A proxy Server with access to the related PROFINET domain provides the Information Model of PROFINET Devices. These Devices are typically profile-less but may also support an application profile.
Main use case is to support the PROFINET Devices which do not have an OPC UA Server on the Device itself and a firmware upgrade for OPC UA support is not an option (“Brownfield”).
Table 15 lists possible use cases of interest for OPC UA Clients. Typically, the use case consists of utilization of OPC UA standard mechanisms and data processing at the Client site.
Table 15 – Use Cases and related Companion Specification contributions
|
Use Case |
Description |
Companion Specification Contribution |
|
Data acquisition for forwarding to “Data Lake” to enable “Data Mining” |
Client applications gather the measurement data available for storage in an IT-based database without predetermined purpose. Analysts further on use the data extensively with continuously refined methods and algorithms to identify the potential for economic improvements. |
Providing IO Data and/or Data Objects as components of the GsdGenSubmoduleApplicationType Object using a Proxy Server to support Devices without integrated OPC UA Server. The Devices may be profile-less or support an application profile and may also offer BMP Access. |
|
Contribute data for Industrial Internet of Things |
Client applications present Devices, their properties, and their “live” data in an Industrial Internet of Things ecosystem. |
|
|
Support standardized information model and data for digital twin |
Companies offering automation solutions in special domains want to offer their own digital twin products to their customers. |
|
|
Support of MES functionality |
Companies facing special process requirements or legal stipulations implement their own custom solutions without using MES and/or SCADA products. |
|
|
Support predictive maintenance |
Gather sensor data accompanying the normal operation to enable analysis algorithms to detect data change patterns indicating coming failures before the failure occurs. |
|
|
Support Commissioning |
Client applications visualize parameterization data. |
Providing GsdGenParameterVariableType Variables as components of the Configuration Folder Object using a Proxy Server to support Devices without integrated OPC UA Server. The Devices may be profile-less or support an application profile and may also offer BMP Access. |
|
Support parameterization monitoring |
Client applications subscribe Parameter Variables to detect (unintended) changes. |
|
|
Support detection of error conditions |
Client applications subscribe alarm events and present a history of incidents to plant operators. |
Providing GsdGenAlarmEventType Events fired by the “Alarms” component of the GsdGenSubmoduleApplicationType Object using a Proxy Server to support Devices without integrated OPC UA Server. The Devices may be profile-less or support an application profile. |