for distributed services should be able to be used as transparently as possible. A communication infrastructure with poor performance can jeopardize the error-free provision of services and adversely affect system stability and system availability.

Furthermore, there are often high requirements in terms of quality and availability of services when accessing data and measurements associated with the services within an industrial automation system.

Furthermore, for reasons of operational safety, complexity reduction and technical protection, there are often restrictions on the access rights of the own or foreign person to the services, data or measured values of the automation system or of the installation or device automated by the automation system.

Generally, the larger the automation system or the facility or device automated by the automation system, the more important these requirements become. These devices or facilities are therefore particularly well suited for use in large and complex process control systems such as monitoring, control and regulation of facilities used in the process industry (e.g., chemical, pharmaceutical, metal, oil and gas, paper).

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a system, by means of which the requirements, in particular in large-scale industrial process control systems, can be met better than today.

The solution of the object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a system according to claim 9. An industrial automation system, in particular a process control system, with such a system is the subject of claim 15. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention for embedding a web application to be embedded in a surrounding web application, wherein the web application to be embedded is provided for running in a separate implementation area and display area of the surrounding web application, the web application to be embedded is provided by at least two web servers. Preferably, the surrounding web application is implemented in a browser.

By providing the same web application to be embedded by at least two web servers, it is possible to continue to provide the web application and the functions provided thereby in case of failure of one of the two web servers. It is just as in a large complex system with a large number of services or functions, data sources and with many people accessing the services or functions in a monitoring or controlling manner, thereby providing additional flexibility in distributing the services or functions, data sources, data detection and data storage to different subsystems and servers respectively associated therewith. This can be used to improve redundancy, monitorability and operability, which in turn improves fail-safe, reduces complexity, reduces communication traffic, and gives better possibilities for access restrictions for personnel.

In this case, it is advantageous to define at least one criterion, according to which a web server of the at least two web servers is preferably automatically determined, so that the web application to be embedded, which is provided by the web server, is embedded in the surrounding web application. In this case, for example, the criteria can also be stored implicitly as a function of the association of the network application stored in the network server with the network server (for example in the context of a project plan of the server system).

The standard preferably relates to communication in the communication device if the network application to be embedded or embedded and the at least two network servers are communicatively connected to each other via the communication device. It is particularly advantageous if the criterion is a reduction in the data traffic in the communication device, in particular between at least two network servers.

However, the criteria can also relate to access limitations, quality of service, availability of network servers, etc. Here, a combination of criteria can also be used.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the network server providing the surrounding network application derives the network server of the at least two network servers according to a standard, such that the network application to be embedded provided by the network server is embedded in the surrounding network application.

The web server providing the surrounding web application can then inform the surrounding web application of the derived web server when implementing the surrounding web application, so that the surrounding web application then embeds the web application of the derived web server into the surrounding web application.

The network server providing the surrounding network application can, when implementing the surrounding network application, additionally also inform the surrounding network application of one or more other network servers, which provide the network application to be embedded. Subsequently, in the event of failure of the embedded web application, a switchover to another web server can be made without major delay and the web application of this web server can be incorporated.

Alternatively, it is also possible for the web server providing the surrounding web application to provide only at least one criterion for determining the web server for the web application to be embedded and subsequently to be used elsewhere for determining the web server for the web application to be embedded. For example, surrounding applications or other services can then themselves determine the network server based on at least one criterion.

Advantageously, a data interface exists between the network applications. Whereby web applications can interact with each other. Thus, services or functions coupled to one another can be integrated flexibly into the automation system.

The method is advantageously used in industrial automation systems, in particular process control systems, i.e. functions are provided in industrial automation systems by means of network applications.

The system according to the invention for embedding a web application to be embedded into a surrounding web application comprises at least two web servers which provide the web application to be embedded (i.e. provide the same web application), wherein the web application to be embedded is provided for running in separate implementation areas and display areas of the surrounding web application. Preferably, the system includes a browser configured to implement the ambient web application.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the system is designed to determine a network server of the at least two network servers as a function of at least one criterion, such that the provided network application to be embedded of the network server is embedded in the surrounding network application.

According to one advantageous embodiment, the network application and the at least two network servers are connected to each other in a communication manner via a communication device, and the standard relates to communication in the communication device.

It is particularly advantageous if the criterion is a reduction in the data traffic in the communication device, in particular between at least two network servers.

The network server providing the surrounding network application is preferably designed to derive the network server of the two network servers according to a standard, so that the network application provided by this network server to be embedded is embedded in the surrounding network application.

The web server providing the surrounding web application is then advantageously also designed to inform the surrounding web application of the web server obtained when the surrounding web application is implemented.

The network server providing the surrounding network application can also be designed to inform the surrounding network application, when the surrounding network application is implemented, of other network servers that provide the network application to be embedded.

Alternatively, the criteria can also be provided only by the web server providing the surrounding web application and used elsewhere for determining the web server of the web application to be embedded.

It is advantageous that there is a data interface between the network applications.

The advantages proposed for the method according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments are correspondingly applicable for the system according to the invention and its advantageous embodiments.

The industrial automation system according to the invention comprises a system as described above.

Drawings

The invention according to the features of the dependent claims and further advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments in the drawings. The figures show:

fig. 1 shows a simplified diagram of the principle structure of a system according to the invention, an

Fig. 2 shows a method flow according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a simplified diagram of an industrial installation 1 with an industrial automation system 2. Such a plant 1 is used in various industrial fields, for example in the process industry (e.g. chemical, pharmaceutical, metal, oil and gas, paper), discrete processing industry and energy production industry. The actual industry-specific process 3, for example a production process or an energy production process, is controlled and/or regulated and monitored by the automation system 2. To this end, the automation system 2 comprises one or more industrial control devices (here control device 4) and two or more automation servers 5, 6, which are also commonly referred to as "Application servers" or "operating system servers".

Each control device 4 then controls the operation of a respective sub-process 3a or 3b of the process 3 in dependence on the operating state of the processor. To this end, the process 3 comprises an actuator 7 which can be actuated by the control device 4. Here, this can be individual actuators (e.g. motors, pumps, valves, switches) or groups of such actuators or entire sections of the installation. The process furthermore comprises sensors 8 which provide the control device 4 with actual values of the process variables (e.g. temperature, pressure, speed). In this case, automation server 5 is associated with subprocess 3a and automation server 6 is associated with subprocess 3 b. Automation systems 2 without field devices (i.e. without actuators 5 and sensors 6) are often referred to as "process control systems".

The communication network of the installation 1 comprises, at a higher-level, an installation network 10, preferably in the form of a bus, via which the automation servers 5, 6 communicate with two operating and monitoring stations 11, 12, also referred to as "operating stations", and a control network 9, preferably in the form of a bus, via which the control devices 4 establish a communication connection with each other and with the automation servers 5, 6. The connection of the control device 4 to the actuator 7 and the sensor 8 can be via discrete signal lines 13 or via a field bus 15. In the process control system, the facility network 11 is also referred to as a "terminal network" or a "terminal bus", and the control network is also referred to as a "facility network" or a "facility bus".

One or more facility-specific applications that are implemented when the facility 1 is running are stored in the automation servers 5, 6. The application program is used, for example, to configure the control device 4 in the installation 1, to detect and carry out operator actions (for example, setting or changing set values of process variables) at the operating and observation stations 11, 12 or to generate messages for installation personnel and to display them on the operating and observation stations 11, 12. In a process control system, the operator and observation stations 11, 12 are typically arranged in a control room of the facility 1.

The automation system 2 also comprises further servers, namely for example a maintenance server 13 and an engineering server 14, which are likewise connected to the facility network 10.

The servers 5, 6, 13, 14 comprise web servers 5', 6', 13', or 14', respectively, which provide the web application 24.

A web browser (browser for short) 22 running thereon is shown on a display 21 of the operator station and the observation station 11, said browser being communicatively connected or connected to the web server 5', 6', 13 'or 14' via the network 10.

A first web application 23, which shall also be referred to hereinafter as "surrounding web application" and which is at least partially supported ("hosted") by the web server 5', runs in the browser 22; similarly, a second web application 24, which shall also be referred to as "web application to be embedded" in the following, is supported ("hosted") at least partially by one of the web servers 5', 6', 13 'or 14'. The network application 24 to be embedded is set up to run in a separate implementation area and display area 25 in the surrounding network application 23, which are designed as "inlinefrank iframes" or "iframes". Between the separate implementation and display area 25 and the surrounding web applications 23, an integration interface 26 is arranged for exchanging messages or notifications. Furthermore, a communication channel is established between the network applications 23, 24 and their respective associated network servers.

According to the invention, the network application 24 to be embedded is provided by at least two network servers, in this case even by all network servers 5', 6', 13', 14'. In other words, all web servers 5', 6', 13', 14 provide the same web application 24. By providing the web application 24 to be embedded by a plurality of web servers 5', 6', 13', 14, the web application 24 and the functions provided thereby can also be provided in case of failure of one of the web servers 5', 6', 13', 14 '. In a very complex system with a large number of services or functions, data sources and a large number of persons accessing the services or functions in a monitoring or control manner, additional flexibility is thus also provided when the services or functions, data sources, data detection and data storage are distributed to different subsystems, here for example to the two sub-processes 3a, 3b of the process 3 and to the servers respectively associated therewith (here for example the server 5 associated with the sub-process 3a and the server 6 associated with the sub-process 3 b).

This can be used to increase redundancy, monitorability and operability, which in turn increases fail-safe, reduces complexity, reduces communication traffic, and gives better possibilities for access restrictions for personnel.

A system comprising web servers 5', 6', 13', 14', web applications 23, 24 and separate implementation and display areas 25 is here denoted 100.

In this case, advantageously, at least one criterion K is defined, according to which a web server of the web servers 5', 6', 13', 14' is automatically determined by the web server 5' providing the surrounding web application 23, so that the provided web application 24 of this web server is embedded in the surrounding web application 23. In this case, for example, the criteria can also be stored in a hidden manner as a function of the fixed association of the network application 24 stored in the network server 5' with the network servers 5', 6', 13', 14 '.

The criterion preferably relates to communication in the facility network 10, in particular a reduction of data traffic in the facility network 10, and here in particular a reduction of data traffic between the network servers 5', 6', 13', 14'. This is particularly important if data or visualizations of the process 3 or of the automation system 2 are initially available only in one of the servers 5, 6, 13, 14. For example, data from the process values in the sub-process 3b is initially only available to the server 6. However, if the web application 24 of the web server 5' is now embedded in the surrounding web application 23, the data must be transmitted from the server 6 to the server 5 via the utility network 10. Thus, cross-data traffic is formed between the servers 5, 6, which leads to an undesirable load on the facility network 10.

However, the criterion K can also relate to access restrictions, quality of service, availability of the network servers 5', 6', 13', 14', etc. Here, a combination of criteria can also be used.

The criterion K (or, if necessary, a plurality of criteria) is stored in the server 5, 6, 13, 14 or the network server 5', 6', 13', 14'.

An advantageous method sequence shall now be explained in connection with fig. 2:

here, for example, the criterion K is based on the reduction of the data traffic in the facility network 10 and the network application 24 requiring data from the subprocess 3 b.

The web servers 5' providing the surrounding web applications 23 derive in a first step 101 which web servers in the automation system 2 provide the web applications 24. In this case, the web server 5' derives the web servers 5', 6', 13', 14', for example by querying in all servers. Alternatively, this information can also already be stored in the network server 5', for example in the domain of the project planning of the automation system 2.

In a second step 102, the web server 5' derives the web server of the web servers 5', 6', 13', 14' from the stored criterion K (here the reduction of the data traffic) such that the provided web application 24 to be embedded of the web server is embedded in the surrounding web application 23. In the example mentioned, this is the web server 6'. As already mentioned, the criteria can also be stored in this case, for example, in an obscured manner (for example, in the context of project planning of the automation system) as a function of the association of the network application 24 stored in the network server 5' with the network servers 5', 6', 13', 14 '.

Then in a further step 103, the web server 5' informs the surrounding web application 23 of its derived web server 6' when implementing the surrounding web application, so that the surrounding web application then embeds the web application 24 of the derived web server 6' in the surrounding web application 23.

The network server 5 'providing the surrounding network application 23 in step 104 additionally also informs the surrounding network application 23 of the other network servers 5', 13', 14' providing the network application 24 to be embedded when the surrounding network application is implemented. Subsequently, in case the web application 24 of the web server 6 'fails, the surrounding web application 23 can switch to one of the other web servers 5', 13', 14', i.e. build a communication channel to this web server, and embed the web application 24 of this web server without major delay.

Alternatively, the web server 5' providing the surrounding web application 23 can also provide only the standard K "reduction of data traffic". The criteria can then be used elsewhere to determine the web server of the web application 24 to be embedded. For example, the surrounding network application 23 or another service can then itself determine the network server of the network application 24 to be accessed according to the criteria.