Arbitration Module for Redundant Embedded Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In control systems with redundant processors, existing arbitration techniques often lead to incorrect control actions due to the lack of robust methods for handling conflicting outputs, especially when an even number of processors are used, and the computational intensity of recording and processing large amounts of data.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies critical functions and parameter values in each execution path, using bit vectors to efficiently store and select the appropriate output results by applying logic functions or tables within an arbitration module to determine the correct output for further processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all execution data from redundant processors is recorded for arbitration, then arbitration accuracy is improved, but data storage and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential arbitration information from complete execution data. Instead of recording all execution data from redundant processors, the system identifies and records only critical functions and their parameter values that are necessary for arbitration decisions. This extraction principle reduces data storage requirements and processing complexity while maintaining arbitration accuracy by focusing on the most relevant information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies of execution data in the form of bit vectors that represent critical function execution status. Rather than storing and processing complete execution traces, the system uses compact bit vector representations where each bit indicates whether a critical function was executed. This copying approach maintains the essential arbitration information while dramatically reducing data complexity and storage requirements.
2Reliability
If comprehensive execution data is collected from all processors, then fault detection capability is improved, but computational intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical information needed for fault detection from complete execution data. By identifying critical functions and recording only their execution status and parameter values, the system maintains fault detection capability while avoiding the computational burden of processing all execution data from multiple processors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by recording only the necessary portion of execution data (critical functions and parameters) rather than complete execution traces. This partial recording approach provides sufficient information for fault detection and arbitration decisions without the excessive computational intensity of processing comprehensive execution data from all processors.
3Reliability
If detailed execution information is stored for each processor, then arbitration decision accuracy is improved, but data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts essential arbitration information from detailed execution data by identifying critical functions and their parameter values. This extraction creates a condensed representation that maintains arbitration decision accuracy while significantly reducing data storage requirements compared to storing complete execution information from each processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter representation from detailed execution traces to compact bit vectors and critical parameter values. This parameter transformation maintains the essential information needed for accurate arbitration decisions while reducing storage requirements through more efficient data representation formats.
4Reliability
If redundant processing results are fully analyzed, then control system safety is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical information needed for safety arbitration from complete processing results. By focusing on critical functions and their parameter values, the system maintains control system safety through accurate fault detection while reducing processing time by avoiding analysis of non-essential execution data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by analyzing only the necessary portion of redundant processing results (critical functions and parameters) rather than performing full analysis of all execution data. This approach provides sufficient information for safe arbitration decisions without the excessive processing time required for comprehensive analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of arbitrating conflicting outputs in a redundant control system. Execution data of a task executed by each controller in the redundant control system is recorded. The execution data includes an initial timestamp of each execution stream, identification of critical functions in each execution stream, and parameter values used by the critical functions. A path executed by each controller is identified based only on the critical functions executed for each execution stream. The recorded execution data of each executed path is applied to an arbitration module. An output result from one of the respective controllers selecting, by an arbitration module, based on the recorded execution data of each executed path. The output result of the selected controller is communicated to a next module for further processing.