Glossary
Plain definitions for the words projects rely on
Each entry gives a definition and where the term actually sits in a Tongwei solution. Agreeing on vocabulary during evaluation saves a great deal of rework.
- Modbus Protocol
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The most widely used industrial communication protocol, commonly as Modbus RTU (serial) or Modbus TCP (Ethernet), reading and writing device registers in a master-slave pattern.
In a Tongwei solutionThe primary onboarding protocol for SG and BEC gateways. Most meters, drives, PLCs and instruments connect over Modbus, so it is the first interface we check when assessing connectivity.
- RS485 Physical layer
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A differential serial bus common in industrial settings, allowing many devices on one twisted pair with long range and good noise immunity.
In a Tongwei solutionThe main field wiring form. One RS485 bus carries multiple devices; the practical count depends on bus length, baud rate and device load, and is assessed per site.
- SNMP Protocol
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Simple Network Management Protocol, used to monitor network devices and IT infrastructure by reading OIDs and receiving trap alarms.
In a Tongwei solutionThe usual route for onboarding UPS, precision cooling, switches and server status in equipment-room scenarios.
- MQTT Protocol
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A lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol for IoT, suited to limited bandwidth and unstable links, with quality-of-service levels and last-will messages.
In a Tongwei solutionThe main uplink between gateway and platform, also used to push data into a customer's existing IoT platform or data hub.
- Digital input / output Signal type
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DI reads switch states (door contacts, leak signals, run/stop contacts); DO drives switch actions (relays, start/stop, audible-visual alarms).
In a Tongwei solutionWhen a device has no comms port, DI/DO is often the most direct way to capture key states and drive local interlocks, with channels provided by SDS / IOC modules.
- Point table Engineering
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A list of every data item to be read or written, with address, type, range, unit, scaling factor and meaning — the foundational document for device onboarding.
In a Tongwei solutionThe prerequisite for feasibility, quoting and scheduling. Without it the workload cannot be established, so it is the first document we request.
- Device model Platform
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A standardised abstraction of a device class's attributes, states, events and actions, so similar devices share configuration, display and alarm logic.
In a Tongwei solutionThe key to volume rollout: once the model exists, the second and hundredth identical device need no repeat configuration.
- Offline buffering and backfill Edge capability
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During a network outage the gateway stores samples locally and backfills them in time order once the link returns, avoiding gaps in the record.
In a Tongwei solutionEssential for scattered sites and shop floors. Buffer duration depends on sampling rate and point count, estimated against the real point table.
- Local interlock Edge capability
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Rules configured on the gateway or controller act directly in the field when conditions are met, bypassing the cloud and so unaffected by network state.
In a Tongwei solutionUsed where latency matters or action must continue during an outage, such as starting ventilation on a limit breach or triggering an on-site alarm.
- Alarm tiering and de-duplication Operations
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Alarms are ranked by severity and routed to different channels and owners; de-duplication and flap suppression merge repeats so one problem does not notify repeatedly.
In a Tongwei solutionA decisive setting in multi-site projects. In practice we enable high-severity alarms first, then open lower tiers once the process is stable.
- Closed-loop work order Operations
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The full chain from alarm to dispatch, acceptance, field handling, feedback, closure and review statistics, giving every exception an owner and an auditable outcome.
In a Tongwei solutionThe test of whether smart operations actually landed. Monitoring and alarms without a work-order loop leave exceptions seen but unhandled.
- Energy sub-metering Energy
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Classification splits by medium (electricity, water, gas, cooling, heat); itemisation splits by area, workshop, system, line or end use, locating where consumption arises.
In a Tongwei solutionThe foundation of the energy scene. It requires a correct metering topology, or the analysis cannot support assessment and remediation.
- Time-of-use tariff and demand Energy
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A tariff structure splitting the day into peak, flat and valley periods. Demand is the maximum average power in a billing window, usually tied to a capacity charge.
In a Tongwei solutionThe dimension of consumption analysis that most directly yields cost conclusions, identifying shiftable load and demand peaks.
- Unit consumption Energy
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Energy consumed per unit of output or service, used to benchmark efficiency across shifts, lines and time periods.
In a Tongwei solutionMore useful than total consumption, but the definition must match how the business actually counts output, or benchmarks do not hold.
- Device-edge-cloud architecture Architecture
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The device layer senses and acts, the edge layer onboards protocols and judges in real time with buffering, and the cloud or on-premise platform aggregates, analyses, coordinates and retains.
In a Tongwei solutionThe shared foundation of every Tongwei solution. Deciding what runs at the edge versus the platform determines what still works during an outage.
- OEM branded delivery Commercial
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Delivering product or platform under the customer's brand — name, logo, colours and domain — so end users see the customer's brand, not the supplier's.
In a Tongwei solutionA common delivery mode in product complement. OEM pages, integrations, dedicated models and custom development are scoped and quoted separately.
- Paid PoC Delivery
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A pilot stage validating technical feasibility and business value at small scale, with defined acceptance criteria and a time window.
In a Tongwei solutionTongwei PoCs are chargeable in principle, with partial credit possible against volume orders. Charging ensures both sides commit to defined goals rather than an open-ended trial.