TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of wireless communications, and more particularly to receiving network devices for wireless communication in an industrial process system, and related methods and computer programs.

BACKGROUND

In a traditional industrial process system such as a factory, the production envi ronment is fixed in the sense that machines that are cooperating are connected via cable, typi cally using an industrial ethemet technology. Hence the assumption has traditionally been that communication quality of service (QoS) does not get impaired. As a result, there has been no need for a legacy industrial application to be adaptive in regard to communication service avail ability.

With the introduction of fifth generation (5G) wireless networks, at least some of the traditional wired communication links in an industrial process system may be replaced with wireless links, e.g. to increase flexibility in the production environment.

Typically, in legacy cellular systems, wireless issues are dealt with in real-time as and when they happen. In other words, cellular networks typically deal with issues reactively. This also applies to quality of service (QoS) provisioning. For example, in case there is resource shortage at the time of a handover, a packet data unit (PDU) session can be dropped. However, such reactive measures may not always be effective, resulting e.g. in a communication service being unavailable for a period of time. This may be particularly challenging in an industrial process system. As an example, communication service unavailability in an industrial process system may result in having to suspend an automation function via an emergency shutdown.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. It is an object of the invention to allow extending application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system. The foregoing and other objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further implementation forms are apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

According to a first aspect, a receiving network device for wireless communica tion in an industrial process system is provided. The receiving network device comprises a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to receive, from a network node de vice, a notification about upcoming communication service unavailability. The notification in cludes duration of the communication service unavailability. The processor is configured to determine whether the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeds a survival time of the receiving network device. The survival time defines the duration for which the receiving network device continues execution of an industrial process application without having to receive a message anticipated from a transmitting network device that is in wireless communication with the receiving network device in the industrial process system via a first communication mode. In response to the received duration of the communication service una vailability exceeding the survival time, the processor is further configured to extend the avail ability of the industrial process application by at least one of: extending the survival time, caus ing reduction of an amount of data to be transmitted by the transmitting network device, or causing a temporary switch to a second communication mode. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process sys tem, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the extending of the survival time comprises the processor being further configured to determine whether the survival time is ex tendable to an extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavaila bility; and in response to the survival time being extendable to the extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavailability, extend the survival time of the re ceiving network device to the extended value. Thus, the invention allows dynamically reconfiguring the survival time, thereby allowing extending the industrial process application availability and reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the causing of the reduction of the amount of data to be transmitted by the transmitting network device comprises the processor being further configured to cause the transceiver to transmit to the transmitting network device an instruction to reduce the amount of data included in subsequent messages from the transmit ting network device. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emer gency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the causing of the temporary switch to the second communication mode comprises the processor being further configured to cause the transceiver to transmit to the transmitting network device an instruction to switch tempo rarily to the second communication mode. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby re ducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the processor is further configured to cause the transceiver to transmit an indication about the extended value of the survival time to at least one transmitting network device that is in wireless communication with the receiving network device in the industrial process system, before extending the survival time. Transmit ting the indication in advance of extending the survival time allows the transmitting network device(s) to adjust their operation accordingly in a timely fashion through extending transfer interval especially in the case of periodic deterministic communication.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the industrial process system com prises an operational technology, OT, system. The invention allows extending industrial pro cess application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the industrial process application comprises an OT application function. The invention allows extending industrial process appli cation availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process appli cation down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process appli cation availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the network node device comprises a network data analytics function, NWDAF. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby re ducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the first aspect, the notification about the upcoming communication service unavailability comprises a quality of service sustainability analytics, QSA, related notification. The invention allows extending industrial process application avail ability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availa bility in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system. In an implementation form of the first aspect, the notification about the upcoming communication service unavailability and the duration of the communication service unavaila bility comprises an in-advance quality of service notification, IQN. The invention allows ex tending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial pro cess system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subse quently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or mini mizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows in creasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly com municating industrial process system.

According to a second aspect, a method is provided. The method comprises re ceiving, from a network node device at a receiving network device for wireless communication in an industrial process system, a notification about upcoming communication service unavail ability. The notification includes duration of the communication service unavailability. The method further comprises determining, by the receiving network device, whether the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeds a survival time of the receiving network device. The survival time defines the duration for which the receiving network device continues execution of an industrial process application without having to receive a message anticipated from a transmitting network device that is in wireless communication with the re ceiving network device in the industrial process system via a first communication mode. The method further comprises, in response to the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeding the survival time, extending, by the receiving network device, the availability of the industrial process application by at least one of: extending the survival time, causing reduction of an amount of data to be transmitted by the transmitting network device, or causing a temporary switch to a second communication mode. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process sys tem, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system. In an implementation form of the second aspect, the extending of the survival time comprises determining, by the receiving network device, whether the survival time is extenda ble to an extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavailability; and in response to the survival time being extendable to the extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavailability, extending, by the receiving network de vice, the survival time of the receiving network device to the extended value. Thus, the invention allows dynamically reconfiguring the survival time, thereby allowing extending the industrial process application availability and reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the causing of the reduction of the amount of data to be transmitted by the transmitting network device comprises causing, by the receiving network device, transmission to the transmitting network device of an instruction to reduce the amount of data included in subsequent messages from the transmitting network device. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wire lessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the causing of the temporary switch to the second communication mode comprises causing, by the receiving network device, transmission to the transmitting network device of an instruction to switch temporarily to the second communication mode. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the method further comprises causing, by the receiving network device, transmission of an indication about the extended value of the survival time to at least one transmitting network device that is in wireless com munication with the receiving network device in the industrial process system, before extending the survival time. Transmitting the indication in advance of extending the survival time allows the transmitting network device(s) to adjust their operation accordingly in a timely fashion through extending transfer interval especially in the case of periodic deterministic communica tion.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the industrial process system comprises an operational technology, OT, system. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accord ingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the industrial process application comprises an OT application function. The invention allows extending industrial process appli cation availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process appli cation down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process appli cation availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the network node device com prises a network data analytics function, NWDAF. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accord ingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the notification about the upcom ing communication service unavailability comprises a quality of service sustainability analyt ics, QSA, related notification. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

In an implementation form of the second aspect, the notification about the upcom ing communication service unavailability and the duration of the communication service una vailability comprises an in-advance quality of service notification, IQN. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of sub sequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or min imizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows in creasing industrial process application availability in the presence of communication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly com municating industrial process system.

According to a third aspect, a computer program product is provided. The com puter program product comprises program code configured to perform the method according to the second aspect, when the computer program product is executed on a computer. The invention allows extending industrial process application availability in a wirelessly communi cating industrial process system, thereby reducing the amount of emergency shutdowns and the amount of subsequently needed recovery time periods. In other words, the invention allows reducing or minimizing industrial process application down-time. In yet other words, the invention allows increasing industrial process application availability in the presence of com munication system down-time. Accordingly, the invention allows increasing production time in a wirelessly communicating industrial process system.

Many of the features will be more readily appreciated as they become better un derstood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, example embodiments are described in more detail with refer ence to the attached figures and drawings, in which: Fig. 1 A is a diagram illustrating the relationship between communication service availability and application availability;

Fig. IB is a diagram illustrating recovery time;

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a motion control system in an industrial process system;

Fig. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an example system in which various em bodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

Fig. 3B is a block diagram illustrating a receiving network device for wireless communication in an industrial process system;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating application availability without QoS sustainability analytics (QSA);

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating application availability with QoS sustainability analytics (QSA); and

Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method.

In the following, identical reference signs refer to identical or at least functionally equivalent features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific aspects in which the invention may be placed. It is understood that other aspects may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the inven tion. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, as the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

For instance, it is understood that a disclosure in connection with a described method may also hold true for a corresponding device or system configured to perform the method and vice versa. For example, if a specific method step is described, a corresponding device may include a unit to perform the described method step, even if such unit is not explic itly described or illustrated in the figures. On the other hand, for example, if a specific apparatus is described based on functional units, a corresponding method may include a step performing the described functionality, even if such step is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures. Further, it is understood that the features of the various example aspects described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted otherwise. In the following, a general description of communication service availability and application availability is provided.

Communication service availability is herein defined as a percentage that is cal culated by dividing the amount of time an end-to-end communication service is delivered ac cording to an agreed QoS by the amount of time the system is expected to deliver the end-to- end communication service according to the specification in a specific area. In other words, communication service availability indicates whether the communication system works in an available or unavailable state. The communication system is in the available state as long as the availability criteria for transmitted packets are met. The service is unavailable if the packets received at the target are impaired and/or untimely (e.g. an update time is larger than a stipulated maximum). Herein, the term “update time” refers to the time between the reception of two consecutive pieces of data at the application layer interface to the target application device.

In factories, some applications can be robust such that they can still operate even when communication service is unavailable as long as loss of consecutive messages is lower than what the application can tolerate. This may be measured by a key performance indicator (KPI) called survival time. The survival time is defined as the time that an application consum ing a communication service may continue without an anticipated message. A time difference between two consecutive transfers of application data from an application on a service interface to a cellular communication system (e.g. a 3rd generation partnership project, 3GPP, system) is defined as a transfer interval. Typically, transfer interval and survival time are inter-related for an industrial process application.

Whether a communication service is available or not may be assessed based on successful reception of a transmission. A message transmission can be correctly received, in correctly received, or lost. A lost message is a message which left the source application but never reached the target application. Communication (un)availability (i.e. up-time and down time) can be derived from the transmitted messages. As long as timely received messages are correct, the communication is said to be in an up-state and thus available. The time interval of this state experienced by the target device is called up-time or up-time interval. If a message loss or an incorrectly received message is detected, the communication is said to be in a down- state. The time interval of this state as experienced by the target device is called down-time or down-time interval. Alternatively, the terms available and unavailable may be used.

Diagram 100 of Fig. 1 illustrates the relationship between communication service and application (un)availability. The network 103 is up and running, as indicated by line 104. A source device 101 starts sending messages to a target device 102 (indicated by arrows 105) on which an automation function (application) is running. The communication service is in an up-state (indicated by line 106 being UP) from the perspective of the application in the target device 102. The up/down- state of the application in the target device 102 is based on correctly received messages. The up-time interval of the application starts later than the up-state of the network, i.e. with the receipt of the first message from the source device.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the network transitions (point 107) into a down-state if it no longer can support end-to-end transmission of the source device's 101 messages to the target device 102 according to the negotiated communication requirements. Once the application on the target device 102 senses the absence of expected messages (point 108), it will wait a preset period before it considers the communication service to be unavailable. In other words, the communication service is unavailable if packets fail to reach the receiving side communication interface. However, the application will be unavailable if communication is unavailable longer than the survival time.

If the survival time is exceeded (point 109), the application transitions the status of the application into a down-state. The application may take corresponding actions for han dling such situations of unavailable communication services. For example, the application may commence an emergency shutdown.

Once the network/communication service is in the up state again (line 104 in Fig. 1 changes back to UP at point 110), the communication service state as perceived by the target application will change to the up-state at point 111. The communication service is thus again perceived as available (line 106 of communication service changes to UP in Fig. 1). The state of the application, however, depends on the counter measures taken by the application. For example, the application may still stay in the down-state if it is in a safe state due to an emer gency shutdown.

After an emergency shutdown, the application requires a recovery time to restart. As further illustrated in diagram 150 of Fig. IB, the communication service 151 and the appli cation 152 are at first in the up-state (time point 0). A failure occurs and the state of the com munication service switches to the down-state (time point 1). After the survival time has elapsed, the application also turns into the down- state (time point 2). Later, the failure is solved and the communication service changes back to the up-state (time point 3). However, an appli cation may require a relatively long recovery time before it can be up again (time point 4). Thus, a machine in a factory may stay out of production even when the communication service is restored (i.e. between time points 3 and 4), in cases of the application turning into the down- state. Thus, conventional mechanisms for handling communication unavailability may result in the inclusion of application recovery times which adversely impacts factory produc tion. As will be discussed in more detail below, the invention allows increasing application availability even when a communication service in unavailable, e.g. by reducing occurrences of recovery times.

Next, example embodiments of a receiving network device 310 for wireless com munication in an industrial process system 300 are described based on Figs. 3A and 3B. Some of the features of the described devices are optional features which provide further advantages.

Fig. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an example system in which various em bodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented, and Fig. 3B is a block diagram that illustrates the receiving network device 310.

As shown in Fig. 3A, the industrial process system 300 may comprise the receiv ing network device 310 and a transmitting network device 320 that are able to wirelessly com municate with each other. In an example, the industrial process system 300 may comprise an operational technology, OT, system. The receiving network device 310 may comprise an in dustrial process application 314. In an example, the industrial process application 314 may comprise an OT application function.

In an example, the industrial process system 300 may include a motion control system, such as the motion control system 200 illustrated in Fig. 2. The motion control system

200 may be responsible e.g. for controlling moving and/or rotating parts of machines in a de fined manner, for example in printing machines, machine tools, packaging machines, or the like. The motion control system 200 may comprise e.g. a motion controller 201, one or more actuators 202, and/or one or more sensors 204. The motion controller 201 may periodically send desired set points to the one or more actuators 202 (e.g. linear actuators or drives) which thereupon may perform a corresponding action on one or several processes 203 (such as a movement or rotation of a component). At the same time, the sensors 204 may determine the current state of the process(es) 203 (e.g. the current position and/or rotation of one or multiple components) and send the actual values back to the motion controller 201. This may be done in a cyclic and deterministic manner, such that during one application cycle the motion controller

201 sends updated set points to all actuators 202, and all the sensors 204 send their actual values back to the motion controller 201. In this use case, in the forward loop the receiving network device 310 may comprise e.g. the actuator 202 and the transmitting network device 320 may comprise e.g. the motion controller(s) 202. At the same time, in the feedback loop, a sensor can act as a transmitter while a motion controller can act as a receiver. In another example, the industrial process system 300 may include a process mon itoring system. For example, a large number of industrial wireless sensors may be installed in a plant to give insight into process and environmental conditions, asset health and/or inventory of material. The data may be transported to displays for observation and/or to databases for registration and data analysis. Examples of such sensors include temperature, pressure or flow rate sensors for process monitoring, vibration sensors for health monitoring of e.g. motors, and thermal cameras to detect leakages.

In another example, the industrial process system 300 may include a plant asset management system. To keep a plant running, the assets, such as pumps, valves, heaters, in struments, etc., need to be maintained. Timely recognition of any degradation and continuous self-diagnosis of components may be used to support and plan maintenance. Remote software updates may enhance and adapt the components to changing conditions. In this use case, the assets themselves may be connected to a wireless communication system.

In another example, the industrial process system 300 may include a mobile con trol panel and/or remote control system. Control panels are used for the interaction between people and production machinery, as well as for the interaction with moving devices. For ex ample, these panels are used for configuring, monitoring, debugging, controlling and maintain ing machines, robots, cranes or complete production lines. A data transmission use case may include e.g. periodic, bi-directional communication for remote control where examples of con trolled units may include e.g. assembly robots, milling machines). Another data transmission use case may include aperiodic data transmission in parallel to remote control. Yet another data transmission use case may include periodic, bi-directional communication for remote control where examples for controlled units may include e.g. mobile cranes, mobile pumps, and/or fixed portal cranes.

The industrial process system 300 may be configured to communicate with a cel lular network 350, such as a fifth generation (5G) wireless network. The cellular network 350 may comprise a network node device 351, such as a network node device configured to provide QoS sustainability analytics (QSA). For example, the network node device 351 may comprise a network data analytics function, NWDAF. The NWDAF may be configured to provide noti fications on potential QoS changes. These notifications may be provided e.g. on a subscription basis or in response to requests. Such subscriptions or requests may include multiple sets of parameters in order to provide different combinations of e.g. location information and/or time information when requesting notification on potential QoS changes. After collecting necessary information e.g. from an operation and management (OAM) entity, the NWDAF may determine whether triggering conditions are met and derive the requested analytics. The NWDAF may detect the need for notification e.g. based on comparing the requested analytics of a target 5G QoS identifier (5QI) against a threshold(s) provided by the requester in any cell over the re quested observation period. Based on the analysis, the NWDAF may then provide a response or notification on QoS sustainability to the requester.

According to an aspect, the receiving network device 310 may comprise a transceiver (or a receiving unit/receiver and/or a transmitting unit/transmitter) 311 and a processor (or a processing unit) 312 coupled to the transceiver 311, which may be used to im plement the functionalities described below in more detail.

The processor 312 may include e.g. one or more of various processing devices, such as a co-processor, a microprocessor, a controller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a processing circuitry with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a hardware accelerator, a special-purpose computer chip, or the like.

The receiving network device 310 may further comprise a memory 313 that is configured to store e.g. computer programs (such as the industrial process application 314) and the like. The memory may include one or more volatile memory devices, one or more non volatile memory devices, and/or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. For example, the memory may be embodied as magnetic storage devices (such as hard disk drives, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, etc.), optical magnetic storage devices, and semiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.).

The transceiver 311 is configured to receive, from the network node device 351, a notification about upcoming communication service unavailability. The notification includes duration of the communication service unavailability. For example, the notification about the upcoming communication service unavailability may comprise a quality of service sustainabil ity analytics, QSA, related notification, such as an in-advance quality of service notification, IQN.

The processor 312 is configured to determine whether the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeds a survival time of the receiving network device 310. The survival time defines the duration for which the receiving network device 310 contin ues execution of an industrial process application 314 without having to receive a message anticipated from a transmitting network device 320 that is in wireless communication with the receiving network device 310 in the industrial process system 300 via a first communication mode. In an example, the first communication mode comprises a 5G communication mode. The upcoming communication service unavailability causes unavailability of the first communica tion mode.

In response to the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeding the survival time, the processor 312 is further configured to extend the availability of the industrial process application 314.

The processor 312 may be configured to extend the availability of the industrial process application 314 by extending the survival time. The extending of the survival time may comprise the processor 312 being further configured to determine whether the survival time is extendable to an extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavail ability; and in response to the survival time being extendable to the extended value longer than the duration of the communication service unavailability, extend the survival time of the re ceiving network device 310 to the extended value.

Alternatively or additionally, processor 312 may be configured to extend the availability of the industrial process application 314 by causing reduction of an amount of data (e.g., sensor data) to be transmitted by the transmitting network device 320. The causing of the reduction of the amount of data to be transmitted by the transmitting network device 320 may comprise the processor 312 being further configured to cause the transceiver 311 to transmit to the transmitting network device 320 an instruction to reduce the amount of data (e.g., sensor data) to be included in subsequent messages from the transmitting network device 320.

Alternatively or additionally, processor 312 may be configured to extend the availability of the industrial process application 314 by causing a temporary switch to a second communication mode. The causing of the temporary switch to the second communication mode may comprise the processor 312 being further configured to cause the transceiver 311 to trans mit to the transmitting network device 320 an instruction to switch temporarily to the second communication mode. In an example, the second communication mode comprises e.g. a cable bound communication mode, a near field communication (NFC) / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi communi cation mode, using fixed control panel(s), and/or switching to a different location/station.

The processor 312 may be further configured to cause the transceiver 311 to trans mit an indication about the extended value of the survival time to at least one transmitting net work device 320 that is in wireless communication with the receiving network device 310 in the industrial process system 300, before extending the survival time. In other words, the ex tending of the survival time may be coordinated between a transmitter and a receiver such that in the case of a periodic deterministic communication system, the transmitter will in turn in crease transfer interval to suit the new survival time. For example, the transmitting network device 320 may be notified to adjust its transfer interval based on the newly extended survival time.

In other words, on receiving e.g. a QSA related notification, an OT application may reconfigure its survival time and optionally its transfer interval (TI). For example, if QoS is predicted to degrade, an OT application function (AF) may prolong its survival time as much as possible such that it stays greater than the predicted communication service downtime. These measuresa allow downgrading the QoS requirements of the OT application which can result in graceful slowing down of an operation. In an example, transfer interval and/or survival time may be increased in steps depending e.g. on the communication service down-time and what the OT application can support. E.g. in motion control or control-to-control application use cases, an adaptation decision regarding survival time change may be communicated in advance to other devices. For example, in the case of motion control, a controller that gets an IQN may inform an actuator regarding TI and survival interval change.

Diagram 400 of Fig. 4 further illustrates conventional application availability without utilizing QoS sustainability analytics or the like. As can be seen, by maintaining a rigid static TI and survival time, an OT application 402 can tend to suffer longer if the communica tion service 401 becomes unavailable. If the survival time remains the same (and shorter than the communication service unavailability period), the OT application 402 will be down longer due to the added recovery time. This is because the OT application 402 has to be shut down, and bringing it up to an operational state requires recovery time.

In contrast to diagram 400 of Fig. 4, diagram 500 of Fig. 5 illustrates application availability with utilizing QoS sustainability analytics or the like, in accordance with example embodiments. As it can be seen, if an OT application 502 (such as the industrial process appli cation 314) gets a notification about possible communication service 501 unavailability and its length/duration, the OT application 502 can check whether communication service 501 down time is predicted to be greater than a currently configured survival time. If this is the case, the OT application 502 may further check whether its survival time can be extended such that it will take a value that is greater than the predicted communication service 501 unavailability duration. Whether the survival time can be modified and to what extent it can be extended may depend on the given OT application. In other words, such configurations may be application specific. If the survival time can be increased to take a value that is greater than predicted com munication service 501 unavailability period/duration, the OT application 502 may reconfigure its survival time (optionally together with TI). Such a change may be notified in advance e.g. to other control elements in control-to-control applications for the others to reconfigure their parameters in the same and coordinated way. In the case of motion-control, the control element that reconfigures its survival time (and optionally TI) may notify its actuators in advance on receiving a QSA related notification.

As further shown in Fig. 5, by extending its survival time, the OT application 502 can be operational continuously during time instances 1 and 4. This is possible because of in advance QoS notification (IQN) or the like that the OT application 502 receives at time instance A, as depicted in Fig. 5. The IQN is produced and sent on time as a result of the QSA, as discussed above. How early an IQN needs to be sent for it to be useful to the OT application 502 and what triggers the generation of the IQN may be decided e.g. based on an initial config uration an OT application function makes with the NWDAF 351 or the like. Between time instances 5 and 7 in Fig. 5, the communication unavailability period happens to be greater than the maximum survival time the OT application 502 can take. This means that the OT application 502 may need to be shut down in time instances 6 and 8.

Table 1 illustrates with an example how a QSA mechanism or the like can be helpful in minimizing an OT application down-time in the case of plant asset management and process monitoring use cases. In case 1 (QSA mechanism is not used), the survival time is assumed to be fixed at 180 seconds while the application recovery time is assumed to be 480 seconds. When communication is unavailable for a period of 254 seconds, the application avail ability will be in the order of 99.9881%. On the other hand, in case 2 (QSA mechanism is used), the survival time is increased from 180 seconds to 300 seconds to mitigate communication unavailability period of 254 seconds. With this dynamic survival time reconfiguration, the ap plication availability increases to 99.9899%.

Table 1

Table 2 illustrates how QSA or the like can be useful for increasing production time in the case of mobile control panel and remote control use cases. By dynamically recon- figuring the survival time, a total application availability of 99.9985% is possible in the case of mobile control panel and remote control use cases.

Table 2 Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 according to an embodiment.

At operation 601, a notification about upcoming communication service unavail ability is received from the network node device 351 at the receiving network device 310 for wireless communication in the industrial process system 300. The notification includes duration of the communication service unavailability.

At operation 602, the receiving network device 310 determines whether the re ceived duration of the communication service unavailability exceeds a survival time of the re ceiving network device 310. As discussed above, the survival time defines the duration for which the receiving network device 310 continues execution of the industrial process applica tion 314 without having to receive a message anticipated from the transmitting network device 320 that is in wireless communication with the receiving network device 310 in the industrial process system 300 via a first communication mode.

If the received duration of the communication service unavailability does not ex ceed the survival time, the method proceeds to operation 603 and exits.

If the received duration of the communication service unavailability exceeds the survival time, the receiving network device 310 extends the availability of the industrial process application 314 in operation 604 by at least one of: extending the survival time, causing reduc tion of an amount of data (e.g., sensor data) to be transmitted by the transmitting network de vice, or causing a temporary switch to a second communication mode.

The method 600 may be performed by the receiving network device 310. Further features of the method 600 directly result from the functionalities of the receiving network device 310. The method 600 can be performed by a computer program.

The functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more computer program product components such as software components. According to an embodiment, the receiving network device 310 comprises a processor configured by the pro gram code when executed to execute the embodiments of the operations and functionality de scribed. Alternatively, or in addition, the functionality described herein can be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. For example, and without limitation, illustrative types of hardware logic components that can be used include Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Program-specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Program-specific Stand ard Products (ASSPs), System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic De vices (CPLDs), and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

Any range or device value given herein may be extended or altered without losing the effect sought. Also any embodiment may be combined with another embodiment unless explicitly disallowed.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and acts are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. It will further be understood that reference to 'an' item may refer to one or more of those items.

The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the embodiments described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other embodiments described to form further embodiments without losing the effect sought.

The term 'comprising' is used herein to mean including the method, blocks or el ements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and a method or apparatus may contain additional blocks or elements.

It will be understood that the above description is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary em bodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification.