Controller Redundancy via Ownership Transfer for Instruction Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital systems with redundant controllers sharing a common identity, the service module cannot distinguish between controllers and thus cannot verify that each controller has received digital instructions, leading to challenges in transmitting and confirming the receipt of instructions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that includes a first communications module, an ownership module, and a request module to transfer ownership of the communication medium and request retransmissions, allowing multiple controllers to receive digital instructions and confirm successful transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple redundant controllers share a common identity for communications, then controller redundancy and reliability are improved, but the service module cannot distinguish between controllers and verify individual receipt of digital instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication process by introducing unique temporary identifiers for each controller instance while maintaining the shared common identity. This allows the service module to address and verify each controller individually without compromising the redundancy architecture. The segmentation enables separate tracking of instruction receipt status for each controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary identification mechanism that bridges the common identity sharing requirement and the individual verification need. By using temporary unique identifiers as intermediaries during communication, the service module can distinguish between controllers and confirm individual receipt while the controllers continue to share their common identity for redundancy purposes.
2Ease of operation
If the service module transmits digital instructions to a common identity, then communication simplicity is maintained, but individual controller verification and separate instruction transmission become impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assigning temporary unique identifiers to controllers before instruction transmission. This pre-established identification mechanism allows the service module to maintain simple communication using the common identity while having the capability to verify individual receipt through the pre-assigned unique identifiers when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication approach where the service module can use the common identity for general transmissions and the unique temporary identifiers for verification purposes. This multi-functionality allows a single communication framework to handle both simple broadcasting and individual verification without requiring separate communication channels.
3Reliability
If controllers share a common address on the communication medium, then redundancy functionality is achieved, but the service module cannot transmit and verify instructions to each controller separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identification function by maintaining the shared common address for redundancy while introducing unique temporary identifiers for precise tracking. This segmentation allows the system to preserve redundant function capability through the common address while achieving measurement precision in instruction verification through the unique identifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different identification characteristics to different aspects of controller operation. The common address provides the global redundancy characteristic, while unique temporary identifiers provide local verification precision for individual instruction transmission and receipt confirmation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for receiving digital instructions at devices or controllers sharing an identity. A first controller receives a digital instruction instance over a communications medium. The digital instruction instance may be a firmware instance. The first controller has ownership of the communications medium and shares the communications medium and a common identity with a second controller. An ownership module transfers ownership of the communications medium from the first controller to the second controller. The ownership module may transfer ownership in response to the first controller successfully receiving the digital instruction instance. A request module requests a retransmission of the digital instruction instance, and may request the retransmission in response to the transfer of ownership of the communications medium. The second controller receives the retransmitted digital instruction instance in response to the retransmission request.