# US 11,451,632 B2 · System and method for supporting wired and wireless communications in industrial safety systems

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- Number: US 11,451,632 B2
- Document ID: US11451632B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/662,861
- Filed: 2019-10-24
- Published: 2020-04-30
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-29
- Assignees: Honeywell International Inc.
- Applicants: Honeywell International Inc.
- Inventors: Chunchgatta Narendra Harsha Sukeerthi; Amol Kinage
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11451632B2

## CPC

- H04L 67/125: involving control of end-device applications over a network
- G05B 19/0421: {Multiprocessor system}
- G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)}
- G05B 23/0283: {Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] (preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06)}
- H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
- H04W 4/20: Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
- G05B 2219/24024: Safety, surveillance
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

This disclosure provides an apparatus, system and method for supporting wired and wireless communications in industrial safety systems. The apparatus, system and method involve a safety management controller comprising one or more processors, one or more wired interfaces, and one or more wireless interfaces; wherein the safety management controller supports an application stack associated with an open industrial protocol that operates over multiple communication protocols, at least one of the communication protocols comprising a wired communication protocol, at least one other of the communication protocols comprising a wireless communication protocol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a safety management controller comprising one or more processors, one or more wired interfaces, and one or more wireless interfaces,
wherein the safety management controller supports an application stack associated with an open industrial protocol that operates over multiple communication protocols, at least one of the communication protocols comprising a wired communication protocol, at least one other of the communication protocols comprising a wireless communication protocol, and
wherein the wired communication protocol and the wireless communication protocol are used at the same time by the safety management controller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an application profile associated with the open industrial protocol is common across all of the communication protocols.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the one or more wired interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.3 transceiver; and
the one or more wireless interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless radio.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the open industrial protocol comprises a PROFIsafe or openSAFETY protocol; and
the communication protocols comprise ISA100, PROFINET, and SafeNet protocols.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the interfaces of the safety management controller is configured to communicate with at least one wireless device via a wireless gateway.

### Claim 6

A system, comprising:
one or more wired safety devices;
one or more wireless safety devices; and
a safety management controller comprising one or more processors, one or more wired interfaces, and one or more wireless interfaces,
wherein the safety management controller supports an application stack associated with an open industrial protocol that operates over multiple communication protocols, at least one of the communication protocols comprising a wired communication protocol, at least one other of the communication protocols comprising a wireless communication protocol,
wherein an application profile associated with the open industrial protocol is common across all of the communication protocols, and
wherein the wired communication protocol and the wireless communication protocol are used at the same time by the safety management controller.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein:
the one or more wired interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.3 transceiver; and
the one or more wireless interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless radio.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein:
the open industrial protocol comprises a PROFIsafe or openSAFETY protocol; and
the communication protocols comprise ISA100, PROFINET, and SafeNet protocols.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the interfaces of the safety management controller is configured to communicate with at least one wireless device via a wireless gateway.

### Claim 10

A method, comprising:
operating a safety management controller in an industrial safety system, the safety management controller comprising one or more processors, one or more wired interfaces, and one or more wireless interfaces; and
executing, by the safety management controller, an application stack associated with an open industrial protocol that operates over multiple communication protocols, at least one of the communication protocols comprising a wired communication protocol, at least one other of the communication protocols comprising a wireless communication protocol,
wherein the wired communication protocol and the wireless communication protocol are used at the same time by the safety management controller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein an application profile associated with the open industrial protocol is common across all of the communication protocols.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein:
the one or more wired interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.3 transceiver; and
the one or more wireless interfaces comprise an IEEE 802.15.4 wireless radio.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein:
the open industrial protocol comprises a PROFIsafe or openSAFETY protocol; and
the communication protocols comprise ISA100, PROFINET, and SafeNet protocols.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of the interfaces of the safety management controller is configured to communicate with at least one wireless device via a wireless gateway.