Method for operating a network having multiple node devices, and network

Abstract

A method for operating a network, such as an automation network, for example, has multiple node devices provided that are networked to one another. There is a global time available, and the node devices record their operating parameters. The operating parameters are allocated to a respective address element as content elements in order to be stored in a tensorial database structure. Control or adaptation of the operation of the network with its node devices and couplings is facilitated thereby. The method is suitable particularly for use in supply networks, automated production installations, communication networks, transport networks and logistical networks. The proposed storing allows easy visualisation, depiction and evaluation of operating states of the network and of its node devices.

Claims

1. A method for operating a network having multiple node devices, comprising: providing a plurality of node devices, providing a plurality of edge devices, coupling each node device of the plurality of node devices to at least one other node device by a respective edge device of the plurality of edge devices; stipulating a global time for all the node devices and edge devices; recording the node devices; recording the edge devices; allocating an address element to each node pair n.sub.p-n.sub.q comprising two node devices that are couplable; storing the address elements; allocating a content element to each address element, the content element indicating the presence or absence of coupling between the node pair to which the address element is allocated; storing the content element on the basis of the respective address element to which the content element has been allocated; recording at least one operating parameter for at least one selected node pair or a selected node device; storing the at least one operating parameter as a further content element on the basis of the respective address element that has been allocated to the selected node pair or the selected node device; determining a reference value for the at least one recorded operating parameter; computing a relative operating parameter on the basis of the at least one recorded operating parameter and the determined reference value; and storing the relative operating parameter on the basis of the respective address element to which the at least one recorded operating parameter is allocated; wherein the recording of the edge devices and the recording of the at least one operating parameter involve a respective global time instant being recorded as well, and the respective global time instant is also stored when the content element and/or the further content element is/are stored, wherein the storing of the address element, of the content element and of the at least one further content element is effected in a database device having a tensorial database structure.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the node devices or edge devices provides the at least one operating parameter and the associated global time instant according to the tensorial database structure.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: recording a set of different operating parameters; and storing the different operating parameters as further content elements on the basis of the respective address element to which the further content elements are allocated.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one operating parameter wherein a flow of traffic, a flow of current, a flow of material, a flow of energy, a power draw and/or a supply path.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recording of the global time instant is effected by means of satellites, particularly a GPS system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the node devices and/or edge device measures and/or stores the at least one operating parameter on the basis of the allocated address element.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: controlling at least one portion of the node devices and/or edge devices on the basis of the stored content elements.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controlling is effected by the at least one portion of the node devices and/or edge devices themselves.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling of each node device to at least one other node device is effected on the basis of the stored content elements.

10. A network having multiple node devices that is suitable for carrying out the method as claimed in claim 1.

11. The network as claimed in claim 10, wherein the network is suitable for transporting or transmitting resources, material, current, energy and/or traffic.

12. The network as claimed in claim 11, comprising: a database device for storing address elements and at least one operating parameter of node pairs comprising two node devices that are intercouplable by using a respective edge device; and a computation unit for allocating the content elements to the respective address element and for retrieving the address element or the content elements.

13. The network as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a user interface for displaying the stored address element and the stored content elements for an operator of the network.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an electrical supply system as an example of a network;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a power station as an example of a node device of the electrical supply system in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for a method for operating a network;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a topology level;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a multidimensional database structure;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a depiction to explain the recording and storage of content elements in a tensorial database structure;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a first embodiment of a method for processing operating parameters to produce content elements for a tensorial database structure;

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of a method for processing operating parameters to produce content elements for a tensorial database structure; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a depiction of a level from a tensorial database structure.

(11) In the figures, elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols, unless indicated otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an electrical supply system 100 as an example of a network.

(13) The electrical supply system 100 comprises multiple node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 that are embodied as power stations, substations, load networks and/or transformers. Each of the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 is coupled to at least one other node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13 by means of a respective power line B.sub.1-B.sub.14. The power lines B.sub.1-B.sub.14 correspond to edge devices of the electrical supply system 100. The node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 are at different distances from one another, a distance between two intercoupled node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 being able to be from a few km to several hundred km.

(14) In a further exemplary embodiment, the network schematically depicted in FIG. 1 may be a transport network, the edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14 being road sections and the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 being traffic control stations. The electrical supply system 100 is considered below.

(15) The decision regarding whether two node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 are intercoupled is dependent on various internal and external factors. The internal factors are particularly operating parameters of the node or edge devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13, B.sub.1-B.sub.14. The external influences include, inter alia, a distance, a graphical position, a political situation, an infrastructure, a supplier/customer relationship and an economic situation. By way of example, the node devices A.sub.2, A.sub.4 are not intercoupled, although they are at a relatively short distance from one another in comparison with other node devices.

(16) Depending on the type of the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 intercoupled by means of a respective edge device B.sub.1-B.sub.14, an applied voltage on the edge device B.sub.1-B.sub.14 varies. By way of example, a high voltage of 220-380 kV may be applied to an edge device B.sub.1-B.sub.14 that connects a power station to a substation. A medium voltage of 1-50 kV may be applied to edge devices that connect a substation to a load network as node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13. A low voltage of several 100 V may be applied to edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14 that connect single loads to one another or to a transformer as node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13. The voltage is an example of an operating parameter with the node devices as measurement points.

(17) A first group 101 of concentric circles denotes a first event E1, with a smallest circle of the group 101 indicating an epicenter and a largest circle of the group 101 indicating a maximum scope of action of the first event E1.

(18) A second group 102 and a third group 103 of concentric circles denote a second and a third event E2, E3, respectively, with a respective smallest circle denoting the epicenter and a largest circle denoting a maximum scope of action of the respective event E2, E3. The events can comprise a disturbance, a natural event (e.g. a storm, an earthquake, etc.), an accident and/or another internal or external factor that influences the operation of the electrical supply system 100.

(19) If one of the events E1-E3 occurs, it is thus possible for at least one of the operating parameters at the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 and/or edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14 to differ from a value of an undisturbed state, i.e. to exhibit unusual fluctuations, to fall or to rise. In this case, the effect of the event E1-E3 on the operating parameters of the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 and edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14 is greater the closer the respective node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13 or edge device B.sub.1-B.sub.14 is to the epicenter of the event E1-E3 taking place. If multiple events E1-E3 take place at the same time, as depicted in FIG. 1, the scope of actions of the events E1-E3 overlap. For example, the edge device B.sub.4 is in the scope of action of both the first event E1 and the second event E2.

(20) The electrical supply system 100 has a database device 110 (see FIG. 2) in which the recorded operating parameters are stored as content elements on the basis of intercouplings of the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13. An event E1-E3, for example a disturbance, can be recorded promptly and with a high level of position resolution on the basis of the content elements stored and retrievable in the database device 110. As a result, the operator of the electrical supply system 100 can react quickly and efficiently to the external influences.

(21) FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a power station 200 as a node device or a measurement point of the electrical supply system 100 in FIG. 1.

(22) The power station 200 is one of the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100. The power station 200 is coupled to two substations 203, 204 as further node devices of the electrical supply system 100 by means of a respective power line 201, 202. The power station 200 supplies current and electrical power to the electrical supply system 100. The power station 200 communicates with a GPS system that particularly prescribes a global time for the electrical supply system 100.

(23) The power station 200 has a control unit 211, a computation unit 212, a memory unit 213 and a communication unit 214. The control unit 211 comprises multiple sensor devices 221-223 that record a voltage, a frequency and a phase angle, respectively, on the power station 200. Further, the control unit 211 can record an operating temperature, a workload and an availability (e.g. standby, operating or servicing) as an operating state.

(24) The control unit 211 records the measured voltage, the measured frequency, the measured phase angle and the measured operating state as a set of operating parameters and links the respective operating parameter to a timestamp that indicates when the respective operating parameter has been recorded in the global time measure of time. Further, the control unit 211 can have a user interface by means of which the operator of the power station 200 and/or of the electrical supply system 100 can retrieve and visually display the recorded and stored operating parameters.

(25) The computation unit 212 receives the recorded operating parameters and the respective timestamp from the control unit 211. The computation unit 212 processes the operating parameters as content elements, as described in detail later. The content elements are stored in the memory unit 213 or optionally forwarded via the communication unit 214 to the central database device 110 of the electrical supply system 100.

(26) FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for a method 300 for operating a network, such as e.g. the electrical supply system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(27) In a first step 301, each node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100 is coupled to another node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100 by means of a respective edge device B.sub.1-B.sub.14.

(28) In a next step 302, a global time of the electrical supply system 100 is stipulated for all the node and edge devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13, B.sub.1-B.sub.14 of the electrical supply system 100. In particular, the global time is satellite-based or based on a GPS system.

(29) In a next step 303, both the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 and the edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14 of the electrical supply system 100 are recorded and registered.

(30) In a next step 304, each node pair n.sub.p-n.sub.q, i.e. a combination of two node devices n.sub.p and n.sub.q of the electrical supply system 100, is allocated an address element (n.sub.p,n.sub.q). The address element (n.sub.p,n.sub.q) is provided with two indices p, q, each of the two indices p, q denoting a respective node device of the node pair. For example, the node pair n.sub.p=A.sub.1 and n.sub.q=A.sub.13, as shown in FIG. 1, is a combination of the node devices A.sub.1 and A.sub.13 to which the address element (n.sub.p,n.sub.q) is allocated.

(31) In a subsequent step 305, a content element is allocated to each address element (n.sub.p,n.sub.q). The content element indicates whether or not there is a coupling between the node devices of the node pair. The value of the content element may be binary, for example. The content element can be depicted graphically on the basis of the node devices whose coupling is the content of the content element. This results in a two-dimensional table or a matrix that reproduces a topology of the network, particularly of the electrical supply system 100. The two-dimensional table is referred to as a topology level for example.

(32) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a topology level 400 that illustrates couplings of node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100 in FIG. 1.

(33) The topology level 400 is indicated in the form of a two-dimensional table 400. Plotted in the x and y directions are the respective indices p, q, assigned to a respective node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100, of the respective address element. The filled cells of the table 400 indicate that the applicable node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13 of the electrical supply system 100 are intercoupled by means of a respective power line B.sub.1-B.sub.14 as an edge device.

(34) The table 400 therefore illustrates a topology of the electrical supply system 100. The entries in the table 400 that correspond to the content elements may be binary and have e.g. a value of 0 or 1. By way of example, the content element of the cell (A.sub.7, A.sub.13) assumes the value 1 and shows that the node devices A.sub.7, A.sub.13 are intercoupled. There is thus an edge device between the node devices A.sub.7, A.sub.13. The entries in the table 400 may be more significant bit values (e.g. 8, 16, 32 or 64 bit values) in order to denote a type of coupling. The entries may further be unsymmetrical in respect of a diagonal of the table, particularly of the topology level, and may display a directional dependency of the couplings between the node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13. In this case, the first index of the respective entry can indicate a starting node device, for example, while the second index of the content element indicates a destination node device.

(35) In a further step 306, multiple operating parameters are recorded for at least one selected node pair np-nq or for a selected node device A.sub.1-A.sub.13. In particular, the operating parameters are measured at the edge devices B.sub.1-B.sub.14, i.e. between two coupled node devices A.sub.1-A.sub.13, by means of a respective sensor device, as shown in FIG. 2. By way of example, the sensor device 222 records a frequency of the supplied current as an operating parameter.

(36) The allocated address element is written to a database device 110 in a step 307. The content element is stored in the database device 110 on the basis of the address element in a step 308. The operating parameters are stored as further content elements on the basis of the respective address element in a further step 309.

(37) The stored address elements and content elements may be stored in a multidimensional database structure. FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a multidimensional database structure 510-530 that is suitable.

(38) The operating parameters recorded at the edge or node devices are stored in a database device of the respective network in a multidimensional database structure 510-530 as content elements. A set of node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.i corresponds both to a first dimension and to a second dimension of the multidimensional database structure 510-530. A third dimension of the multidimensional database structure 510-530 is provided by various operating parameter types m.sub.1-m.sub.j. The operating parameter types m.sub.1-m.sub.j comprise a voltage, a frequency, a phase angle and an operating state of the node devices n.sub.1-ni of an electrical supply system, for example. A fourth dimension of the multidimensional database structure 510-530 is provided by the global time t, which is represented by an axis 501. A tensor and therefore a tensorial database structure is formed by at least three dimensions that are linearly independent of one another. The multidimensional database structure 510-530 is in the form of a tensorial database structure. Three tensors 510-530 depict the tensorial database structure at different instants t, t.sub.1 and t.sub.2 in this case. At each instant, there is a tensor 510-530 with the operating parameters.

(39) The topology level 511, which indicates a topology of the network, forms a level in the multidimensional database structure 510-530. Preferably, the topology level 511 is a first level of the respective tensor 510-530, as shown in FIG. 5. The topology level 511 indicates whether and how the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.i are intercoupled. By way of example, the topology level 511 is constructed in accordance with the two-dimensional table 400, as indicated in FIG. 4.

(40) The recorded operating parameters are assigned to one node pair each, i.e. to a pair comprising two node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.i that are intercoupled or intercouplable. If two node devices n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are intercoupled, an applicable entry (e.g. 1) is made in the cells n.sub.12 and n.sub.21 in the topology level 511. A first operating parameter type m.sub.1 is a voltage, for example. The recorded voltage between the node devices n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 is entered into the cells m.sub.1,12 and m.sub.1,21 in the level m.sub.1. Preferably, the cells m.sub.1,12 and n.sub.12 are arranged in accordance with the topology level 511 and are in parallel with the entries in the topology level 511 in respect of the third dimension m.sub.1-m.sub.j.

(41) Further content elements of the operating parameter types m.sub.2-m.sub.j are accordingly entered into the tensorial database structure. Overall, the operating parameters are entered into the tensorial database structure 510-530 depending on intercouplings of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.i. If there is no coupling existent between two node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.i, the operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.j are not entered. Thus, it is not necessary to fill the cells of the tensorial database structure 510-530 completely. This allows better utilization of a storage capacity of the tensorial database structure. In this case, the global timestamp is assigned to the respective content element and stored as well.

(42) FIG. 6 shows a depiction to explain a variant of the recording and storing of content elements in a tensorial database structure 600.

(43) The arrows 601-605 respectively symbolize the storing of operating parameters that are recorded at a respective node device n.sub.1-n.sub.5 at the instant t.sub.x in the global time, as content elements in the database structure 600.

(44) Each of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 is intercoupled to at least one other node device of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 by means of a respective edge device k.sub.11-k.sub.45. By way of example, the edge device k.sub.12 intercouples the node devices n.sub.1, n.sub.2.

(45) In FIG. 6, the second dimensionaccording to FIG. 5of the tensorial database structure 600 is suppressed for a three-dimensional depiction. The node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 record a set of different operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 on the basis of time t. At the instant t.sub.x, the operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 are processed by the respective node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 for entry into the tensorial database structure 601.

(46) The operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node device n.sub.1 at the instant t.sub.x are operating parameters that relate to the coupling between the node devices n.sub.2 and n.sub.3. The same applies to the operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node device n.sub.2, which come from the coupling n.sub.1-n.sub.3 between the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.3. The operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node device n.sub.3 relate to the couplings k.sub.13, k.sub.23, k.sub.35.

(47) The operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node device n.sub.5 relate to the couplings k.sub.35, k.sub.45. The node device n.sub.4 is coupled solely to the node device n.sub.5. The operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node device n.sub.4 relate to the coupling k.sub.45.

(48) The operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 recorded at the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 at the instant tx are processed either locally at the respective node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 or centrally to produce content elements for entry into the tensorial database structure 600. For this purpose, an analysis and abstraction of the recorded operating parameters are performed.

(49) In particular, the operating parameters are preprocessed, preevaluated and preanalyzed locally by the respective node device n.sub.1-n.sub.5. As a result, a volume of data in the content elements for the tensorial database structure 600 can be reduced. In this case, it is further possible to use a local computation capacity of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5.

(50) In the tensorial database structure 600, the content elements are stored on the basis of intercouplings of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5, on the basis of the operating parameter types and on the basis of time. The content elements of the tensorial database structure 601 can be updated continually, periodically and/or when a change in the operating parameters takes place.

(51) The recorded operating parameters m.sub.1-m.sub.4 can be displayed locally on each of the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.5 and centrally on a database device having the tensorial database structure 601.

(52) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 respectively explain the preprocessing of data at the node devices. To this end, FIG. 7 illustrates a first embodiment 710 and FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment 720 of a method for processing operating parameters to produce content elements for a tensorial database structure.

(53) FIG. 7 shows the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.3, which respectively record a set of operating parameters M.sub.1-M.sub.3. The operating parameters recorded at the node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.3 are independent of one another and possibly not suitable for storing in the tensorial database structure. Thus, as indicated by the respective arrow, preprocessing of the recorded operating parameters to produce content elements m.sub.1-m.sub.4 in the tensorial database structure is effected. In this case, M.sub.i=m.sub.1-m.sub.4.

(54) In FIG. 8, the recorded operating parameters M.sub.1 M.sub.3 are preprocessed to produce content elements m.sub.1-m.sub.4 of the tensorial database structure, the content elements m.sub.1-m.sub.4 being stored in a manner locally distributed at intercoupled node devices n.sub.1-n.sub.3. It is possible to refer to a distributed memory.

(55) In embodiments, known RDD (resilient distributed datasets) methods are used for distributing and efficiently storing operating parameters. It is also conceivable for partial tensors, as depicted in FIG. 5, to be stored in distributed fashion in the network.

(56) FIG. 9 shows a depiction of a level 800 from a tensorial database structure, as e.g. when operating the electrical supply system 100 in FIG. 1.

(57) Each cell in the level 800 corresponds to a coupling of two node devices of an electrical supply system that are listed on a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. A coloration in each of the cells corresponds to a correlation for a specific operating parameter recorded at the two node devices to which the respective cell relates. By way of example, a strong coloration means a good correlation for a frequency that has been recorded at the respective node devices. The correlation can be ascertained in this case from a correlation function, a difference, a quotient and/or a combination of these.

(58) The tensorial database structure allows a graphical depiction of an operating state of the network on the basis of operating parameters of the node devices thereof. To this end, an automation network is provided with a display device, for example, which outputs such heatmap depictions, as shown in FIG. 9, of the operating state of the network. This facilitates operation and control and also subsequent fault analysis and the like.

(59) When an event has occurred, the operating parameters recorded at the node devices react differently depending on a distance from the event. The reactions of the operating parameters continue via couplings of node devices and become likewise identifiable at the coupled node devices. By means of the level 800, such reactions can be illustrated in an overview. This allows the event to be located and analyzed quickly and efficiently.

(60) Although the present invention has been described on the basis of exemplary embodiments, it is modifiable in a wide variety of ways. In particular, the network 100 and the described method can be applied to further networks having node and edge devices. In particular, the network 100 may be a manufacturing installation, a supply network or a logistical network. The node devices of a network may be field devices and/or measurement points. The term coupling relates to the function of an edge device.