Component Interface Control for Deterministic Pipeline Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex data processing pipelines in systems like autonomous vehicles are difficult to tune due to obscured performance issues, and replacing components can lead to non-deterministic outputs, especially when operating in parallel on different computing nodes.

Innovation Solution

A framework that controls inputs, outputs, and execution states of components using controllers, allowing for deterministic reproduction and 'plug-and-play' replacement of components, ensuring consistent system behavior across different hardware configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If components are replaced to improve performance, then specific metric improves, but system output becomes non-deterministic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance tuningVSAvoiddeterministic output
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The framework captures the execution state of a component before replacement occurs. This preliminary state capture ensures that when a component is replaced, the system can reproduce the exact same execution state, thereby maintaining deterministic output while allowing performance improvements through component replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The framework creates a copy of the component's execution state (including inputs, outputs, and internal state) before replacement. This copy allows the system to reproduce the exact behavior of the original component, ensuring determinism while enabling the use of improved replacement components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If data processing pipeline is made complex to handle multiple functions, then system capability increases, but performance tuning becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidpipeline complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The framework segments the data processing pipeline into independent components, each with its own execution state capture mechanism. This segmentation allows complex pipelines to be managed systematically, as each component can be tuned and replaced independently while maintaining overall system determinism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The framework implements feedback mechanisms that monitor and capture execution states of components. This feedback allows the system to understand performance characteristics of each component in the complex pipeline, enabling targeted optimization without overwhelming complexity in the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If component execution state is captured for deterministic reproduction, then output consistency improves, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput consistencyVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The framework captures only the essential execution state information needed for deterministic reproduction, rather than capturing every possible detail. This partial action approach ensures output consistency while minimizing the computational overhead associated with state capture and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3884380B1Coordinated component interface control framework
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ZOOX INC
  • EP3884380B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3884380B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3884380B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A coordinated component interface control framework may deterministically reproduce behavior of a data processing pipeline. The framework may include a controller that controls input to, output from, and/or execution of a component of the pipeline (e.g., via an interface). The framework may also tune performance of the pipeline and/or enable parallel processing of the pipeline, even across different machines, while preserving the ability to deterministically reproduce behavior of the pipeline. An interface may facilitate replacing a component with a different and/or updated component and/or changing a type of controller that controls the component via the interface. For example, the different types of controllers may facilitate communication between components controlled by other controllers (and/or that aren't controlled by a controller), controllers that generate reproducibility data so that component behavior may be reproduced, controllers that reproduce component behavior, and/or controllers that tune performance of the pipeline, e.g., by varying input, output, and execution of respective component(s).