Functions of 4G Industrial Gateway

Functions of 4G Industrial Gateway

The basic function of 4G industrial gateway is mainly responsible for the connection of two heterogeneous networks. This is especially common in industrial IoT scenarios, because sensor networks often use electrical signals and signals that are completely different from the general network layer (long-distance transmission network). protocol.

　　 4G industrial gateway function composition

　　 Perception layer signal interface

　　 is mainly responsible for the task of connecting the signals of each device in the sensor network. This module includes hardware interfaces for connecting different electrical signals, as well as software for corresponding data acquisition and command sending. In order to cope with the complexity of the perception layer, manufacturers of industrial gateways generally provide a hardware interface and protocol combination for the perception layer signal interface according to their target application fields.

　　Network layer signal interface

　　 is mainly responsible for the task of docking the signal of the network layer. Relative to the perception layer signal interface, the network layer signal interface is generally much simpler, because usually only a standard long-distance transmission network and its protocol are needed in the entire system, so the corresponding hardware interface and data transceiver software are relatively single. However, this does not mean that only one type can be supported. In practical applications, manufacturers of industrial gateways often design to support multiple forms of long-distance transmission networks for product versatility. The specific form can be a way to equip multiple interfaces at the same time, or the product can be designed into a card-configurable form, allowing users to choose different configurations and configure them when they leave the factory.

　　data processing

　　The data processing on the device side mainly solves the problem of data mismatch. In other words, the difference in the range, frequency, and completeness of the data required by the server. The purpose of data processing is to organize the data entered by the input interface, transform it into a data format suitable for output, and push it to the output interface. The input party and output party here can be played by either the device side or the server side. Therefore, the flow of data is bidirectional and differs depending on the type of data.

　　 on-site database

　　The processed data needs to be stored in the gateway's local database in some scenarios so that it can be used for complex data processing procedures or other on-site business logic processing. Because industrial gateways generally belong to embedded computing devices, such databases generally also use embedded databases. Embedded database functions are relatively simple, and generally have memory buffers to improve access speed.

 　　In-situ business logic

　　 is mainly to deal with the business logic of the local system related to the equipment, sensors and actuators connected to the part of the sensor network associated with the gateway. The richness and complexity of the local business logic modules of different gateways are quite different. If an industrial gateway does not have these functional modules, it is often called a data transparent gateway, or a protocol converter or a communication management machine. . For a detailed description of on-site business logic, see "Edge Computing".

  　　 Other functions

　　 In addition to the above main modules, a gateway often configures its functional user interface, which can be in the form of buttons, command lines (via telnet or serial port), or graphical interface (such as a built-in WEB Server or even a panel). If the gateway has local business logic, it may also need to load script files and configuration files required by the local business logic. 

　　As a remote device, the self-maintenance of 4G industrial gateway is also very important. It is generally required that it should take advantage of its own connection to the server to automatically download its own software update package from the server and complete the update. Some settings and configuration tasks should also be completed through remote login, thereby reducing the cost of on-site maintenance by dispatched personnel. And improve the speed of response to user needs.