Information processing method and information processing apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for generating control programs for home appliances and equipment require pre-development by manufacturers, making it difficult to create, customize, and update a wide variety of safe control programs, especially when third-party developers are involved, as they lack access to proprietary information about the appliances' parameters and performance.

Innovation Solution

An information processing method that allows operators to select and arrange function blocks for actuators and heaters, applying rules to ensure safe execution, modifying the application as needed to prevent unsafe operations, and distributing these programs as applications, ensuring safety and customization while maintaining proprietary knowledge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control programs are pre-developed by manufacturers, then safety is ensured, but customization and variety are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcustomization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control program is divided into multiple independent function blocks, each representing a specific control function. These blocks can be selected and combined in different sequences to create customized control programs while maintaining safety through predefined block structures and transition rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A rule-based system acts as an intermediary between the manufacturer's safety requirements and the user's customization needs. The system automatically checks and modifies block sequences to ensure they comply with safety rules while allowing users to select and arrange blocks freely within those constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If control programs are pre-developed by manufacturers, then safety is ensured, but development time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevelopment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Safety-critical function blocks and their internal logic are pre-developed and validated by manufacturers before being made available for user selection. This preliminary preparation ensures safety requirements are met while reducing the time needed for users to create customized programs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically performs safety checks and modifications using predefined rules, eliminating the need for manual verification of each customized program. This self-service approach maintains safety while dramatically reducing development and verification time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If third-party developers are allowed to create control programs, then customization increases, but safety verification becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidsafety verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rule-based system provides automatic feedback on whether a selected sequence of function blocks complies with safety requirements. The system checks block transitions and provides guidance or automatic modifications to ensure safety compliance, making safety verification transparent and automated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Third-party developers work with standardized function block templates that have already been validated for safety. Instead of creating custom control logic from scratch, they assemble programs using pre-validated blocks, ensuring safety while enabling customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If more function blocks are provided for selection, then customization options increase, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization optionsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A standardized set of function blocks is designed to cover multiple common control scenarios. Each block is multi-functional and can be used in different contexts, reducing the total number of blocks needed while still providing extensive customization options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rule-based system acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of block sequences. It automatically checks and validates combinations of blocks, shielding users from the underlying complexity while enabling them to use diverse block combinations for customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230113522A1Information processing method and information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.04.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An information processing method includes: selecting M blocks as M selected blocks from among N blocks for driving at least one of an actuator or a heater included in an apparatus, in accordance with an input operation performed by an operator; generating an application by setting an order of the at least M selected blocks in accordance with an input operation performed by the operator; consulting a rule that when one block included in two or more given blocks is executed, prohibits at least one of remaining blocks included in the two or more given blocks from not being executed, and modifying the application when the rule applies to the M selected blocks included in the application; and outputting the modified application.