Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Handover protocol
Also known as: transfer protocol (material), handover sequence
German: Übergabeprotokoll
In production line integration, a handover protocol is the agreed sequence of signals, messages and checks by which two machines or systems transfer a product, carrier or task, so that both sides know at every moment who is responsible for it.
- System integration
In one sentence
A handover protocol is the agreed sequence of signals and checks by which two machines or systems transfer a product, carrier or task.
Example
Before a robot places a part on the conveyor, the conveyor reports “ready to receive,” the robot reports “part placed,” and the conveyor confirms “part received” before moving.
How it applies
- Engineering: A handover protocol usually consists of several handshakes. Define it as a state sequence on both sides, including aborts, timeouts and recovery when one side restarts in the middle of a transfer.
- Integration: Standardized handover interfaces, for example those defined by industry associations for conveyor or machine-to-machine communication, reduce effort when lines combine machines from several suppliers.
- Documentation: Document the protocol with a sequence or timing diagram and a signal table. Service manuals should explain how to clear a product stuck in the middle of a handover without causing a double transfer.
Handover protocol vs. communication protocol
A handover protocol is an application-level agreement about a physical or logical transfer. A communication protocol (Protocol (communication)) such as PROFINET or OPC UA only carries the signals it uses.