Development and simulation of an intelligent interface node for use in CIM

The design and simulation results of an intelligent interface node appropriate for use in a CIM environment are presented. The interface node is a major step toward resolving two of the primary problems in CIM applications: inadequate communications resources for handling real-time data requirements, including priority interrupts, and uncertainty of data concerning conditions in the manufacturing cell served by the node. A technique for reordering the data transmission through the intelligent interface nodes connected to the primary data communications channel is presented. A secondary communications channel is used for the transmission of the information necessary to implement the technique. A second technique, for diagnosing, under conditions of uncertainty, major problems with operations in the manufacturing cell served by the intelligent interface node, is presented. This approach is based on the MYCIN model methodology for dealing with uncertainty, and is specially modified for a CIM environment. The intelligent interface node was simulated with the two techniques discussed for an example case study on an IBM personal computer. A hardware configuration for the node is presented