Chainable Plug-Ins for Distributed Delta State Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional automation control and monitoring systems face inefficiencies due to centralized data models, leading to bandwidth and processing inefficiencies, as well as increased potential for inadvertent overwriting of state changes, and limited flexibility in modifying system functionality.

Innovation Solution

A distributed data model and communication approach that only transmits changed state data, using delta scripts for state change notification and distributed command execution, enabling asynchronous execution of commands through embedded execution engines on various components, thereby reducing data transfer and processing load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional centralized data models are used to communicate state information, then complete system state can be maintained, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates and processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate information completenessVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the changed portions of state information (deltas) from the complete system state and transmits only these differences to subscribers. This selective extraction of necessary information resolves the contradiction by maintaining state completeness through delta updates while dramatically reducing bandwidth consumption compared to transmitting full state data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the monolithic centralized state communication into distributed delta updates that can be independently processed by multiple subscribers. Each subscriber receives only the specific delta changes relevant to their interests, enabling parallel processing of state updates across the system and improving overall processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional centralized data models are used to communicate state information, then complete system state can be maintained, but processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate information completenessVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments centralized state management into distributed delta processing across multiple independent subscribers. Each subscriber independently processes relevant delta updates without waiting for centralized coordination, enabling parallel processing and significantly improving system productivity while maintaining complete state information through the distributed architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Subscribers autonomously process delta updates and manage their own state synchronization without requiring centralized coordination for each update. This self-service approach allows multiple subscribers to simultaneously process state changes independently, dramatically improving processing efficiency while maintaining complete and consistent system state information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If traditional approaches transmit entire state data, then state changes can be communicated, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate change communicationVSAvoidbandwidth efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential changed elements (deltas) from complete state data and transmits only these extracted differences to subscribers. This selective extraction maintains full state change communication capability while minimizing bandwidth consumption by eliminating transmission of unchanged data portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If centralized control and monitoring is used, then system coordination can be maintained, but device complexity increases and dependencies increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem coordinationVSAvoidcomponent dependencies
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments centralized control functionality into distributed event handlers and delta processors that operate independently across multiple components. Each component maintains local state and processes updates autonomously, reducing inter-component dependencies and overall system complexity while preserving coordination through the shared event-driven architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Individual system components autonomously handle their own state management and event processing without requiring centralized coordination for each operation. This self-service capability reduces dependencies on central controllers while maintaining system-wide coordination through the standardized event subscription mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2592506B1Chainable plug-ins
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECH INC
  • EP2592506B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2592506B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2592506B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An automation control and monitoring system is provided that includes chainable plug-ins that may work in combination with one another to transform data or generate events. Resources of the automation control and monitoring system may be polymorphically defined based upon a generalized object model. The chainable plug-ins may be chained to make use of and/or affect a resource of any type.