Coordinator-Controlled Environment Model Updates for Multi-User Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges arise in maintaining synchronization of environment models shared among multiple users or controller devices, particularly when multiple users have permission to modify the model, leading to inconsistencies.
Innovation Solution
Designate one controller device as a coordinator to manage updates, allowing other devices to request modifications, accept or reject them, and synchronize changes across all devices while enabling local updates if rejected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple users are permitted to modify the environment model simultaneously, then user collaboration and productivity are improved, but model consistency and synchronization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device as an intermediary between multiple user devices and the environment model. This coordinator receives modification requests from multiple users, processes them sequentially, and manages updates to the environment model, thereby preventing direct conflicts while maintaining collaborative productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires users to submit modification requests to the coordinator before changes are applied to the environment model. The coordinator evaluates requests in advance, determines compatibility with existing modifications, and only applies changes that maintain model consistency, preventing conflicting updates
2Stability of the object's composition
If a coordinator device is designated to manage updates, then model consistency is preserved, but device complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator device performs multiple functions: it acts as a communication hub for modification requests, an evaluator for request compatibility, an updater for the environment model, and a notifier for other user devices. This consolidation of multiple functions into a single device manages complexity while maintaining model consistency
3Loss of information
If all devices synchronize with the coordinator, then all users have current information, but communication overhead and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coordinator implements a feedback mechanism where it notifies specific user devices of modifications only when changes occur. This selective feedback approach ensures that devices receive current information without requiring continuous synchronization, reducing network overhead and energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Modifications made by multiple controller devices to an environment model describing a shared automated environment can be coordinated. One of the controller devices can be designated as a coordinator, and any controller device other than the coordinator can send an update request to the coordinator. The coordinator can determine whether to accept or reject the requested modification and can report its determination to the requesting controller device. If the coordinator accepts the request, the coordinator can instigate operations to update the environment model across all controller devices of all users. If the coordinator rejects the request, the environment model is not updated. The controller device that made the request can update its local copy of the environment model and roll back the update if the request is rejected.