Determining hierarchy context for industrial devices in an industrial system

Inventors: Ryan Coon (Franklin, WI); Scott D. Day (Richfield, WI); David C. Mazur (Grafton, WI); Jonathan A. Mills (Mayfield Heights, OH); Todd A. Wiese (Hubertus, WI)

Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

G05B19/4155 G05B2219/31449

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12704830
App. No.: 18/316,278
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A method includes using a mobile device connected to an industrial network of an industrial system, obtaining a first identity object from an intelligent industrial device of the industrial system, bridging through the intelligent industrial device to obtain a second identity object of a related device of the industrial system that is related to the intelligent industrial device, and using the mobile device, presenting a hierarchy context of the intelligent industrial device to a user based on the identity objects.

Claims (32)

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

using a mobile device connected to an industrial network of an industrial system:

establishing a wireless connection to a human interface module (HIM) mounted to an intelligent industrial device of the industrial system;

obtaining, via the wireless connection, a first identity object from the intelligent industrial device;

bridging through the intelligent industrial device via common industrial protocol (CIP) routing to obtain a second identity object of a second intelligent industrial device of the industrial system, wherein the second intelligent industrial device is related to the intelligent industrial device;

obtaining, using a location-tracking signal comprising at least one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal and an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal transmitted from the mobile device, a first physical location of the intelligent industrial device and a second physical location of the second intelligent industrial device; and

presenting a hierarchy context of the intelligent industrial device to a user based at least on the first identity object and the second identity object, wherein the hierarchy context includes the first physical location and the second physical location.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, using the mobile device, presenting an identity of a replaceable component of the intelligent industrial device or of an asset of the intelligent industrial device to the user.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the

bridging through the intelligent industrial device is further implemented via link layer discovery (LLDP) tables.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the intelligent industrial device comprises a motor drive.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes presenting a resource of the industrial system to the user.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a network topology with a logical location of the intelligent industrial device to the user.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting the network topology with a logical location of another device and/or resource of the industrial system to the user.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a position or role of the intelligent industrial device in a process to the user.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a position or role of another device and/or resource of the industrial system to the user.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes presenting a position or role of the intelligent industrial device in a process to the user.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a position or role of another device and/or resource of the industrial system to the user.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a network topology with a logical location of the intelligent industrial device to the user.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting the network topology with a logical location of another device and/or resource of the industrial system to the user.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a position or role of the intelligent industrial device in a process to the user.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein presenting the hierarchy context includes, using the mobile device, presenting a position or role of another device and/or resource of the industrial system to the user.

16 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a mobile device connected to an industrial network of an industrial system, cause the mobile device to:

establish a wireless connection to a human interface module (HIM) mounted to an intelligent industrial device of the industrial system;

obtain, via the wireless connection, a first identity object from the intelligent industrial device;

bridge through the intelligent industrial device via common industrial protocol (CIP) routing to obtain a second identity object of a second intelligent industrial device of the industrial system, wherein the second intelligent industrial device is related to the intelligent industrial device;

obtain, using a location-tracking signal comprising at least one of a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal and an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication signal transmitted from the mobile device, a first physical location of the intelligent industrial device and a second physical location of the second intelligent industrial device; and

present a hierarchy context of the intelligent industrial device to a user based at least on the first identity object and the second identity object, wherein the hierarchy context includes the first physical location and the second physical location.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , having computer executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to present an identity of a replaceable component of the intelligent industrial device or of an asset of the intelligent industrial device to the user.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the bridging through the intelligent industrial device is further implemented via link layer discovery (LLDP) tables.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , having computer executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to present a network topology with a logical location of the intelligent industrial device to the user.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , having computer executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile device to present a position or role of the intelligent industrial device in a process to the user.