Decentralized Compatibility Checking in Electronic Circuit Breakers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face complexity in compatibility checking, especially when adding new devices, due to centralized database management requirements.

Innovation Solution

Each electronic device in the system maintains a compatibility table with other devices, distributing compatibility data and allowing for decentralized compatibility checks, using version numbers to ensure compatibility and generate deviation indicators for incompatibilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a centralized database is used to manage compatibility information, then compatibility checking can be performed, but the system complexity increases when adding new devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility checkingVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized compatibility database is segmented and distributed to each electronic device individually. Each device receives and stores a copy of the compatibility information that is relevant to its communication needs, eliminating the single-point complexity of centralized management while maintaining comprehensive compatibility checking capabilities across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If compatibility data is centralized in a master device, then compatibility verification is possible, but scalability is reduced when adding devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility verificationVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Each electronic device is equipped with local compatibility information and the capability to independently perform compatibility verification with other devices. This self-service approach eliminates the need for devices to communicate with a central master for compatibility checks, enabling seamless addition of new devices to the network without requiring updates or coordination with a central authority.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2916220B1Electronic system comprising electronic devices, circuit breaker comprising such a system, method for generating a deviation indicator in the event of an incompatibility between devices and related computer program product

Publication Date: 2020.01.15 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS

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AI summary

This electronic system (10) comprises a set of electronic devices (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D), each electronic device having a memory (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) and a module (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D) for communication with one or more other devices in the set. This system includes a module (24A, 24B, 24D) for verifying the compatibility of each device with the other complementary devices with which said device is capable of communicating, and a module (26A, 26B, 26D) for generating a discrepancy indicator when an incompatibility between two devices is detected.The memory includes a table (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) of compatibility with other complementary devices, each compatibility table having a minimum version number required for each of the other complementary devices, and each verification module is adapted to compare a version number of each other complementary device with the minimum required version number.