Collecting Legacy Machine Data With TCP/IP

TCP/IP enables communication end-to-end for the internet. It defines how data is packetized and addresses the nomenclature, transmission, routing, and reception of packets. Although used together, the TCP and IP protocols have distinct purposes:

• TCP determines how applications create communication channels across networks and manages the assembly of message packets before their transmission over the internet. It provides a structure for how packets are reassembled once they arrive at their destination.
• IP handles the formatting of addresses and how packets are routed. Once packets arrive at a gateway computer, the IP address is used to confirm where the message will be forwarded.

TCP/IP is structured into four layers:

1. Network Access Layer: This is the physical transmission layer where the IP address is added and the data is transmitted between two connected devices within a network.
2. Internet Layer: The internet layer sends the data packets to their destination, comprising the logic of all transmissions.
3. Host-to-Host Layer: TCP within the host-to-host layer keeps data delivery error-free. It acts as a reliable communication protocol and manages data flow.
4. Application Layer: The application layer handles communication node-to-node from user interfaces. It uses additional protocols familiar to internet users, such as FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, NTP, and TELNET.

Using a traditional client/server model, TCP/IP allows a user or a connected machine to act as the client and receive service. This service may be the receipt of a webpage or an instruction from a user or machine to a connected device such as a production machine or another computer.

The system allows for the transportation of vast amounts of data in packets. These packets may take different routes to the end destination, allowing faster resolution for packets that encounter problems or corruption in transit.

The functionality of the layer structure standardizes communication and frees up hardware and software resources. Each packet must traverse all four layers outgoing and in reverse order incoming, and the arriving data is displayed in its original format.

Since the protocol is connection-based, the TCP functionality remains connected between both applications and devices for the duration of the data exchange. It also handles the reconciliation of dropped packets and ensures that all packets arrive at the proper address.

TCP/IP is effective in the two-way, fast transmission of data over internet connections based on its use of a three-way “handshake.” Once the connection is established, the device originating the communication and the server synchronize packets and acknowledge them before the commencement of communication. Then, connectivity is negotiated, separated, and transferred.

A network card adapter physically connects the card to the network cables. All machines using TCP/IP require an adapter for each network it utilizes.

Adapter cards used by TCP/IP include:

• Standard Ethernet V2
• Token Ring
• IEEE 802.3
• Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)
• Serial Optical Channel Converter
• Turboways 100
• Turboways 155ATM
• Asynchronous Adapters and Native Serial Ports

TCP/IP is an open protocol. It can be used to develop custom applications for many over-the-internet systems, such as machine data platforms in IIoT applications.

This feature is especially useful for application development in platforms like MachineMetrics, which works across various software and hardware components in machines from different OEMs and on digital and analog-connected equipment.

As the default internet communication protocol, TCP/IP has an extensive set of standards called RFCs. These standards allow for nearly seamless communication between internet users.

This process is particularly relevant considering that many internet requests today are done to service the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology that is quickly increasing in manufacturing. When machine assets are connected over a cloud-based platform, standards are required for the connected equipment and machines to carry out extensive machine automation and control instructions.

TCP/IP standards enable the global system to work seamlessly and near-instantaneously to send these instructions through cloud-based machine data platforms. This process benefits large connected factories and small and medium-sized businesses that have different locations and use an internet connection for all communications.

The TCP/IP standards are publicly developed by the hosting agency known as the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). They’re published regularly as FTCs and include formal specifications for standards.

Industrial automation and machine data platforms require fast and reliable communication from the cloud to the sensor level of connected equipment. As a result, continuous communication through TCP/IP via Ethernet connection is needed.

The IETF group that manages the TCP/IP standards has released Single Pair Ethernet (SPE, or “fast Ethernet”) standards to allow advanced manufacturing systems to have continuous TCP/IP communication between cloud components and sensors.

This advance enables the “intelligent” or “smart” component of such platforms. It also allows user control over the internet of sensors and controls at the machine level.

TCP/IP is the default internet communication protocol, so the infrastructure is already in place. MachineMetrics connects to both digital and analog legacy equipment through simple device applications. The cloud-based machine data platform works over existing internet connections using TCP/IP standards.

MachineMetrics collects, monitors, analyzes, and drives action with manufacturing equipment data. It captures data at the point of production from connected manufacturing equipment and provides a complete toolkit via HMIs, tablets, and PCs that deliver actionable insights to connected devices and users.

This is where a connectivity solution like MachineMetrics comes into play. MachineMetrics is a Machine Data Platform that enables connectivity to any make and model of equipment, including legacy machines.

MachineMetrics is the leading platform to collect, monitor, analyze, and drive action with manufacturing equipment data. Our platform easily captures data from your manufacturing equipment and provides a complete toolkit to drive actionable insights for frontline workers and other factory floor systems that improve the efficiency and quality of production.

You can easily connect to, and collect data from all your devices for complete operational visibility.

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