US 12,580,989 B2 · Modeling and management of industrial network using OPCUA

Abstract

Methods/systems are provided for extending the capabilities of OPCUA to network devices that are otherwise configured and managed using NETCONF-YANG and SNMP-MIB protocols. The extension of OPCUA allows these devices to be described in network communications in the same manner as MIB or YANG. The systems/methods provide a CUC configured to request a TSN connection on the industrial network, the CUC including an OPCUA model therein. The CUC interacts with and configures an OPCUA based industrial controller connected to the industrial network, and an OPCUA based industrial device connected to the industrial network, to determine TSN parameters required for the TSN connection. The systems/methods further provide a CNC configured to provision the TSN connection on the industrial network upon request by the CUC. In some embodiments, the CNC includes an OPCUA model therein. Alternatively, the CUC may translate the TSN parameters from OPCUA parameters to YANG-MIB parameters for the CNC.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capable industrial system, comprising:

an industrial controller having a controller switch therein;
an industrial device having a device switch therein and configured to be connected to the industrial controller;
a Centralized User Configuration (CUC) configured to be connected to the industrial controller and the industrial device, the CUC having an OPCUA model therein, the CUC operable to interact with the industrial controller and the industrial device to determine one or more TSN parameters required for provisioning a TSN connection therebetween;
and
a Centralized Network Controller (CNC) configured to be connected to the industrial controller and the industrial device, the CNC operable to interact with the controller switch in the industrial controller and the device switch in the industrial device;
wherein the CUC is further operable to transmit the one or more TSN parameters from the CUC to the CNC to request provisioning of the TSN connection;
and
wherein the CNC is further operable to configure the one or more TSN parameters in the controller switch of the industrial controller and the device switch of the industrial device to provision the TSN connection.

5 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon for implementing a Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capable industrial system, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a process that:

connects an industrial controller having a controller switch therein to an industrial device having a device switch therein;
connects a Centralized User Configuration (CUC) to the industrial controller and the industrial device, the CUC having an OPCUA model therein;
connects a Centralized Network Controller (CNC) to the industrial controller and the industrial device, the CNC operable to interact with the controller switch in the industrial controller and the device switch in the industrial device;
operates the CUC to interact with the industrial controller and the industrial device to determine one or more TSN parameters required for provisioning a TSN connection therebetween;
operates the CUC to transmit the one or more TSN parameters to a Centralized Network Controller (CNC) to request provisioning of the TSN connection;
and
operates the CNC to configure the one or more TSN parameters in the controller switch of the industrial controller and the device switch of the industrial device to provision the TSN connection.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modeling and management of industrial network using OPCUA

Life of this patent

Modeling and management of industrial network using OPCUA

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20