DE102015103708A1 - Network integrated signal light - Google Patents

Abstract

In the prior art, there is the disadvantage that changes in a production plant, for example, the addition and / or removal of a new machine, must be mapped in an associated signal light network. This causes unwanted manual effort, as well as system-related delays and a certain susceptibility to errors.

Description

The invention relates to a network according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a network.

Such networks and methods are used to control visual signaling devices, for example, to signal the state of complex equipment, such as a production plant.

State of the art

The prior art discloses various devices and methods for signaling the state of a complex plant, for example a production plant consisting of several machines, also using wireless signal transmission.

The DE 10124132 A1 shows a display column for displaying a machine activity, in particular of malfunctions of the machine, with a base element and at least one luminous element for visually perceiving the machine activity and optionally an acoustic element for acoustically perceiving the machine activity, wherein the display column is associated with at least one radio module which communicates with a receiver in Connection stands.

The publication EP 1575011 A1 discloses a signaling device, in particular a signal tower 1, which is able to generate signals outside the range of the usual optical and acoustic signals and to create flexible with little effort as needed. This object is achieved in that in addition to the signal elements for generating optical and / or acoustic signals, a wireless transmitting unit is provided for the transmission of data to a receiver, wherein the transmitting unit is arranged in a removable module.

The publication EP 2209099 A1 proposes a warning light device with at least two warning lights. This is characterized in that the display unit is designed as a signal tower with at least one second, at least one second light-emitting element or module light-emitting element comprehensive exchange module. Compared to a screen as a display unit according to the prior art designed as a signal tower display unit is much less expensive to produce and much cheaper and better integrated into a signal tower system / network.

From the publication DE 10124132 A1 For example, a production factory, a signal indicator, a method for visualizing product condition information, and a production facility monitoring system are disclosed. These are characterized by the ability to display predefined production states with different signal displays on different machines. Furthermore, information provided by a production planning system is displayed by means of the signal displays. Furthermore, it is disclosed that a production factory comprises a network connected to the signal indicators.

A disadvantage of this prior art is that changes in the system, such as the addition and / or removal of a new machine, must be mapped in such a network. This causes undesirable manual effort and system-related delays as well as a certain susceptibility to errors.

task

The object of the invention is to reduce the configuration complexity of such a network.

The object is achieved with a network of the type mentioned by the features of the characterizing part of independent claim 1.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method according to claim 21.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective subclaims.

Such a device and such a method serve to ensure a high flexibility of the application with little installation effort, to avoid system-related delays and to reduce the susceptibility to errors.

The network comprises at least one server and at least one signal light. Each of the signal lights has at least one light source and also a microcontroller and a network interface. It is a client of the network via this network interface.

This already allows a high degree of flexibility, since the signal lights can communicate with each other and / or with other network components their state / status, for example, topic-specific over the network. Their status can also be controlled and evaluated over the network. For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if at least one of the signal lights control and / or Switching means, via which their microcontroller is able to control the lighting means of this signal light and / or to switch.

It is particularly advantageous if the network is constructed in accordance with a so-called "publisher-subscriber model", because such a network is a topic-specific processing of the respective status, that is, for example, a topic-specific control and / or selection and in particular also a change of the status e.g. the signal lights allows. Thus, a so-called "publisher", which is designed, for example, as a signal light or as a current measuring device, publish messages about a so-called "message broker" under a certain topic. A so-called "subscriber", for example a further signal light or e.g. a networked PC or any other client that has subscribed to this topic or subject area thus receives the corresponding message and may retrieve its content, e.g. Evaluate the appropriate status or metric, or any other content.

Advantageously, the server represents such a message broker. The signal lights are publishers and / or subscribers. This is particularly advantageous because messages relevant to the message broker can thus be transmitted between the signal lights independently of their addressing and the physical structure of the network, without the need for a central configuration. In particular, at least one of the signal lights may be a subscriber. This is particularly advantageous because signal status as a subscriber whose status is usually displayed very clearly.

In any case, it is advantageous if each signal light has a data memory in which a software program is stored which is suitable, in particular via the microcontroller, to send a message to the network and / or to receive it from the network because the signal light In this way, the messages relevant to them, in particular according to a particular topic / topic, can select. In this case and in the following, the data memory of the respective client can be part of the associated microprocessor.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the message broker knows the topics of the subscribers, as well as their IP addresses in a lower layer of the network. Thus, only those subscribers receive a particular message over the network if their topic matches their subscription. This has the advantage of avoiding unwanted network traffic. Depending on the extent of the network, i. In particular, the number of clients, in particular the subscriber, while the traffic is advantageously significantly reduced. Conversely, much larger networks are possible with the same data throughput. Nevertheless, the network can be built in a higher layer according to the "publisher-subscriber model" because it behaves accordingly in programming and use. In particular, in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model, a network layer, e.g. Ethernet or WLAN or similar, build the mentioned IP layer as a network layer. A TCP layer can be used as the transport layer on top of this IP layer, which is then used by the publisher subscriber model as an application. In particular, the publisher subscriber model can be constructed according to the MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) protocol.

The network may also have at least one additional publisher as another client having a microcontroller, a network interface and a data store in which is stored a software program suitable for sending messages to the network. The additional publisher can keep information in his datastore for the messages he is about to send. For example, this information may be generated by a sensor belonging to or attached to the publisher. In particular, the additional publisher may be a current meter, e.g. can be built into a connector and sends its readings in the form of messages to the network.

In an advantageous embodiment, the network can have at least one additional subscriber as a further client, which has a microcontroller, a network interface and a data memory in which a software program is stored which is suitable for receiving messages from the network. The additional subscriber may comprise transmitting means, eg a mobile radio, an internet access, a telephone line or any other wireless or wired transmitting device. The additional subscriber can either display at least some of his subscribed messages themselves on a display device, so that a user, eg a production manager, can read the message directly. Alternatively, the subscriber can send the message to other recipients, eg in the form of SMS or emails, to mobile devices, to Internet PCs and laptops, landline phones and / or cell phones, etc., ie to devices that are located outside the network , The presence of the additional Subscribers is thus particularly advantageous because so, for example, the production manager outside the network of the Standstill of a machine can be communicated. Since the additional client is an additional subscriber, it can be integrated into the network without any configuration effort.

Alternatively, the server can also have a corresponding Internet connection / mobile radio connection, etc., and communicate with it, for example, with the network PC or the mobile telephone, in order thereby, for example, to shut down the production manager outside the network. tell.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if each message has a topic ("Topic") and a content ("Payload"). This allows topic and content to be interpreted separately by the subscribers. For example, the topic may include an indication of the measurand, e.g. "Current", "Voltage", "Resistance", "Temperature", "Pressure", "Humidity", etc., and the content may include the associated value or a corresponding measure.

According to this topic, and possibly further topics, a subscriber can decide according to his subscription whether such a message is of interest to him. If the topic complies with his subscription, he receives the message and can evaluate the content.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if the topic has a plurality of hierarchically structured components, in particular if several different terms which belong to the topic are structured according to a predetermined, in particular thematic, hierarchy.

Finally, this facilitates the subscriber's evaluation of subject areas, in particular by the so-called "truncation", also called "setting of wildcards", in which individual terms or characters at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the topic are disregarded in the interpretation.

In an advantageous embodiment, the network has means which are suitable for changing the content and / or topic of a message already existing in the network and to send the changed message back to the network. This reduces the overall overhead in the network, e.g. if multiple subscribers benefit from this information, and continues to unify the method and messages for the entire network.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art and in the following that such a change of a message according to a different view means that a new message is generated on the basis of the old message and resent. Since the old message served as the basis in the process of creating the new message, the skilled person speaks of a "changed" message. Of course, in the preferably real-time network, the old messages are not revoked but old states, e.g. in a buzzer operating as a subscriber, are replaced by new state statements so that the system constantly updates on the basis of the new ("changed") messages.

The means for changing the message can be part of the server, which means a particularly low hardware cost.

In an advantageous embodiment, however, the network has at least one additional component as another client, which in the publisher-subscriber model represents both a subscriber and a publisher and which also has the said means for changing the message. In particular, these means may comprise at least one mathematical and / or out-of-frame operator. This is particularly advantageous because it provides a message, e.g. their content, just once to be changed so that their new content is available to the entire network.

Moreover, it is particularly advantageous if the content of at least some of the message readings, e.g. for current, voltage, resistance, temperature, air pressure, humidity, etc., because this allows evaluation by all clients of the network.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if messages exist whose content, instead of such a variable still to be interpreted, for example a measured value or the measured value of a measured value, has a corresponding status, e.g. "Red", "yellow", "green", to control the operating state of the signal light contains, because this information is then available as news in the network explicitly and so without, or with much lesser further own computing power, from the signal lights directly to the control of their bulbs can be used.

For example, a message whose subject contains the term "temperature" and whose content consists of a numerical value satisfying the condition "number>50" may be changed by said means for changing the message such that its content "red "Amounts to. Thus, any signal light, which has subscribed to the subject of this message, receive this message and change its status with little effort to "red" and thus on their microcontroller and the above controlled switching means generate a red warning light without having to perform even this mathematical operation. It is furthermore particularly advantageous that the condition, in this example "number>50", only has to be changed at a single point, eg to "number>100", in order to be changed for the entire network. This change can advantageously take place on the basis of another message, the topic of which relates, for example, to the air pressure at the corresponding location.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous in wired networks, when the signal lights, or at least one of the signal lights, the power supply of the light source is integrated into the network connection, because this further cabling is saved. This power supply may be, for example, via "PoE" (Power over Ethernet).

If, on the other hand, the network connection is a radio interface, e.g. WLAN, the power supply of the signal lamp can be done separately.

In particular, the network can use the so-called "MQTT" (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) protocol, since this ensures appropriate compatibility.

• 1.) Definieren des Servers als Messagebroker;
• 2.) Definieren der Clients als Publisher und/oder Subscriber, wobei zu den Subscribern zumindest eine Signalleuchte gehört;
• 3.) Erzeugen zumindest einer Nachricht mit Inhalt und Thema durch zumindest einen Publisher;
• 4.) Abonnieren von zumindest einem Thema und/oder Themengebiet durch die mindestens eine Signalleuchte;
• 5.) Senden der erzeugten Nachricht in das Netzwerk durch den entsprechenden Publisher;
• 6.) Empfangen der Nachricht durch mindestens eine Signalleuchte, welche das Thema oder Themengebiet der Nachricht abonniert hat;
• 7.) Auswerten und Anzeigen des Inhalts der empfangenen Nachricht durch die entsprechende Signalleuchte.

To operate the network, a method is provided with the following steps:

• 1.) Defining the server as a message broker;
• 2.) defining the clients as publishers and / or subscribers, wherein at least one signal lamp belongs to the subscribers;
• 3) generating at least one message with content and topic by at least one publisher;
• 4) subscribe to at least one topic and / or topic by the at least one signal lamp;
• 5.) sending the generated message to the network by the corresponding publisher;
• 6) receiving the message by at least one signal light, which has subscribed to the topic or topic of the message;
• 7.) Evaluate and display the contents of the received message by the corresponding signal light.

This is particularly advantageous because the messages are read topic-based in this way. Thus, the system adapts automatically to the new circumstances when changing over. For this purpose, only each client has to know his own function, ie subscribe to the topics and / or topics relevant to him. However, this does not require a change of a central control, a central distribution and / or even a rewiring concerning the network.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one signal light subscribes to at least one topic and / or subject area. This is particularly advantageous because it allows topic-specific selection of messages. In particular, the at least one signal light receives only those messages whose topic corresponds to their subscription. Advantageously, the signal light then evaluates the content of the received messages. In particular, the signal light extracts at least one status message from the content of a received message and then switches at least one light source accordingly. This is particularly advantageous because such a status message is displayed and corresponding persons are displayed in particular clearly visible.

Furthermore, the invention allows in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the following method: If a signal light, which represents a subscriber in the network, a status message "red" / "alarm" or the like, so an important, a present problem signaling status message over a given Period displays, so in this period has received no warning message, then this signal light also starts to work as a publisher and sends one or more messages with a corresponding topic and content in the network.

All clients who have subscribed to this topic or topic receive such messages and respond according to content according to a predetermined, e.g. stored in the data memory of the respective client program. For example, more signal lights can start to send alarms. After a further period, for example, an audible alarm can be triggered via one or more speakers and after a further period, a production manager can receive an SMS on his mobile phone. This cascade consists of a large number of decentralized individual processes and is therefore particularly error-resistant. It is particularly advantageous that the flow control is distributed decentralized to the entire system and can be modified via each client that has the appropriate authorization. Thus, especially this method for the realization of the so-called "Internet of Things", especially in the industrial environment of particular advantage.

In an advantageous embodiment, in method step 2.) at least one measuring device, eg a current measuring device, can be defined as an additional publisher. This is particularly advantageous, because thereby their measurement data in the Network are introduced. In particular, the measuring device can perform at least one measurement and write the corresponding measured value as content in at least one message. This has the advantage that in the case of several measurements, several measured values are present in the form of a plurality of messages in the network, wherein in particular each measured value corresponds to a message. This is particularly advantageous because the measured values can thereby be processed by the network in real time at the time of their measurement. Furthermore, in addition to the measured value, the measuring device can also write the time of the measurement, eg the day, date, time, as additional content in the respective message. This has the advantage that also the time of the measurement can be logged together with the measured values from another client or from the server if necessary.

However, alternatively, an embodiment is possible in which the time of a measurement is not logged, since the network is advantageously not dependent on a permanent storage of the data. This is possible because the network operates "online", i. function in almost real time and thus without central data storage and / or data management. In other words, a publisher can send a message that is read and translated by nearly all relevant clients at almost the same time. If there is still a memory requirement for certain applications, this can also be done independently in the respective client.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the measuring device has the corresponding measured variable, e.g. "Current", "Voltage", "Resistance", "Temperature", "Pressure", "Humidity", etc., writes as a topic in the corresponding message. This has the advantage that those subscribers who are interested in this measure can subscribe to the messages that have this topic.

Furthermore, the measuring device can at least write an indication of its location in the topic of the messages to be sent by her. This has the advantage that a subscriber can, if required, query a specific measured variable at a specific location, for example the humidity in Espelkamp or even the temperature of a particular soldering device of a particular production facility. Furthermore, by a correspondingly structured structure of the topic and by a suitably formulated query, in particular the temperature of all the soldering devices belonging to the network can be queried.

In an advantageous embodiment, a signal light can be defined as a publisher. This is particularly advantageous because this signal light can thus communicate their status to the network.

In particular, this signal light can also conventionally from a machine to which it is connected, for example by analog or digital signal line, receive status signals and display this status on the one hand and on the other hand write as content in corresponding messages and send these messages in the network. Furthermore, it can also write information about the machine connected to it (e.g., location, name, type of machine) in the topic of the messages to be sent by it. This is particularly advantageous because the signal light thus assumes the function of a gateway in addition to its conventional function.

In a preferred embodiment, an existing machine can be retrofitted by replacing its conventional signal lamp with a network-ready signal light. The conventional signal light is characterized by being removed from the machine in a conventional manner, e.g. via an analog or digital, wired signal line their status, e.g. "Red" / "green" or e.g. "Alarm" or similar gets notified. It is then exchanged for a network-compatible and, in particular, a "publisher-subscriber-principle" network-compatible signal light. This signal light then preferably works as a publisher in the publisher-subscriber model. This has the advantage that even such a conventional machine can be retrofitted by this process in a simple and cost-effective manner to a network-capable machine and in particular to a "Publisher Subscriber Principle" network capable machine and thus is able to their status to send to the network.

To this end, it is furthermore particularly advantageous if the conventional signal light is retrofitted to a network-compatible and in particular to a "publisher-subscriber-principle" network-capable signal light, because the machine is then retrofitted to a particularly cost-effective manner to a corresponding networkable machine, and thus being able to send their status to the network. This can be done in particular by supplementing the conventional signal light by a corresponding network module.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a further client is defined as an additional subscriber. This sends at least parts of some of his subscribed messages by means of further transmission means to other recipients who are outside the network. Thereby can advantageously also receivers outside the network receive messages.

Advantageously, the transmission means may be a mobile device, an Internet access, a telephone line or any other wireless or wired transmission device, so that notifications can be sent via these existing routes.

In a further advantageous embodiment, an additional component is defined both as an additional publisher and as an additional subscriber in method step 2.). This is particularly advantageous because this additional component can thereby both receive and send messages. It is particularly advantageous if the additional component as subscriber receives, according to its subscription, at least one message which has a corresponding topic from the network, changes this message and sends the changed message again to the network in accordance with its function as publisher. In this way, messages can be "changed" by such components, ie, as already mentioned above, be used as a basis for new messages.

In particular, the said change of the message can relate to its content and be carried out by means of a mathematical and / or phrasing-related operation. This is of particular advantage because this operation is performed only once and the resulting result is made available to all clients, that is, as information in the network, in particular also decentralized, is available.

In a preferred embodiment, the change of the message is carried out as a function of at least one further parameter, for example a measured value. This additional parameter can be obtained by the additional component via another message. It can also be this parameter directly, e.g. via a connected sensor.

In an advantageous embodiment, the topic of a message to be sent by the publisher is structured by arranging a plurality of different terms according to a predetermined hierarchy. This is particularly advantageous because it simplifies subscribing to subject areas. For example, a subscriber can assign the subject of a message according to the given hierarchy to a topic by setting so-called truncation symbols ("wildcards").

The disclosure content in the foregoing is not limited to signal lights. Instead of optical signal generators, that is to say signal lamps, other signal transmitters can also be used, e.g. acoustic signaling devices, such as loudspeakers, which reproduce the status in the form of different tones and / or tone sequences and / or levels, etc.

embodiment

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

1 A server as a message broker and multiple clients;

2 a representation of the functioning of the network and

3 to 10 the user interface of a software simulation.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements can be scaled differently.

The 1 shows a server as message broker 1 , as well as several clients 2, 3, 4, 5, which may be both publishers and subscribers, as well as an additional publisher 6. These are in detail a computer 2 , a signal light 3 , a mobile phone 4 , a PLC (programmable logic controller) 5 and a current measuring device 6 ,

Of course, these clients 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 may each be for a plurality of similar clients. Typically, such a network has, for example, a plurality of such signal lights 3 of which in particular at least one is intended as a subscriber. In the drawing, for clarity, however, only a signal light 3 Represented for all signal lights of the network.

The computer 2 has a network interface 21 as well as a microprocessor 22 with an integrated data memory 221 ,

The signal light 3 also has a network interface 31 as well as a microprocessor 32 with an integrated data memory 321 , The signal light also has a red bulb 33 , a yellow bulb 34 and a green bulb 35 , Furthermore, the signal light has switching means, which are not shown in the drawing for reasons of clarity. About this switching means can the microprocessor 32 the bulbs 33 . 34 . 35 turn.

The mobile phone 4 has a network interface 41 as well as a microcontroller 42 with integrated data memory 421 as well as a mobile radio antenna 43 ,

The PLC has a network interface 51 and a microcontroller 52 with an integrated data memory 521 ,

The current measuring device 6 has a network interface 61 as well as a microcontroller 62 with integrated data memory 621 and a current sensor 63 , Advantageously, the current measuring device has not shown in the drawing means for digitizing the measured values.

Of course, it could also be any other, preferably electrical, measuring device, e.g. to a temperature measuring device, act.

The message broker 1 can be located locally within a production, as well as centrally, eg on the Internet. The message broker 1 takes a distribution function and stands the computer 2 , the signal light 3 the mobile phone 4 , the PLC 5 and in particular also the current measuring device 6 as a communication platform available. All over the message broker 1 exchanged messages have both a Topic and a Content (Payload).

In a preferred embodiment, the so-called "MQTT" (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) protocol can be used.

The 2 illustrates the functionality as a block diagram. There are three main types of components shown, namely Publisher P1, P2, Broker 1 and subscribers S1, S2, S3, S4.

In the present case, the first publisher P1 is the PLC 5 and the second publisher for the signal light 3 ,

The publishers P1, P2 represent the sources of messages. The message broker 1 is the distributor. As a rule, the message broker is sufficient 1 the messages just continue to monitor the quality of service, but does not take over storage. In exceptional cases, however, he could also make a storage.

In a preferred embodiment, the message broker 1 the subscriptions of the subscribers S1, S2, S3, S4 are automatically transmitted by them and in the message broker 1 saved. The message broker 1 sends each subscriber S1, S2, S3, S4 then only the respective subscription corresponding messages. This avoids unnecessary traffic.

Each publisher P1, P2 publishes his messages under a unique topic, which theoretically could be used by other publishers. However, for most applications it is advantageous to be able to identify the respective publisher P1, P2 as clearly as possible about the topic.

The first subscriber S1 has subscribed to a specific topic, namely "messages of the PLC of the machine 1 from the factory 1", which in this case were generated by the publisher P1.

By contrast, the other subscribers S2, S3, S4 have subscribed to topics by means of a suitable truncation, here by using the truncation symbols "+" and "#".

Thus, the second subscriber S2 receives all messages from factory 1, in this case all messages from Publisher 1 and Publisher 2.

The third subscriber S3 receives the messages of all PLCs from factory 1, in this example the messages of the first publisher P1.

The fourth subscriber S4 receives the messages of all signal lamps in factory 1 So in this example of the publisher P2.

The 3 to 10 show a surface of a software simulation, for example, on the computer 2 can be installed.

The 3a shows a message M, which according to the simulation of a signal light 3 ("Alarm lamp") is sent from factory 1, this signal light 3 fulfills the function of a publisher.

Accordingly, the topic T of this message consists of three terms which are hierarchically structured according to a predetermined order, namely "werk1 / alarmlampe / alarm /". The topic "alarm" serves to indicate that the content of the message refers to an alarm status, whereby however no statement is made about the alarm status itself. The alarm status itself, e.g. "Red" or "green" is in the content of the message, which does not appear from this view.

If, in this simulation, a send button B belonging to the message M is actuated, then the message M is sent in accordance with its virtual cabling V in So the network N to "mqtt", and thus first to the message broker 1 (Server) sent.

The 3b shows in the same way the simulation of further messages M, according to the simulation coming from other alarm-triggering publishers, namely on the one hand by the PLC 5 and on the other hand the current measuring device 6 with the current sensor 63 ("sensor").

to you 3c shows the simulation of a signal light 3 as a subscriber with a subscription button AS, in which a specific subject area TG is displayed. As soon as any alarm from factory 1 is reported, ie the subject of the corresponding message contains the terms "werk1" and "alarm", the signal light is received 3 the appropriate message and can evaluate the content.

To illustrate the status of the signal lamp ("lamp") in the simulation, a debugger D is used, via which the status of the signal lamp, e.g. on a computer monitor, e.g. in the form of the terms "green" / "red", etc.

The 4 shows the message in a corresponding edit mask E, which opens as soon as the button of the corresponding message M, for example with a mouse click, is selected. The content I ("payload") of the message M also emerges from this representation of the editing mask E. The content I in this case is "green". The signal light 3 Thus, by the message M, it receives the status green ("green") from another signal lamp ("alarm lamp") from factory 1.

The 5 shows a subscription screen A, which opens when the subscription button AS is selected. Subscription mask A defines topic T or, in this case, subject area TG of the respective subscriber. The topic is defined using truncation. For truncations ("wildcards"), which are in the middle of the string, a "+" is used here; at the end of the string, a "#" is set for truncation.

The 6 shows the simulation of the current measuring device 6 that generates metrics and works as a publisher. In this case, according to the possibilities of the simulation, it is able to generate the measured values for two different current strengths, whereby the two associated messages M generated by them have the same subject, but different content, namely a low current value (eg 10 ) and a high current (eg 100 ). In reality, a physically existing measuring device would 6 Of course, a large number of such messages with identical topic but different content, namely many different measures for each measured values, in this case for the current to send to the network N. In the present simulation, however, only two different values are generated, one of which is larger and one smaller than 50, for illustration purposes.

The 7 and the 8th build on this the operation of an additional component that represents both a subscriber and a publisher. Depending on the view, this is no longer necessarily a simulation, since in this case the computer 2 on which the simulation program is installed, even as such an additional component can be understood.

First, the (previously simulated) message of the current measuring device 6 from plant 1 with the topic current ("current"), ie corresponding to the topic "werk1 / + / current". The content of this message is then the measure of the measured current.

A menu of the simulation program not shown in the drawing will continue to create a "switch". Its input is connected by pulling a virtual cable to the output of the aforementioned message. By selecting the switch symbol SW, e.g. by double-clicking with a computer mouse, the corresponding switch editing mask SE opens. Therein a query can be made by means of a mathematical and / or out-of-line operator. In this case, the numeric content is checked to see if it is greater than or less than 50. In the first case, the message to be edited in the upper branch is sent ("send to 1"). In the second case, the message to be edited in the lower branch is sent ("send to 2").

The 9 and 10 each show a change mask for the topic VT (change mask topic) and for the content VI (change mask content) in the case ">50". These masks are opened by selecting the ST button (set msg topic) or the SI button (set msg payload) in the respective branch.

The topic is in 9 changed in both branches to an alarm status concerning the current measuring device: "factory1 / current sensor / alarm".

The content of the top branch is in 10 changed to "red". Changing the content of the lower branch to "green" is analogous.

The signal lamp 3 So, if it, as in 3c represented, subscribed to a corresponding topic, at one of the sensor measured, sufficiently high current receive the status "red" and accordingly glow red.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Message Broker

2

 computer

21

 Network interface of the computer

22

 Microcontroller of the computer

221

 Data storage of the computer

3

 signal light

31

 Network interface of the signal light

32

 Microcontroller of the signal light

321

 Data memory of the signal light

33

 red bulb

34

 yellow light source

35

 green bulb

4

 mobile phone

41

 Network interface of the mobile phone

42

 Microcontroller of the mobile phone

421

 Data memory of the mobile phone

43

 cellular antenna

5

 SPS

51

 Network interface of the PLC

52

 Microcontroller of the PLC

521

 Data memory of the PLC

6

 Current measurement device

61

 Network interface of the current measuring device

62

 Microcontroller of the current measuring device

621

 Data memory of the current measuring device

63

 current sensor

S1, S2, S3, S4

Subscriber 1-4

P1, P2

 Publisher 1, 2

B

 Transmit button of the simulation program

T

 theme

V

 virtual cabling

M

Message / message

M '

 changed message / message

N

 network

AS

 Subscription button

D

 debugger

e

 edit mask

I

content

A

 Abonniermaske

SE

 Switch edit mask

ST

 Button "Theme"

SI

 Content button

VT

 Change mask for the topic

VI

 Change mask for the content

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10124132 A1 [0005, 0008]
• EP 1575011 A1 [0006]
• EP 2209099 A1 [0007]

Claims (42)

Network comprising at least one signal light ( 3 ) containing at least one lamp ( 33 . 34 . 35 ), characterized in that the network has at least one server ( 1 ), and that the at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) continue a microcontroller ( 32 ) as well as a network interface ( 31 ) and thus is a client of the network. Network according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the signal lamps ( 3 ) Comprises control and / or switching means via which the microcontroller ( 32 ) is able to use the bulbs ( 33 . 34 . 35 ) and / or switch. Network according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network is constructed according to a so-called "publisher-subscriber model". Network according to claim 3, characterized in that the server has a so-called "message broker" ( 1 ) and that each of the signal lamps ( 3 ) is a so-called "publisher" and / or a so-called "subscriber". Network according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each signal lamp ( 3 ) a data memory ( 321 ), and that in the data memory, a software program is stored, which is adapted to send a message in the network and / or to receive from the network. A network according to claim 5, characterized in that the network comprises at least one additional Publisher (6) as another client (a microcontroller 62 ), a network interface ( 61 ) and a data memory ( 621 ), and that in the data memory ( 621 ) of this additional publisher (6) a software program is stored, which is adapted to send another message in the network. Network according to claim 6, characterized in that the data memory ( 521 ) of the additional publisher (5) is further provided to hold information for the additional message. Network according to claim 7, characterized in that the additional publisher (6) has a sensor ( 63 ) capable of generating said information. Network according to one of Claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the network has at least one additional subscriber (4) as a further client, who has a microcontroller ( 42 ), a network interface ( 43 ) and a data memory ( 421 ), and that in the data memory ( 43 ) of this additional subscriber (4) a software program is stored, which is suitable for receiving messages from the network, and that this additional subscriber further transmission means ( 43 ) to send at least some of its subscribed messages to other recipients located outside the network. Network according to one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that each message (M) has a topic (T) and a content (I). Network according to claim 10, characterized in that the topic (T) of the message has several hierarchically structured components. Network according to any one of Claims 10 to 11, characterized in that the network comprises means (SE, VT, VI) suitable for displaying the content (I) and / or topic (T) of an existing message (M ) to change. A network according to claim 12, characterized in that said means (SE, VT, VI) to change the message (M) is a component of the server ( 1 ) are. Network according to claim 12, characterized in that the network further comprises at least one additional component ( 2 ) as another client, this further component ( 2 ) represents both a subscriber and a publisher, and that said means for changing the message (SE, VT, VI) is part of this additional component ( 2 ) are. Network according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the means (SE) comprise at least one mathematical and / or out-of-frame operator. Network according to one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the content (I) of at least some of the messages (M) has a status (eg "red", "yellow", "green") for controlling the operating state of the signal light ( 3 ) contains. Network according to one of Claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the contents of at least some of the messages (M) are measured values for controlling the operating state of the signal light ( 3 ) contains. Network according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the signal lamps ( 3 ) the power supply of the bulbs ( 33 . 34 . 35 ) in the network connection ( 32 ) is integrated. Network according to one of Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the network connection ( 32 ) of the signal light ( 3 ) is a radio interface (eg WLAN), and that the power supply of the signal lamp ( 3 ) separately. Network according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the network uses the so-called MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport) protocol. Method for operating the network according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: 1.) Defining the server as a message broker ( 1 ); 2.) defining the clients (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) as publishers and / or subscribers, whereby at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) belongs; 3) generating at least one message (M) with content (I) and topic (T) by at least one publisher (P1, P2); 4.) subscribing to at least one topic (T) and / or topic (TG) by the at least one signal lamp ( 3 ); 5.) sending the generated message (M) to the network (N) by the corresponding publisher (P1, P2); 6.) Receiving the message (M) by at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) which has subscribed to the topic (T) or topic (TG) of the message (M); 7.) evaluating and displaying the content (I) of the received message (M) by the corresponding signal light ( 3 ). A method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) subscribed to at least one topic (T) and / or topic (TG). A method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) receives only the messages (M) whose subject (T) corresponds to their subscription. A method according to claim 23, wherein the signal light ( 3 ) evaluates the content (I) of the received messages (M). Method according to one of claims 23 to 24, wherein the signal light ( 3 ) extracts at least one status message from the content (I) of a received message (M) and then at least one light source ( 33 . 34 . 35 ) switches accordingly. Method according to one of claims 21 to 25, wherein in method step 2.) at least one measuring device ( 6 ) is defined as a publisher. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the measuring device ( 6 ) performs at least one measurement and writes the corresponding measured value as content (I) in at least one message (M). A method according to claim 27, characterized in that in addition to the measured value , the measuring device also writes the time of the measurement as content (I) in the respective message (M). Method according to one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the measuring device writes the corresponding measured variable in the topic (T) of the corresponding message (M). Method according to one of Claims 26 to 28, wherein the measuring device writes at least an indication of its location in the topic (T) of the messages (M) to be sent by it. Method according to one of claims 21 to 30, wherein in step 2.) at least one signal lamp ( 3 ) is defined as a publisher. The method according to claim 31, wherein the signal light, which is defined as a publisher, receives status signals from a machine and their status derived therefrom via their light sources ( 33 . 34 . 35 ) and on the other hand writes as content (I) in corresponding messages (M) A method according to claim 32, wherein the signal light ( 3 ) Write information about the machine connected to it (eg location, name, type of machine) in the subject (T) of the messages (M) to be sent by it. Method according to one of claims 21 to 33, wherein in method step 2.) at least one further client ( 4 ) is defined as an additional subscriber which at least displays parts of some of the messages (M) subscribed to by it itself or by means of its further transmission means ( 43 ) to other devices as receivers that are outside the network. The method of claim 34, wherein the additional subscriber is a mobile phone ( 4 ), a mobile device, an Internet access, a telephone line, or any other wireless or wireline transmitter, and wherein the receiver is a mobile telephone, a landline telephone, a laptop and / or home PC, or any other wireless or wired receiver , Method according to one of claims 21 to 35, wherein in method step 2.) an additional component ( 2 ) is defined both as an additional publisher and as an additional subscriber. Method according to claim 36, characterized in that the additional component ( 2 ) as a subscriber according to a subscription at least one message (M) having a corresponding topic (T) or topic (TG) receives from the network, this message (M) changes and the modified message (M ') according to its function as Publisher sends back to the network (N). Method according to claim 37, characterized in that the change of the message (M) relates to its content (I) and is carried out by means of a mathematical and / or out-of-pocket operation (SE). Method according to one of Claims 37 to 38, characterized in that the change in the message (M) is carried out as a function of at least one further parameter, for example a measured value. Method according to claim 39, characterized in that the additional component ( 2 ) receives the further parameter via another message (M). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one publisher divides the topic (T) of the message (M) to be sent by the arrangement of a plurality of different terms according to a predetermined hierarchy. A method according to claim 41, characterized in that at least one Subscriber assigns the subject (T) of a message (M) corresponding to the predetermined hierarchy by setting so-called Truncierungssymbole a topic (TG).

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