# US 2019/0036730 A1 · Connection unit, monitoring system and method for operating an automation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0036730 A1 - Document ID: US20190036730A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/149,988 - Filed: 2018-10-02 - Published: 2019-01-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-22 - Assignees: Beckhoff Automation GmbH - Applicants: Beckhoff Automation GmbH - Inventors: Pascal Dresselhaus; Sven Goldstein; Hans Beckhoff; Ralf Vienken - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190036730A1 ## CPC - H04L 12/40032: {Details regarding a bus interface enhancer} - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - G05B 19/4185: {characterised by the network communication} - G05B 2219/31122: Bridge between networks - G05B 2219/31123: Multi mode network controller, monitor, control, configuration, maintenance - G05B 2219/31131: Field device with gateway functions for communication with pc and other field devices - G05B 2219/31348: Gateway - H04L 2012/4026: {Bus for use in automation systems} - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - 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) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A connecting unit to transmit process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system. The connecting unit comprises a field bus module, network module and interface module. The field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection. The network module is configured to interchange the process data with the external data infrastructure, use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure, and retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure. The interface module is configured to interchange the process data between the field bus module and the network module. The interface module prompts interchange of the process data autonomously. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connecting unit for transmitting process data of an automation process of an automation system to an external data infrastructure, wherein the connecting unit is configured as a field device for arrangement on a field level of the automation system and comprises a field bus module, a network module and an interface module; wherein the field bus module is connectable to a field bus and is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus with a signal unit connected to the automation process via a field connection; wherein the network module is connectable to an external data network and is configured to interchange the process data via the external data network with the external data infrastructure and in so doing to use the data network to transmit input process data to the external data infrastructure and to retrieve output process data from the external data infrastructure; wherein the interface module is connected to the network module and to the field bus module for an interchange of the process data between the field bus module and the network module; and wherein the interface module is configured to prompt the interchange of the process data between the network module and the external data infrastructure autonomously. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the input process data depict a state or a physical parameter of the automation process and the output process data depict a state or a physical parameter of the automation process. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises a transmission module and wherein the transmission module is configured to prompt the transmission of the input process data by opening a transmission channel via the network module, in order to prompt sending of a network message comprising the input process data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connecting unit according to claim 3, wherein the transmission module is configured to transfer the network message with the input process data to a message distribution module of the external data infrastructure for distribution to a receiver of the network message. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connecting unit according to claim 4, wherein the message distribution module acts as message-oriented middleware and the transmission module acts as a publisher. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface module comprises a reception module and wherein the reception module is configured to prompt retrieval of the output process data by opening a reception channel via the network module, in order to prompt reception of a network message comprising the output process data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The connecting unit according to claim 6, wherein the reception module is configured to retrieve the network message with the output process data from a message distribution module of the external data infrastructure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connecting unit according to claim 7, wherein the message distribution module acts as message-oriented middleware and the reception module acts as a subscriber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, having a realtime system for executing time-critical modules of the connecting unit and an application system for executing non-time-critical modules of the connecting unit, wherein the realtime system comprises the interface module and the field bus module and the application system comprises the network module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the interface module is configured to prompt the interchange of the process data periodically and/or on the occurrence of an event stored in the connecting unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the field bus module is configured to interchange the process data via the field bus periodically with the signal unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, wherein the field bus module comprises a configuration module configured to prompt polling of the signal unit connected to the field bus and to make configuration data relating to the signal unit available. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, having a server module, wherein the server module is connected to the network module and is configured to make configuration data of the connecting unit available to an access module of an external computer connected to the network module via the external data network, and wherein the connecting unit is configured to configure the field bus module and/or the field bus and/or the signal unit and/or the interface module on the basis of the configuration data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, having a conversion module, wherein the field bus module is configured to interchange the process data in a field bus data format via the field bus; wherein the network module is configured to transmit the process data in a network data format via the external data network; and wherein the conversion module is configured to convert the process data between the field bus data format and the network data format. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The connecting unit according to claim 1, having a memory module configured to buffer-store the process data after reception via the field bus and before sending via the external data network. ### Claim 16 A monitoring system for arrangement on a field level of an automation system having: a connecting unit for transmitting process data of an automation process of the automation system to an external data infrastructure and having a signal unit; wherein the signal unit is configured to be connected to the automation process via a field connection; and wherein a field bus interface of the signal unit is configured to be connected via a field bus to the connecting unit for the purpose of the interchange of the process data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the field connection of the signal unit is configured as a further field bus interface and wherein the further field bus interface is configured to be connected to an installation field bus of the automation system, in order to concurrently log installation field bus data interchanged on the installation field bus as process data. ### Claim 18 A method for operating an automation system having a connecting unit for transmitting process data of the automation system between a signal unit, which is connected via a field connection to an automation process of the automation system, and an external data infrastructure, comprising the following steps: interchanging the process data between the connecting unit and the signal unit via a field bus; and autonomously prompting an interchange of the process data between the connecting unit and the external data infrastructure via an external data network by the connecting unit, wherein the interchange of the process data is prompted by means of provision and/or by means of retrieval of a network message comprising the process data by the connecting unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: creating input process data, representing a state of the automation process executed by the automation system, in the signal unit; transmitting the input process data as process data from the signal unit to the connecting unit as part of the interchange of the process data via the field bus; and transmitting the process data from the connecting unit to the external data infrastructure as part of the interchange of the process data via the external data network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: the signal unit concurrently logging installation field bus data circulating on an installation field bus connected to the signal unit; and providing the concurrently logged installation field bus data as the input process data representing a state of the automation process in the signal unit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, comprising the further steps of: the external data infrastructure providing output process data as process data; and the connecting unit retrieving the output process data from the external data infrastructure as part of the interchange of the process data via the external data network. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the method comprises the further steps of: transmitting the output process data from the connecting unit to the signal unit as part of the interchange of the process data via the field bus; and the signal unit influencing the automation process on the basis of the output process data. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, comprising the further step of: adapting the configuration of the connecting unit on the basis of the output process data retrieved by the connecting unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, comprising the further steps of: the external data infrastructure providing output process data as process data; a control unit of the automation system retrieving the output process data from the external data infrastructure; and the control unit influencing the automation process on the basis of the output process data.