Distributed Command Execution for Delta-Based Control State Changes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional automation control and monitoring systems face inefficiencies due to centralized data models, leading to bandwidth and processing inefficiencies, as well as increased potential for inadvertent overwriting of state changes, and single points of failure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed data model and state change communication using delta scripts, where only changed data is transmitted, and utilizing distributed execution engines for asynchronous command execution, allowing for more efficient processing and redundancy across components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional centralized data models are used to communicate state information, then complete state data is provided to all components, but this results in bandwidth inefficiencies and processing inefficiencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed portions of state data (deltas) from the complete state and transmits only these differences to components. This eliminates the need to transmit entire state objects, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining data completeness for changed elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The state data is segmented into individual elements or properties that can be independently tracked and transmitted. Only the specific elements that have changed are identified and communicated, rather than transmitting the entire state as a single unit.
2Reliability
If traditional centralized data models are used, then all components receive full state data, but this causes processing inefficiencies and increased potential for inadvertent overwriting
Solution Approach 1:
Only the specific state elements that have changed are extracted and transmitted to components. This reduces the processing burden on components that only need to update specific fields rather than processing entire state objects, improving processing efficiency while maintaining consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where components can indicate which state elements they are currently processing or have locked. This prevents other components from overwriting these elements, reducing inadvertent overwriting while maintaining data consistency.
3Ease of operation
If centralized control and monitoring is implemented, then a centralized data model describes the control system, but this results in processing inefficiencies and increased dependencies on hosting components
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized data model is segmented into distributed state elements that can be independently managed and transmitted. This reduces the dependency on a single hosting component while maintaining the logical structure of centralized control, as components can request and process only the state elements relevant to their functions.
4Loss of information
If full state data is transmitted to components, then complete information is available, but this increases data transfer burdens and network traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the changed portions of state data (deltas) from the complete state and transmits only these differences to components. This eliminates the need to transmit entire state objects, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining data completeness for changed elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transmitting the complete state data (excessive action), the system transmits only the necessary changed portions (partial action). This partial transmission is sufficient to maintain data consistency while significantly reducing the volume of data transferred.
Data Source
AI summary
An automation control system is provided that includes one or more components. The components include an embedded execution engine that is configured to execute one or more commands based upon data communicated to the one or more components from another component of the automation control system. The data is representative of a change to an object in the control system.