Contextual Awareness for Resource Configuration Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face performance degradation and increased processing time when swapping applications due to the need to change resource parameters, leading to potential interference between applications and inefficient resource management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a resource management component that pre-loads and stores configuration data associated with applications, using context values to efficiently reconfigure resources and manage access, thereby reducing the time required for application swapping and preventing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If application swapping is performed by changing resource parameters, then applications can be switched between different contexts, but system performance is negatively impacted and switching time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication switching capabilityVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-loads configuration data for multiple applications into a configuration buffer before they are actually needed. When an application swap occurs, the pre-loaded configuration data is already available in the buffer, eliminating the need for time-consuming parameter changes during the swap. This preliminary preparation of configuration data resolves the contradiction by enabling fast application switching without performance penalty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a configuration buffer as an intermediary component between the application and the hardware resources. This buffer stores configuration data and acts as a mediator that allows application swapping without directly changing hardware parameters. The configuration buffer absorbs the complexity of parameter management, enabling fast context switching while maintaining system performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If application swapping is performed by changing resource parameters, then different applications can utilize resources, but the time required for swapping increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication context switchingVSAvoidapplication swapping time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Configuration data for multiple applications is pre-loaded into the configuration buffer in advance. When an application swap is triggered, the system simply switches to the pre-loaded configuration data already residing in the buffer, rather than loading or modifying parameters during the swap. This preliminary action dramatically reduces application swapping time while maintaining full adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of configuration data for different applications and stores them in the configuration buffer. Instead of modifying the original configuration parameters during swapping, the system uses pre-copied configuration data that can be instantly activated. This copying approach eliminates time-consuming parameter changes while preserving application-specific configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If resource parameters are changed during application swapping, then applications can be transitioned between contexts, but application interference may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication context managementVSAvoidapplication isolation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration buffer serves as an intermediary that completely isolates application context switching from hardware resource parameter changes. Each application's configuration data is stored separately in the buffer, and switching between applications involves only selecting different buffer contents, not modifying shared hardware parameters. This mediation prevents application interference while maintaining context management capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments configuration data into separate, application-specific entries in the configuration buffer. Each application has its own isolated configuration record that can be independently selected without affecting other applications. This segmentation ensures that switching between applications does not cause parameter conflicts or interference, while still allowing full context management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3407239B1Contextual awareness associated with resources
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 GE AVIATION SYSTEMS LLC
  • EP3407239B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3407239B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3407239B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Contextual awareness associated with resources (308, 310, 312) can be employed to facilitate controlling access to resources (308, 310, 312) of a system (100), including function blocks (108, 110, 112). A resource manager component (RMC) (126) can pre-load a defined number of respective versions of configuration parameter data associated with respective applications (120, 122, 124) in each resource (308, 310, 312). With regard to each application (120, 122, 124), the RMC (126) can associate a context value, unique for each application (120, 122, 124), with the respective versions of configuration parameter data associated with that application (120, 122, 124). When a current application (120) is being changed to a next application, the RMC (126) can write the context value associated with the next application to a context select component (CSC) (138). Each resource (308, 310, 312) can read the context value in the CSC (138), identify and retrieve the version of configuration parameter data associated with the next application based on the context value, and configure the function block (108, 110, 112) based on the version of configuration parameter data.