A distributed networking system and protocol is provided to a networking system with a modular design. The distributed networking system may include a networking system, modules, control module, user interface module, input/output module, network module, data transmission network, hybrid modules and composite modules. A method to interface with accessories of a system with a modular design using the distributed networking system and protocol is also provided.

A work management device manages a board work line having multiple board work machines for performing work on a board. The work management device includes a problem detection section configured to detect that a problem has occurred in any of the multiple board work machines; a handling method database configured to accumulate handling methods for problems; an updating section configured to update handling methods for problems at any time; and a work instruction section configured to extract and indicate to an operator a handling method for a problem from the handling method database when the problem detection section detects that the problem has occurred.

A control system which controls a control target includes a controller connected to one or more devices through a network, and an information processing apparatus connected to the controller. The controller includes an event log containing an event having occurred during a control operation, and network statistical information containing statistical information associated with data transmission on the network. The information processing apparatus includes a factor estimation unit that provides an interactive user interface in accordance with selection of an anomaly phenomenon registered in the event log.

Reliability with which a control device at a transmission destination can receive data is improved. In a communication system in which a plurality of control devices for factory automation are connected to a network, a communication protocol among the control devices includes a publish/subscribe type. Each of the control devices includes: a data storage unit in which control data is stored; a publisher unit that transmits data including a state of the control device of the publisher unit itself to other control devices than the control device; and a subscriber unit that receives data from each of the other control devices. When a state of each of the other control devices that is received by the subscriber unit satisfies a reception allowing condition, the publisher unit transmits the control data of the control device of the publisher unit itself.

Embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for managing and producing equipment within an operational environment. In one scenario, a method is performed that includes generating an organizational database structure that maintains information associated with equipment that is part of an operational environment. The organizational database structure includes information indicating which packable items are associated with the piece of equipment. The method further includes accessing the generated organizational database structure to identify physical operational environment factors that affect which pieces of equipment are to be currently produced within the operational environment. The method then evaluates the identified physical operational environment factors to determine whether the specified piece of equipment is to be currently produced within the operational environment and, upon determining that the specified piece of equipment is to be currently processed within the operational environment, the specified piece of equipment is produced and provided to the operational environment.

System (1) for sharing device-related data by means of remote data transmission, in particular machining-specific parameters, of machining devices (30, 35), in particular wood machining devices, for machining of workpieces preferably consisting at least in sections of wood, wood material, synthetic material and/or glass, comprising: a main computer (15) for creating and providing a database (10) in which the device-related data can be managed, a first workstation (20) of a first machining device (30) which can be connected to the main computer (15) via a data communication link, and a second workstation (25) of a second machining device (35) which can be connected to the main computer via a data communication link, with device-related data being able to be stored in the database (10) of the main computer (15) by at least one of the two workstations (20, 25) and thereby being able to be made available for the other of the two workstations (20, 25).

A data control apparatus includes an analog signal input interface for receiving an analog signal from a first device, a communication interface for receiving correlation information indicating addresses of storage areas in a storage and conditional values associated with the storage areas, and a data controller for writing a digital value generated from the analog signal into one of the storage areas. The data controller includes a cam switch block for acquiring a reference signal generated from an input signal input from a second device and comparing a value of the reference signal with at least one of the conditional values, and a logger block for switching the storage area into which the digital value is written, on the basis of the comparison in the cam switch block, and writing the digital value into the storage area.

A production control system includes a terminal server and a manufacturing execution server. The terminal server is configured to transmit a control message. The manufacturing execution server is configured to receive the control message through a first communications protocol and a second communications protocol and to execute a first application module and a second application module according to the control message. The terminal server judges whether a quantity of the control message is greater than a predetermined value; if the quantity of the control message is judged to be greater than the predetermined value, then the terminal server transmits the control message through the first communications protocol; and if the quantity of the control message is judged to be less than or equal to the predetermined value, then the terminal server transmits the control message through the second communications protocol.

A control system for a central plant having subplants including devices operating to serve energy loads of a building. The system includes a high level optimization module that performs high level optimization of thermal loads subject to constraints to generate subplant load allocations. The control system includes a low level optimization module that performs low level optimization of the subplant load allocations to determine operating states for the devices. The control system includes a constraint modifier that modifies the constraints for the high level optimization module based on equipment schedules. The control system also includes a binary optimization modifier including a pruner module that receives the minimum off schedule to determine adjusted branches and a seeder module that receives the minimum on schedule to determine a starting node for use in binary optimization performed by the low optimization module.

Example implementations described herein are directed to systems and methods for deploying function packages onto machines connected to an Internet of Things (IoT) network. The function packages can include updates for machine functions or sensor functions, and can be triggered for deployment while the factory floor is running. Through the example implementations described herein, appropriate function packages can be scheduled and deployed to corresponding machines or sensors in response to an event occurring on the factory floor.