What is the function of the industrial router gateway?

The basic function of the industrial router gateway is mainly responsible for the connection of two heterogeneous networks, which is especially common in industrial IoT scenarios, because sensor networks often use electrical signals different from the general network layer (long-distance transmission network) And agreement.

1. Perception layer signal interface

Mainly undertake the task of docking the signals of each device in the sensor network. The 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 of industrial routers, manufacturers of industrial gateways will generally equip a hardware interface and protocol combination with a perception layer signal interface according to their target application fields.

2. Network layer signal interface

Mainly undertake 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 routers 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 the industrial router leaves the factory.

3. Data processing:

The data processing on the equipment side of the industrial router mainly solves the problem of data mismatch. In other words, there are differences 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 side and output side of the industrial router can be played by the device side or the server side. Therefore, the flow of data is bidirectional and differs depending on the type of data.

4. Local business logic:

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

5. Other functions:

In addition to the above main modules, a gateway is often configured with its functional user interface, which can be in the mode 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.

The use of industrial routers can isolate unnecessary communications, so that the interconnected networks maintain their own independent management and control ranges, and improve the performance of the network. Therefore, industrial routers are often used as firewalls to restrict the internal and external networks (Internet) of the local area network and the access of the external networks to the internal area of the local area network, and play the role of network shielding.