Limiting Cellular Network Influence on Latency in An Industrial Automation System

A first wireless communication device in an industrial automation system configured to communicate via a cellular network and comprising

• a radio circuit for wireless communication with other wireless communication devices of the industrial automation system via the cellular network, and
• a communication handling block configured to
• receive, while the first wireless communication device is attached to a first base station of the cellular network, a first message from a second wireless communication device via the first base station, said first message including base station identifying information identifying a base station of the cellular network to which the second wireless communication device is attached,
• investigate the base station identifying information of the first message in order to identify said base station to which the second wireless communication device is attached,
• if the second wireless communication device is attached to a second base station, being further configured to
• investigate if one or more conditions for attaching to the second base station are fulfilled by the first wireless communication device, where one condition is that the second base station is allowable, and
• instruct the radio circuit to send a response to the first message concerning the ability of the first wireless communication device to attach to the second base station,
• wherein if said one or more conditions are fulfilled the communication handling block is further configured to
• instruct the radio circuit to detach from the first base station, and
• instruct the radio circuit to attach to the second base station.

A computer program for setting up communication between a first and a second wireless communication device of an industrial automation system via a cellular network, the computer program comprising computer program code, which when run by a processor of a communication handling block of the first wireless communication device, causes the communication handling block to:

• receive, while the first wireless communication device is attached to a first base station of the cellular network, a first message from the second wireless communication device via the first base station, said first message including base station identifying information identifying a base station of the cellular network to which the second wireless communication device is attached,
• investigate the base station identifying information of the first message in order to identify said base station to which the second wireless communication device is attached,
• if the second wireless communication device is attached to a second base station, further cause the communication handling block to
• investigate if one or more conditions for attaching to the second base station are fulfilled by the first wireless communication device. where one condition is that the second base station is allowable, and
• send a response to the first message concerning the ability of the first wireless communication device to attach to the second base station, wherein if said one or more conditions are fulfilled, the communication handling block is further caused to
• instruct the radio circuit to detach, from the first base station and
• instruct the radio circuit to attach to the second base station.