Interface Component and Network

Method for monitoring the state of at least one distributed component with an interface component in a network comprising several distributed components with one interface component each, wherein the several distributed components form a process chain, comprising the following steps performed by a processor of the interface component:

• determining a state of a decentralized process model associated with the respective distributed component, wherein the state together with the decentralized process model forms a digital twin of the respective distributed component and wherein several decentralized process models together map the higher-level process chain;
• exchanging external data for the process model associated with another distributed component;
• receiving sensor data or process data as component parameters for the process model associated with the distributed component;
• decentralized data fusion by means of the component parameters, the process model and the communication with digital twins of other components in order to effect a state estimation of the digital twin of the component.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method for monitoring the state of at least one distributed component with an interface component in a network comprising several distributed components with one interface component each, wherein the several distributed components form a process chain, comprising the following steps performed by a processor of the interface component:

• determining a state of a decentralized process model associated with the respective distributed component, wherein the state together with the decentralized process model forms a digital twin of the respective distributed component and wherein several decentralized process models together map the higher-level process chain;
• exchanging external data for the process model associated with another distributed component;
• receiving sensor data or process data as component parameters for the process model associated with the distributed component;
• decentralized data fusion by means of the component parameters, the process model and the communication with digital twins of other components in order to effect a state estimation of the digital twin of the component,
• when said computer program is run by a processor of an interface component in a network comprising several distributed components with one interface component each, wherein the several distributed components form a process chain.