Control Record Timing With Dual Counters for Ex-Post Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control apparatuses face challenges in achieving sufficient time accuracy for data analysis, particularly when aggregating data from multiple devices, as they often require complex time synchronization processes, which can be resource-intensive and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus is designed with a first counter for managing execution timing of control computation and a second counter for managing data communication timing, along with a synchronization manager to ensure accurate counter value matching, allowing for more precise data analysis without the need for complex time synchronization processes, even on hardware with limited resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex time synchronization processes are used to achieve accurate data analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time synchronization function from complex multi-device coordination and consolidates it into a single time synchronization device that provides centralized time references to all other devices, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The time synchronization device acts as an intermediary between the networked devices and time reference standards, mediating time synchronization across the system and eliminating the need for complex peer-to-peer synchronization protocols
2Measurement precision
If complex time synchronization processes are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the computationally intensive time synchronization calculations to dedicated time synchronization devices with appropriate hardware resources, the patent reduces the processing energy burden on resource-constrained sensing and actuating devices
3Loss of information
If data is collected from multiple devices for aggregation and analysis, then quantity of information is improved, but time synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into specialized functional devices: time synchronization devices that handle time reference management, sensing devices that collect data, and actuating devices that execute commands, with clear interfaces between them that simplify synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The time synchronization device serves as an intermediary that provides standardized time references to all data-collecting devices, enabling accurate temporal correlation of data from multiple sources without requiring complex inter-device synchronization
4Measurement precision
If resource-intensive hardware is used to perform complex synchronization processing, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments hardware resources by deploying sophisticated time synchronization processing only in dedicated time synchronization devices, while sensing and actuating devices can use simpler, more cost-effective hardware since their timekeeping needs are met through the centralized time reference
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a mechanism for enabling a control apparatus that is provided with the function of collecting and storing data regarding a control target, to easily perform ex-post analysis or the like. A control apparatus that controls a control target is provided. The control apparatus includes: a time manager configured to manage time; a counter configured to synchronize with at least one device; a control computation unit configured to execute control computation according to timing indicated by the counter; and a record generator configured to generate a record that includes an observation value that is available to the control computation unit and is related to the control target, time that is indicated by the time manager and is associated with the observation value, and a counter value that is indicated by the counter and is associated with the observation value.