Patent Application
20240155346
The present disclosure generally relates to a wireless automation network (WAN) and, more particularly, to WAN systems, devices, and related methods.
Location information is broadly needed in industrial automation systems, e.g., for personnel and asset tracking, engineering and maintenance, access control, control of mobile equipment, security surveillance, safety patrol, evacuation and rescue, etc. Accurate location information can also be used to improve the security of wireless communication from the physical layer to complement the traditional cryptography base security mechanisms, because any spoofing of the signal will increase extra delay, which will be noticed easily by detecting the abnormal change of distance/location. Today, adding and processing location information are implemented in higher-level automation applications on a case-by-case basis instead of in the WAN. To do this, an extra cross-layer interface is needed for the automation applications to access the location information from the bottom of a WAN interface, but such a cross-layer design is not recommended due to the lack of a standard and violation to the layer-based design principal of communication stacks. More importantly, many end users of the devices do not want to share the location information to certain applications due to privacy concerns.
The present disclosure describes a WAN source device, a WAN destination device, a WAN system, a WAN, device comprising the source device and the destination device, a method for communication and localization in a WAN, and a usage of a WAN destination and/or source device for authenticated wireless communication and for wireless localization. In one aspect, the disclosure describes an improved system and method for transmitting location information in industrial automation systems.
The described embodiments similarly pertain to the WAN source device, the WAN destination device, the WAN system comprising the source device and the destination device, the method for communication and localization in a WAN, and the usage of a WAN destination and/or source device for authenticated wireless communication and for wireless localization. Synergetic effects may arise from different combinations of the embodiments although they might not be described in detail.
Further on, it shall be noted that all embodiments of the present invention concerning a method, might be carried out with the order of the steps as described, nevertheless this has not to be the only and essential order of the steps of the method. The herein presented methods can be carried out with another order of the disclosed steps without departing from the respective method embodiment, unless explicitly mentioned to the contrary hereinafter.
Technical terms are used by their common sense. If a specific meaning is conveyed to certain terms, definitions of terms will be given in the following in the context of which the terms are used.
According to a first aspect, a wireless automation network, WAN, source device is provided. The WAN source device is configured to generate a WAN data packet containing a payload with automation data according to a WAN communication protocol, and to transmit the data packet to a WAN destination device. The WAN source device comprises a wireless localization engine configured to generate a source location stamp, and at least one packet wrapper configured to insert the source location stamp in the data packet.
The automation data may be data of an industrial process that is collected, for example, by an industrial sensor. The wireless localization engine may determine the location using devices or methods known to a skilled person, for example, by a triangulation method using run times of electromagnetic waves, signal strength, reception directivities, etc. The WAN source device therefore is enabled to transmit a location information using the packets that also contain the data payload. The location stamp comprises at least a location information or location value. More details are given further below.
The figures are merely schematic and not to scale. In principle, identical or similar parts are given the same reference signs.
For each communication link, a pair of logical devices, a source device, also designated as “link source” in the following and a destination device, also designated as “link destination” in the following, are equipped with the functionalities not only for wireless communication but also for wireless localization. The location information is added to the communication packets and the communication packets are processed based on not only the network addresses but also the location stamps.
Now referring to
The insertion of the local stamp may be performed as described above in both layers or either in the automation application layer or in the WAN communication layer. The processing of locations stamps in the AAL and WCL is determined (i.e., enabled or disabled) according to the configuration of the source location authorizer 122 in the source device 110, and the destination location authorizer and destination device 150, respectively. The packet processing and the valid flag mechanism is described in more detail at hand of
In the destination device 150 antenna 188 receives the signal with the transmitted packet and provides the signal to the WAN interface 186, where the signal is demodulated. The WAN interface 186 then sends the demodulated signal with the packet to the WAN communication stack 182, which decodes the packet and passes it to the WAN packet parser 158. The destination location authorizer 162 provides an information whether the WAN packet parser 158 and/or the application packet parser 160 are allowed or authorized to access the wireless localization engine 184 for receiving the locally generated destination location stamp. If yes, the wireless localization engine 184 inserts the localization value, an accuracy value and a valid flag according to the access authorization in the locally generated destination location stamp, the WAN packet parser 158 receives the locally generated destination location stamp from the wireless localization engine 184. The WAN packet parser 158 parses the packet and compares the location stamp in the received packet with the locally generated destination location stamp received from the wireless localization engine 184. The WAN packet parser 158 compares the WAN location stamps if all valid flags are true. If the location stamps do not match the WAN packet parser 158 discards the packet. Otherwise, the WAN packet parser 158 forwards the parsed packet to the application packet parser 160 that extracts the payload and the source location stamp. If the application location stamp valid flag and the extracted application location stamp valid flag are set to true, the application packet parser 160 can compare the location values. If the location stamps do not match it discards the packet. The automation data consumer 165 receives finally the payload. Further, the location values may be provided to other devices in the WAN. The location values may also be sent to a server or into a cloud.
The structure of the WAN packet (WanPkt) processed in the communication layer and the application packet (AppPkt) processed in the application layer are illustrated in
The location stamps are specified in three fields:
As an overview, the AAL generates and consumes the application payload (AppPld) data and inserts and parses the AAL source location stamp (AppSrcLoc) and the AAL destination stamp (AppDstLoc) in the application packet (AppPkt). The WCL transmits and receives WAN communication packets (WanPkt) over the WAN network and inserts and parses the WCL source location stamp (WanSrcLoc) and WCL destination location stamp (WanDstLoc) in the application packet (AppPkt).
As indicated above, to give full flexibility source and destination location should be added to the packet information at both the automation application layer as well as WAN communication layers. In addition, it needs to be specified what the required accuracy is for two locations to be considered matching.
Referring now to
In a second step 304, in the wireless communication layer 114 of the link source 110, the WAN packet wrapper 130 retrieves the source location stamp (WanSrcLoc) 230 from the wireless localization engine 134 if it is authorized and sets the destination location stamp (WanDstLoc) 240 where the application packet 202 is supposed to be consumed. Then the WAN communication stack 132 adds other headers (WanHeader) 224 and sends the WAN packet 204 to the link destination 150 through the WAN interface 136.
In a third step 304, in the wireless communication layer 114 of the Link Destination 150, the WAN Packet Parser 158 receives the WAN packet 204 from the WAN interface 186 through the WAN communication stack 182; retrieves the current location from the wireless localization Engine 184 if it is authorized. Then the WAN packet 204 is processed according to the flowchart 400 in the
In a fourth step 308, in the automation application layer 112 of the link destination, the application packet parser receives the application packet 202 (AppPkt) from the wireless communication layer 114; retrieves the current location from its wireless communication layer 114 if it is authorized; then does location matching (i.e. compares the destination location stamp (AppDstLoc) 220 with the current location). If the matching result is true, the application payload (AppPld) 222 will be handed over to the application data consumer after removing the application headers (AppHeaders) 218, application source location stamp (AppSrcLoc) 210, and application destination location stamp (AppDstLoc) 220. Otherwise, the application packet (AppPkt) 202 is discarded.
Optionally, the authorizations to access location information at automation application layer 112, 152 and wireless communication layer 114, 154 are independent. In a preferred embodiment, only the wireless communication layer 114, 154 is authorized to access the location information, which will largely reduce the concern about privacy when, for example, wearable or portable devices are used to track the location of personnel. As further options, a physical device can include both the link source 110 and the link destination 150 functionalities for two-way communication, or only one of them for one-way communication.
As specific embodiments, the automation application layer processing and wireless communication layer processing of location stamps can be implemented independently, i.e., it is possible to implement only one of two layers or both layers.
The invention allows reducing the complexity in control applications to utilize the native localization capability of the new generation wireless infrastructure, e.g., 5G and WiFi. Costs for dedicated localization infrastructure. Further, the concern about privacy when wearable or portable devices are used to track personnel location is reduced.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from the study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items or steps recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
According to an embodiment, the WAN source device further comprises a destination location generator configured to generate a destination location stamp. The at least one packet wrapper is configured to insert the destination location stamp in the data packet. The destination information may be obtained by configuration, received by an external interface, or derived by configured or received information. Further, source location information may be used to derive the destination information.
According to an embodiment, the WAN source device further comprises a WAN communication layer, WCL, and an automation application layer, AAL. The AAL comprises an application packet wrapper as a first data wrapper configured to generate an application packet comprising the payload. The WCL comprises a WAN packet wrapper as a second data wrapper configured to wrap the application packet and to generate the WAN data packet. The application packet wrapper is configured to insert the source location stamp and the destination location stamp in the application packet and/or the WAN packet wrapper is configured to insert the source location stamp and the destination location stamp in the WAN data packet.
That is, the source location stamp and the destination location stamp can be either inserted into the packet generated in the AAL, or to the packet generated in the WCL, or both. Consequently, in the WAN packet to be transmitted, it is contained once or twice. If it is inserted in the AAL, this resulting application packet including the location stamp is packed as a payload into the WAN packet.
According to an embodiment, the WAN source device further comprises a source location authorizer configured to authorize access to the wireless localization engine from the AAL and/or the WCL.
The control of the access may be performed by the wireless localization engine itself according to an information obtained from the authorizer. The information may be an authorization information to allow access from the AAL and a separate authorization information to allow access from the WCL, or a single information, in case there is only one layer, or in case, the layers are treated the same way.
The authorizer may further be configured to provide the authorization information to the destination location generator. In this way, the destination location generator is enabled to include a valid information, e.g., a valid flag, whether the respective location information is valid into the destination time stamp. Instead of a valid flag, the validity of the location information may be detectable by the value(s) of the location stamps. For example, a default value of zero may indicate a non-valid value.
The source location stamp may hence comprise a field with the source location value, and a further field with the source location stamp validity information. It may further comprise a location accuracy information. The field for the locations value may be initialized with a default value, for example zero or a random value.
The authorizer therefore ensures privacy requirements on both AAL and WCL level.
According to an aspect, a wireless automation network (WAN) destination device is provided. The WAN destination device is configured to receive a WAN data packet according to a WAN communication protocol comprising a payload with automation data, wherein the WAN data packet contains further a source location stamp and/or a destination location stamp. The WAN destination device is configured to match the received source and destination stamp with a locally generated destination stamp and, in case of a match, provide the payload to an automation data consumer.
The received source location stamp contains location information about the source device, and the received destination location stamp contains location information about the destination device. The location information may be provided to further modules in the WAN. The location information about the destination device is not an actual position of the destination device but may indicate a target position or region at/in which the destination may be allowed to extract the payload from the message. The location information about the source device is the actual position of the source device.
According to an embodiment, the WAN destination device comprises a wireless localization engine configured to generate locally a destination location stamp, and at least one packet parser. The at least one packet parser is configured to parse the WAN data packet to extract the payload. It is further configured to extract the source location stamp and/or a destination location stamp. It is furthermore configured to provide the payload to the automation data consumer only when a source location value of the source location stamp of the parsed data packet matches a configured source location value, and/or a destination location value of the location stamp of the parsed data packet matches the destination location value generated by the wireless localization engine in the destination device.
The received source location value contained in the source location stamp may preferably be an absolute 2D or 3D position. The received destination location value contained in the destination location stamp may be an absolute position, a relative position or preferably a distance, i.e., a 1D relative position, indicating an allowed radius around the source location. The locally generated destination location value may preferably be an absolute position.
According to an embodiment, the WAN destination device further comprises a WAN communication layer, WCL, and an automation application Layer, AAL. The WCL comprises a WAN packet parser as a first packet parser configured to parse the WAN packet and to extract an application data packet. The AAL comprises an application packet parser as a second packet parser configured to parse the application packet and to extract the payload and the source location stamp and/or a destination location stamp.
The parsers perform therefore the inverse operation of the wrappers in the source device. Further, they check whether the destination device is located at an allowed position for extracting and forwarding the payload data and or the received location information.
According to an embodiment, the WAN destination device further comprises a destination location authorizer configured to authorize access to the wireless localization engine from the AAL and/or the WCL.
The control of the access may be performed by the wireless localization engine itself according to the information obtained from the authorizer. The information may be an authorization information to allow access from the AAL and a separate authorization information to allow access from the WCL. The authorizer therefore ensures so that privacy requirements is ensured on both AAL and WCL level.
According to an embodiment, the received source location stamp and destination location stamp each comprise a location value, wherein the source location value and/or the destination location value are only accessed when the validity information is true.
The locally generated destination location stamp may comprise further, i.e., apart from the destination location value, the destination location stamp validity information. A validity of the source location value and/or the destination location value is related to the validity information.
There are several options how to proceed in the case of a false flag. For example, the comparison of the location values is skipped, or the packet may be discarded.
According to an embodiment, the received source location stamp and destination location stamp each further comprise an accuracy information, wherein the location accuracy information specifies an accuracy to be considered for determining a match of the source location values and/or destination location values. For example, the location values are considered to match when the distance is lower than the received allowed distance plus the accuracy value.
According to an aspect, a wireless automation network, WAN, system is provided, comprising a WAN source device and a WAN destination device as described herein.
According to a further aspect, a wireless automation network, WAN, device is provided comprising a WAN source device and a WAN destination device as described herein, where the WAN device is a physical device, and the WAN source device and WAN destination device are logical devices. This allows having a bi-directional physical device, comprising a transmitting, and a receiving part.
According to an aspect, a method for communication and localization in a wireless automation network, WAN, device, is provided, comprising the step: receiving a WAN data packet according to a WAN communication protocol comprising a payload with automation data, wherein the WAN data packet contains further a source location stamp and a destination location stamp, matching the received source and destination stamp with a locally generated destination stamp; and, in case of a match providing the payload to an automation data consumer. The step providing the payload to an automation data consumer may comprise extracting the payload from the data packet. Preferably, if there is no match, no extraction of the payload is performed.
According to an embodiment, the method for communication and localization in a wireless automation network, WAN, further comprises the following steps after receiving a WAN data packet: First, compare a WAN destination address with a local WAN address and check whether they match. If they do not match, continue according to the communication protocol. If they match, compare the WAN destination location value of the location stamp with a location value of the device. Then, check whether they match. If they do not match, discard the WAN data packet. If they match, compare the WAN source location value with a configured source location value. Then, check whether they match. If they do not match, discard the WAN data packet. If they match, forward the payload as application packet to the AAL.
According to an aspect, a usage of wireless automation network, WAN, destination device for authenticated wireless communication and for wireless localization is provided. That is, the location information may be used for authentication, and for providing location information. The source device may retrieve its own location information. The destination device may retrieve its own location information and location information of the source device.
The method may be performed by a program element running on a processor or a controller. The program element when being executed by the processor or controller, instructs the destination device to perform the steps of the method. Similarly, the source device may be realized by program element, and a processor or controller on which the program element runs, instructs the source device to perform the functions and methods of the source device to generate and transmit a WAN packet as described herein. The program element may be part of a computer program, but it can also be an entire program by itself. For example, the computer program element may be used to update an already existing computer program to get to the present invention.
The WAN may be based on, e.g., WiFi 802.11az, 3GPP 5G NR release 17, IEEE802.15.4z UWB or other suitable wireless protocols or standards.
The controller may comprise circuits without programmable logics or may be or comprise a micro controller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an ASIC, a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), or any other programmable logic devices known to person skilled in the art. The program element is stored on a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may be seen as a storage medium, such as for example, a USB stick, a CD, a DVD, a data storage device, a hard disk, or any other medium on which a program element as described above can be stored.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying figure and the following description.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21173055.1 | May 2021 | EP | regional |
The instant application claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2022/061033, filed Apr. 26, 2022, and to European Patent Application No. 21173055.1, filed May 10, 2021, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2022/061033 | Apr 2022 | US |
| Child | 18506258 | US |
