NETWORK SYSTEM, CLOUD CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF NETWORK DEVICES

Abstract

A network system includes a first network user having a plurality of network devices, wherein the network devices have identification parameters for identification, a second network user having a cloud computing infrastructure, and a cloud connector having a first interface and a second interface. The cloud connector is connected via the first interface to the first network user and connected via the second interface to the second network user. The cloud connector executes a passive scan and an active scan of the first network user so that at least one of the network devices is identifiable by the cloud connector. A network device profile is loadable from the second network user into the cloud connector, and the active scan is executed on the basis of the network device profile being loaded into the cloud connector.

Claims

1. A network system, comprising a first network user including a plurality of network devices having identification parameters for identification; a second network user including a cloud computing infrastructure and a network profile; and a cloud connector having a first interface via which the cloud connector is connected to the first network user, and a second interface via which the cloud connector is connected to the second network user, said cloud connector being configured to carry out a passive scan and an active scan of the first network user so that at least one of the network devices is identifiable by the cloud connector, said network device profile being loadable from the second network user into the cloud connector, with the active scan being executed on the basis of the network device profile being loaded into the cloud connector.

2. The network system of claim 1, wherein the identification parameters of the network devices that have been identified are creatable by the cloud connector and assigned to the individual network devices.

3. The network system of claim 1, wherein identification parameters are loadable from the second network user into the cloud connector.

4. The network system of claim 3, wherein individual ones of the identification parameters from the second network user are loadable beforehand into the cloud connector.

5. The network system of claim 2, wherein individual ones of the identification parameters from the first network user are stored beforehand in the cloud connector.

6. The network system of claim 1, wherein the cloud connector stores the identification parameters.

7. The network system of claim 1, wherein, during the passive scan, the cloud connector receives a transmission which is initiated by at least one of the network devices.

8. The network system of claim 1, wherein, during an active scan, the cloud connector actively addresses the network devices.

9. The network system of claim 1, wherein each of the network devices has a unique address in the first network user and includes other network-device-related data.

10. The network system of claim 9, wherein the other network-device-related data comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of device type, hardware status, software status, firmware status, and service provided.

11. The network system of claim 1, wherein the cloud connector is incorporated into the first network user.

12. The network system of claim 1, wherein the first network user is embodied as an automation system with an automation network.

13. A cloud connector for a network system, comprising: a first interface configured for connecting the cloud connector to a first network user including a plurality of network devices having identification parameters for identification; and a second interface configured for connecting the cloud connector to a second network user having a cloud computing infrastructure and a network profile, with the network device profile being loadable from the second network user into the cloud connector, said cloud connector being configured to carry out a passive scan and an active scan of the first network user so that at least one of the network devices is identifiable by the cloud connector, with the active scan being executed on the basis of the network device profile being loaded into the cloud connector.

14. The cloud connector of claim 13, configured to store identification information of the cloud connector and identification information of the second network user.

15. A cloud connector for a network system, said network system comprising a first network user including a plurality of network devices which have identification parameters for identification, a second network user including a cloud computing infrastructure and a network profile, said cloud connector including a first interface via which the cloud connector is connected to the first network user, and a second interface via which the cloud connector is connected to the second network user, said cloud connector being configured to carry out a passive scan and an active scan of the first network user so that at least one of the network devices is identifiable by the cloud connector, said network device profile being loadable from the second network user into the cloud connector, with the active scan being executed on the basis of the network device profile being loaded into the cloud connector.

16. A method for operating a network system having first and second network users, with the first network user including a plurality of network devices, said method comprising: connecting a first interface of a cloud connector to the first network user and connecting a second interface of the cloud connector to the second network user; passively scanning the first network user by the cloud connector; loading a network device profile from the second network user into the cloud connector; actively scanning the first network user by the cloud connector on the basis of the network device profile loaded into the cloud connector; and identifying at least one of the network devices of the first network user by the cloud connector.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising creating identification parameters of the network devices that have been identified by the cloud connector and assigning the identification parameters to the individual network devices.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising loading individual identification parameters from the second network user into the cloud connector.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing individual identification parameters of the network devices beforehand in the cloud connector.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing individual identification parameters from the second network user beforehand in the cloud connector.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising establishing a link by the cloud connector between the first network user and the second network user.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving a transmission, initiated by at least one of the network devices, by the cloud connector during the passive scan.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising actively addressing the network devices by the cloud connector during the active scan.

24. The method of claim 16, further comprising incorporating the cloud connector into the first network user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0030] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary network system according to the present invention, and

[0032] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a network system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments may be illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0034] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic illustration of an exemplary network system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a cloud connector 1. To link the automation system 4 to a cloud 5, this is connected in an automation network 3 of the automation system 4. In this case, the cloud connector 1 can also be installed directly in the automation network 3, as a software agent, for example. The automation network 3 has network devices 2. When the cloud connector 1 is taken into an automation system 4, it obtains the necessary information to look around it in the network. This is e.g. an own IP address, a connection into the cloud (routing) etc.

[0035] The cloud connector 1 then carries out a scan of the automation network 3 with the network devices 2. For this purpose, a first passive scan is initially executed and then an explicit active scan is carried out in order to be able to roughly recognize the network devices 2 present. The scans are performed so that the detected network devices 2 are not influenced in their activity. In this case a passive scan is almost to be understood as “listening in” on the automation network 3. Here the initiative is taken by the network devices 2, i.e. no direct interaction with the network devices 2 takes place. An active scan describes the active response of network devices 2. In this case an active return flow of identification parameters takes place for identification of the network devices 2. Thus, the passive scan is first executed and then the active scan is carried out.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows that the cloud connector 1 then loads from the cloud 5 (arrow 6) corresponding network device profiles, for example identification parameters and/or information characterizing the respective network device, such as device type, installed software version etc., depending on the network device 2. As an alternative or in addition, the cloud connector 1 has already obtained said information beforehand, i.e. when it is incorporated into the automation network 3. This is now assigned. Thus a more precise profile without any repercussions (i.e. assign all necessary identification parameters to the network devices 2) of the identified network devices 2 can be carried out.

[0037] The frequency of errors is reduced by an electronic identification of the network devices 2. Also cost savings can be made for example if the services provided can be loaded directly. The profiles for similar network devices 2 are held separately and in this way can be created and managed centrally for new device classes.

[0038] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0039] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: