NETWORK DEVICE FOR USE IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A NETWORK DEVICE

Abstract

A network device includes at least one wireless communication device for transmitting data and/or for storing received data by energy received from a transmitting device by induction. The wireless communication device includes or is connected to an ID memory operable by the received energy, in which at least one UAID (unified address identification) can be stored, and which can be read out or (over)written by the wireless communication device. An operating memory is provided, in which an operating data of the network device, which is at least partially necessary for the operation of the network device, can be stored. A method for manufacturing the network device includes assembling the device, storing primary configuration data, generating secondary configuration data, storing the secondary configuration data in a central processing memory, and overwriting the primary configuration data in the network device with the secondary configuration data.

Claims

1. A network device for use in a communications network, comprising: at least one wireless communication device for transmitting data and/or for storing received data by energy received from a transmitting device, wherein: the wireless communication device comprises or is connected to an ID memory operable by the received energy; the ID memory is configured such that at least one UAID (unified address identification) can be stored in a non-volatile, readable and (over)writable manner; the UAID can be read out or (over)written by the wireless communication device; and at least one non-volatile, readable and (over)writable operating memory is provided, in which operating data (configuration) of the network device, which is at least partially necessary for the operation of the network device, can be stored.

2. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the communications network is a communications network for an automation process.

3. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the energy received from the transmitting device is received by induction.

4. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the operating data can be readably and (over)writably stored in the operating memory by the energy received from the transmitting device.

5. The network device according to claim 1, wherein the ID memory and the operating memory are a single memory element.

6. The network device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic switching element; the at least one electronic switching element configured to switch the connection to the ID memory of the wireless communication device, by either: contactless received energy; a line-connected, higher-level component of the communication network; and/or a service device.

7. The network device according to claim 6, wherein the contactless received energy is received by induction.

8. A method of manufacturing a network device for use in a communication network, comprising: assembling of the network device with mechanical, electrical and electronic parts and components; storing at least a partial extent of an operating data of the network device required for an intended operation, wherein the partial extent of the operation data represents a primary configuration and following manufacturing steps take place: generating a UAID (unified address identification) for the network device; assigning the UAID to the network device; storing the UAID on an ID memory of the network device; storing the UAID, optionally together with at least one further network device information such as a primary configuration, a device type, and a date of manufacture, in a central process memory, wherein a defined secondary configuration is generated and stored in the central process memory for a UAID as a virtual secondary configuration; transferring the virtual secondary configuration to a detection device; and detecting the network device by the detection device; wherein the primary configuration representing the secondary configuration on the network device is overwritten with the virtual secondary configuration.

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein, the primary configuration is stored in the central processing memory together with the UAID and forms a virtual primary configuration, optionally with further data related to the network device forming the virtual primary configuration.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein, during or after an overwriting of the primary configuration by the virtual secondary configuration to the secondary configuration, a security identifier dependent on the UAID is stored in the process memory, optionally a security identifier which represents an update of the UAID.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein, before the primary configuration is overwritten by the virtual secondary configuration to form the secondary configuration, the network device is stored at least temporarily at a fixed or mobile storage location and/or arranged at a destination within the communication network.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein the primary configuration is such that the network device alone therewith is not operable in any complete mode of operation within the communication network, and/or is not operable by a higher-level component.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein the transfer of the virtual secondary configuration to the network device takes place: after installing and connecting the network device to at least one higher-level component of the communication network; and/or after supplying voltage and/or a wake-up command to the network device by at least one higher-level component of the communication network.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein, after the UAID has been detected by the detection device, a label which can be applied to the network device is generated, the label having optically and/or machine-readable contents which correlate with at least one item of information of the network device, and optionally correlate with the secondary configuration and/or the UAID.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein, after the secondary configuration has been stored, the network device must be enabled.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 15, wherein the network device must be enabled by: a renewed (second) reading of the UAID; reading of a security identifier; and/or reading of at least part of a contents of a label.

17. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, wherein in the network device comprises: at least one wireless communication device for transmitting data and/or for storing received data by energy received from a transmitting device, wherein: the wireless communication device comprises or is connected to an ID memory - - - operable by the received energy; the ID memory is configured such that at least one UAID (unified address identification) can be stored in a non-volatile, readable and (over)writable manner; the UAID can be read out or (over)written by the wireless communication device; and at least one non-volatile, readable and (over)writable operating memory is provided, in which operating data (configuration) of the network device, which is at least partially necessary for the operation of the network device, can be stored.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0070] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications network 100; and

[0071] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an example manufacturing process for a network device 110 for use in the communications network 100.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0072] FIG. 1 shows an example communications network 100, optionally for an automation process. The communications network 100 includes a network 102 which provides wired or wireless communication between one or more network devices 110, one or more service devices 130, and one or more central processing units 150. The communications network 100 may further include one or more higher-level components 160. For ease of discussion, the communications network 100 will be described as including one network device 110, one service device 130, one central processing unit 150, and one higher-level component 160.

[0073] The network 102 provides communications between the network device 110, the service device 130, the central processing unit 150 and the higher-level component 160 and can be any type of a wired or wireless network such as IO Link, Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) or a fieldbus system. Communications with the network device 110 are typically performed by wireless communications through the service device 130, or by a hardwire connection of the network device 110 to the high-level unit 150. In some cases, the network device 110 may include provisions for direct connection to the network 102.

[0074] The network device 110 is designed, in particular as a sensor or actuator, and is intended for use in the communications network 100. It includes at least one wireless communications device 112 which is designed for transmitting data and/or for storing received data by energy received from a transmitting device, in particular energy received by induction. The transmitting device may be, for example, a transmitting device 132 included in the service device 130. As non-limiting examples, the network device 110 may be a module, a device, a component, a connector or a field device (actuator, sensor) of the communications network 100.

[0075] In an example, the network device 110 is an RFID TAG and can be an integrated chip and an RFID antenna, wherein the chip has an integrated memory or is connected to a memory element.

[0076] The wireless communications device 112 includes or is connected to an ID memory 114 which can also be operated based on the energy received by induction. The ID memory 114 stores at least one UAID (unified address identification), such as, for example, a local network address or web address, a MAC ID, an eSIM ID or a combination thereof. The ID memory 114 can store the UAID in a non-volatile, readable and (over)writable manner, and can be read out, written to, or overwritten by means of the wireless communications device 112.

[0077] In an example, the ID memory 114 can be an interface memory wherein a memory area or memory element can be readout and modified both wirelessly by a transmission device and alternatively by a connected microprocessor.

[0078] The wireless communications device 112 further includes a non-volatile, readable, writable, and overwritable operating memory 116, in which operating data necessary, or at least partially necessary, for operation of the network device 110 can be stored.

[0079] The ID memory 114 and operating memory 116 can be a single memory, and can further be included in, or connected to the communications device 112.

[0080] The network device 110 can further include a switching element 118. The switching element 118 can be an electronic switch. As described above, the switching element 118 can be configured to enable communications with ID memory 114 by: (1) contactless received energy, in particular energy received by induction, (2) a line-connected higher-level component such as the higher-level component 160, and/or (3) a service device such as the service device 130.

[0081] The network device 110 may further include a processor 120 to enable communications with the communications network 100 via the network 102. The processor 120, may for example, store the UAID associated with the network device 110 in a memory associated with the processor 120.

[0082] The network device 110 may further include a label 122. The label 122 may be a physical label, applied to the network device 110 that includes optically and/or machine-readable contents or data which correlate with at least one item of information of the network device 110. For example, the data contained by the label 122 may correlate with a secondary configuration of the network device 110, and/or the UAID. The label can be, for example, printed be a self-adhesive film, and printed by the service device 130. The contents can be cryptographic or encrypted, and in particular in the case of a printable label can be a scannable code, such as a QR code.

[0083] The service device 130 is configured for communications over the network 102 and includes a transmitting device 132, a processing memory 134 and a processor 136. In an example, the service device 130 is a detection device 130.

[0084] The transmitting device 132 can be a component of the service device 130 and is configured to wirelessly transmit data to the communications device 112 on the network device 110.

[0085] The processing memory 134 can receive store, for example, a virtual secondary configuration for the network device 110. In an example, the service device 130 maintains a digital twin of the network device 110 on the process memory 134 that is linked to the network device 110 via the UAID.

[0086] The processor 136 can be programmed to receive data, for example configuration data, and store the configuration data in the processing memory 134. The processor 136 can be further programmed, for example, to detect the network device 110, wherein the primary configuration representing the secondary configuration of the network device 110 is overwritten with the virtual secondary configuration.

[0087] The central processing unit 150 may be or included in a server and/or a cloud application. The central processing unit 150 includes a processor 152 and a central processing memory 154. As described below in reference to the process 200, the processor 152 may be programmed to perform steps related to the manufacture of the network device 110.

[0088] The central processing unit 150 may further, for example, store, a digital twin of the network device 110 on the central process memory 154 that is linked to the network device 110 via the UAID.

[0089] The higher-level component 160 may be an I/O card, an IO card, a gateway or a master module, configured for communications over the network 102, and can include a processor 162. In an example, the higher-level component 160 can be cable connected to the network device 110, thereby connecting the network device 110 to the communications network 100. As an example, in the case that the ID memory 114 on the network device 110 is configured as an interface memory, the processor 162 may connect to and communicate with the ID memory 114.

[0090] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an example process 200 for manufacturing a network device 110 for use in the communications network 100. The example process begins in a block 202.

[0091] In the block 202, the network device 110 is physically assembled, including assembly of the mechanical, electrical, and electronic parts and components required for the intended use.

[0092] In a block 204, a partial extent of the operating data of the network device 110 is stored in the ID memory 114 and/or operating memory 116 of the network device 110.

[0093] In a block 206, a UAID is generated for the network device 110. For example, the processor 152 of the central processing unit 150 may generate the UAID, and store it in the central process memory 154.

[0094] In a block 208, the UAID is assigned to the network device 110. For example, the processor 152 of the central processing unit 150 may assign the UAID to the network device 110 and store the assignment in the central processing memory 154.

[0095] In a block 210, the UAID is stored, optionally together with at least one further information, such as a primary configuration for the network device 110, a device type, a date of manufacture or other date related information, in a central process memory, wherein a defined secondary configuration is generated and stored in the central processing memory for a virtual secondary configuration. For example, the processor 152 of the central processing unit 150 may store the UAID and further information in the central processing memory 154.

[0096] In a block 212, a secondary configuration is transferred to a service device 130 which can be a detection device 130. For example, the processor 152 of the central processing unit 150 may perform this transfer. The detection device 130 may store the secondary configuration in the process memory 134 of the detection device 130.

[0097] In a block 214, the detection device 130 detects the network device 110, wherein the primary configuration representing the secondary configuration on the network device 110 is overwritten with the virtual secondary configuration.

[0098] Overall, it may be advantageous to use any of the examples and variations of the network device described herein in any of the aforementioned variations of the manufacturing process.

[0099] Overall, a particular procedure and manufacturing steps are generally set forth herein in context and for the secondary configuration, and a respective analogous procedure is intended to apply to each additional virtual configuration in the process memory or each additional configuration on the network device in an analogous manner.

[0100] Furthermore, all aspects, advantages and combination possibilities described for the network device should also apply in an analogous manner to the manufacturing process and vice versa.