Desired-State Generation for Edge Sites with Inverted Digital Twins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital twin systems struggle to provide accurate and up-to-date representations of edge sites, especially when nodes are disconnected or intermittently connected, leading to inefficient management and control of edge computing systems.
Innovation Solution
Employing an inverted digital twin approach that computes and predicts desired states for edge sites using a distributed platform system, incorporating machine learning models and digital models to create digital image representations that can be translated into real-world actions, enabling efficient management and control even in intermittently connected environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional digital twin systems are used to represent edge sites, then the system can predict real system behavior, but the representation becomes inaccurate when nodes are disconnected or intermittently connected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional digital twin approach by making the digital twin the source of truth rather than a reflection of the physical system. The inverted digital twin proactively pushes desired states to edge sites and uses declarative specifications to define expected behaviors, allowing the system to maintain accurate representations even when physical nodes are disconnected. This inversion resolves the contradiction by making the digital representation independent of continuous physical system feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining desired states and declarative specifications for edge sites before disconnections occur. The inverted digital twin prepares and stores the expected system state in advance, so when nodes disconnect, the representation remains accurate based on the pre-established specifications rather than relying on real-time data from potentially disconnected physical nodes.
2Measurement precision
If digital twins continuously synchronize with physical systems, then accurate real-time representation is achieved, but the system cannot handle intermittent connectivity or disconnected nodes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously synchronizing physical systems to update digital twins, the inverted approach has digital twins push desired states to physical systems. The system uses declarative specifications to define expected behaviors and states, allowing it to maintain measurement precision and adaptability simultaneously by not relying on continuous bidirectional synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces declarative specifications as an intermediary layer between the inverted digital twin and physical edge sites. This intermediary defines the expected relationship and behavior, allowing the system to maintain accurate representations during disconnections by referencing the declarative contract rather than requiring continuous physical feedback.
3Ease of operation
If existing digital twin systems are used for edge site management, then prediction capability is provided, but no actual control or action can be performed on the real system
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted digital twin reverses the control flow by having the digital twin actively push desired states to physical systems rather than merely observing them. This enables both ease of operation through centralized management and improved productivity by actually driving system behavior, as the declarative specifications translate directly into actionable commands for edge sites.
4Reliability
If digital twins require constant network connectivity to maintain accuracy, then up-to-date representations are achieved, but the system fails in intermittently connected edge environments
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted digital twin architecture eliminates the requirement for constant connectivity by inverting the dependency relationship. Instead of the physical system needing to continuously report to the digital twin, the digital twin maintains accuracy through declarative specifications and proactively pushes updates, enabling reliable operation in intermittently connected edge environments.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital image representation may be created by a distributed platform system for a site based on each of the plurality of user-specific actions. The digital image representation may be created by determining a current state of the site from one or more application components of the site, computing a desired state for the site to reach from the current state at some point in time, and creating the digital image representation for the site using the computed desired state to be reached by the site at some point in time. The distributed platform system uses one or more digital models for creating the digital image representation for the site. The distributed platform system may be configured to update the site to reach the desired state based on the digital image representation of the site, at some point in time.