Container registry and subscription service for industrial systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12443172-B2
Application number	US-202418614105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2024
Priority date	Sep 19, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A method may involve receiving, via at least one processor, a request from an industrial component operating in an industrial automation system, such that the request may include an indication of a software function. The method may then involve querying a container registry having a plurality of container images based on the software function, identifying at least one container image of the plurality of container images that corresponds to the software function, sending an indication of the at least one container image to the industrial component, and receiving a selection of the at least one container image from the industrial component. The method may also involve retrieving the at least one container image from the container registry and sending the at least one container image to the industrial component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a container registry configured to store a plurality of container images; and
a computing device configured to:
receive a request from an industrial component operating in an industrial automation system, wherein the request comprises an indication of a requested software function;
query the container registry based on the requested software function;
in response to determining that the container registry lacks a container image for performing the requested software function, determine a set of software functions that correspond to performing the requested software functions;
send an indication of the set of software functions to the industrial component;
receiving a selection of the set of software functions;
identify one or more container images of the plurality of container images that corresponds to the selection of the set of software functions;
retrieve the one or more container images from the container registry; and
send the one or more container images to the industrial component.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the requested software function is associated with a processing operation to be performed on operational technology (OT) data associated with one or more industrial automation devices of the industrial automation system.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to:
determine that the industrial component is compatible with the one or more container images; and
retrieve the one or more container images from the container registry in response to determining that the industrial component is compatible with the one or more container images.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to:
receive subscription payment information and subscription time period information from the industrial automation system; and
receive periodic status updates associated with the industrial component during a time period corresponding to the subscription time period information.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing device is configured to send an updated container image to the industrial component during the time period, wherein the updated container image comprises one or more adjusted container images relative to the one or more container images.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing device is configured to stop sending updates to the industrial component after an end to the time period.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the industrial component comprises a master container node configured to coordinate operations of one or more worker container nodes.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a container storefront device.

9. A method, comprising:
receiving, via a processing system, a request from an industrial component operating in an industrial automation system, wherein the request comprises an indication of a requested software function;
querying, via the processing system, a container registry comprising a plurality of container images based on the requested software function;
in response to determining that the container registry lacks a container image for performing the requested software function, determining, via the processing system, a set of software functions that correspond to performing the requested software functions;
sending, via the processing system, an indication of the set of software functions to the industrial component;
receiving, via the processing system, a selection of the set of software functions;
identifying, via the processing system, one or more container images of the plurality of container images that corresponds to the selection of the set of software functions;
retrieving, via the processing system, the one or more container images from the container registry; and
sending, via the processing system, the one or more container images to the industrial component.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more container images is sent to the industrial component based on available computing resources associated with the industrial component.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the requested software function is associated with a processing operation to be performed on operational technology (OT) data associated with one or more industrial automation devices of the industrial automation system.

12. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
determining that the industrial component is compatible with the one or more container images; and
retrieving the one or more container images from the container registry in response to determining that the industrial component is compatible with the one or more container images.

13. The method of claim 9 , comprising:
receiving subscription time period information associated with the one or more container images; and
receiving periodic status updates associated with the one or more container images during a time period corresponding to the subscription time period information.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising sending one or more updated container images to the industrial component during the time period.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a request from an industrial component operating in an industrial automation system, wherein the request comprises an indication of a requested software function;
querying a container registry comprising a plurality of container images based on the requested software function;
in response to determining that the container registry lacks a container image for performing the requested software function, determining a set of software functions that correspond to performing the requested software functions;
sending an indication of the set of software functions to the industrial component;
receiving a selection of the set of software functions;
identifying one or more container images of the plurality of container images that corresponds to the selection of the set of software functions;
retrieving the one or more container images from the container registry; and
sending the one or more container images to the industrial component.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the operations comprising:
receiving subscription time period information associated with the one or more container images; and
receiving periodic status updates associated with the one or more container images during a time period corresponding to the subscription time period information.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to cause the at least one processor to perform the operations comprising sending one or more updated container images to the industrial component during the time period.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the industrial component comprises a drive.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the requested software function is associated with a processing operation to be performed on operational technology (OT) data associated with one or more industrial automation devices of the industrial automation system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the computer-exe

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Mazur David C
• Entzminger Rob A
• Coon Ryan
• Mccleave Jr Bruce T
• Teal James M

Classifications

• G06T7/0004

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• G05B19/4188

  characterised by CIM planning or realisation · CPC title

• G06F8/71

  Version control (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57); Configuration management · CPC title

• G06F8/63

  Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order · CPC title

• G06F2009/4557

  Distribution of virtual machine instances; Migration and load balancing · CPC title