Advanced Identity & Operator Security
The modern plant floor requires frictionless, rigid authentication without relying on manual password entry.
|
Use Case |
The Challenge |
The Host-Agent Solution |
Business Value / ROI |
|
Sessionless RFID / NFC Login |
Browsers require an active, focused text field to read RFID badges, leading to failed scans and frustrated operators. |
Agent captures raw badge data from local COM/USB readers in the background—even if Perspective isn't running or focused. |
Frictionless Security: Lightning-fast operator switching, eliminating lost time and bypassed security protocols. |
|
21 CFR Part 11 Biometrics |
Pharmaceutical and F&B industries require rigid e-signatures (fingerprint/palm) that browsers cannot natively process. |
Natively interfaces with biometric device drivers on the client OS, sending encrypted authentication tokens to the Gateway. |
Compliance: Ensures audit-proof compliance for regulated industries without clunky third-party apps. |
File System Automation & Legacy Machine Bridging
Connecting "unconnectable" legacy equipment that relies on local file generation.
|
Use Case |
The Challenge |
The Host-Agent Solution |
Business Value / ROI |
|
Legacy LIMS & Certificate Retrieval |
Older machines (e.g., LIMS, CNCs) dump PDF certificates or CSVs to a local folder. IT blocks SMB network shares due to security risks. |
Agent "watches" specific local directories, instantly picking up new files, parsing them, and transmitting them securely to the Ignition Gateway. |
IT-Friendly Integration: Eliminates ransomware risks associated with network shares while digitizing legacy machine data. |
|
Automated Recipe Distribution |
Older PLCs/HMIs can only read recipe files from a local C: drive. |
Gateway pushes recipe files through the Agent directly to the target machine's local folder. |
Centralized Control: Allows unified recipe management in Ignition, even for antiquated production lines. |
Bidirectional Peripheral Integration
Industrial environments rely on raw hardware that requires continuous, two-way communication.
|
Use Case |
The Challenge |
The Host-Agent Solution |
Business Value / ROI |
|
Smart RS232/USB Scanners |
Standard browser barcode scanning only acts as a keyboard. It cannot handle ACK/NACK signals or bidirectional handshakes. |
Establishes persistent serial connections. Agent handles bidirectional logic, confirming successful reads directly with the scanner hardware. |
Zero-Defect Scanning: Prevents mis-scans and data loss, crucial for strict traceability environments. |
|
Live Measurement Tools & Scales |
Operators manually type in weights from bench scales or dimensions from digital calipers, causing typos. |
Streams live COM-port data directly from scales/calipers into Ignition tags in real-time. |
Data Integrity: Eliminates human error in Quality Assurance data entry. |
|
Direct-to-Device Printing |
Managing network print servers for hundreds of Zebra/EPL label printers is an IT nightmare. |
Sends raw ZPL strings via USB/Serial directly to the locally attached printer. |
High-Reliability Printing: Prints instantly without network latency or complex OS driver setups. |
OS-Level Control & Edge Telemetry
Unifying the operator experience and proactively managing client hardware.
|
Use Case |
The Challenge |
The Host-Agent Solution |
Business Value / ROI |
|
3rd-Party App Orchestration |
Operators have to juggle Perspective and native OS apps (like a proprietary camera viewer or 3D CAD software). |
Ignition triggers the Agent to launch, maximize, or close local applications based on Gateway events. |
Unified Workspace: Operators stay focused on the Ignition screen; external apps only appear when strictly needed. |
|
Client Health & Kiosk Management |
Terminals crash or run out of disk space silently, causing unexpected downtime. |
Agent publishes client CPU, RAM, disk space, and network status to the Gateway. Allows remote reboot/sleep commands. |
Proactive Maintenance: IT/OT can predict and resolve terminal failures before they stop production. |
|
Dual-NIC Edge Bridging |
A terminal is connected to both the corporate network (Gateway access) and an isolated machine network (PLCs/Cameras). |
Agent polls local devices on the isolated network and passes the data up to the central Gateway. |
Network Architecture: Avoids expensive network routing redesigns while securely bridging data gaps. |
Technical Advantages
-
Bypasses the Browser Sandbox securely: Extends Perspective's reach without compromising the security model of modern web browsers.
-
No SMB/Shared Folders Required: Eliminates a major vector for ransomware on the plant floor. All communication is routed securely over the Ignition Gateway connection (HTTP/HTTPS/WSS).
-
Tag-Based Architecture: The host-agent communicates seamlessly with Ignition tags. To the Perspective developer, interacting with a local RS232 scanner or the local C: drive feels exactly like reading/writing standard OPC tags.
-
Resilience & Offline Buffering: If the connection to the Gateway drops, the agent can buffer local file events and hardware scans, pushing them to the Gateway once the connection is restored.