Distributed Resource Coordination for Faster Local Service Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centralized resource coordination systems require significant computation and communication resources, and may not provide timely solutions to resource deployment demands.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized system where resources within a network self-coordinate to meet service level targets through short-range and long-range recruitment, utilizing local and network resource controllers to adjust output and recruit additional resources as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If centralized resource coordination is used, then resource deployment can be controlled centrally, but computation and communication resources are significantly consumed and response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource coordination reliabilityVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized coordination system into multiple distributed resource controllers, each managing local resources independently. This segmentation eliminates the single-point bottleneck, reducing both computation load and response time while maintaining coordination reliability through peer-to-peer communication among controllers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the coordination function from a central authority and distributes it to individual resource controllers. Each controller independently makes deployment decisions based on local conditions and peer communications, removing the time-consuming central computation and communication overhead while preserving coordinated resource management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If centralized resource coordination is used, then resource deployment can be controlled centrally, but computation and communication resources are significantly consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource coordination reliabilityVSAvoidcomputation and communication resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized computation and communication functions into distributed operations at multiple resource controllers. Each controller performs local computations and communicates only with relevant peers, dramatically reducing total computational overhead and communication bandwidth consumption while maintaining coordination effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables resource controllers to autonomously make deployment decisions using local information and peer-to-peer communications, eliminating the need for continuous central coordination. This self-service approach minimizes computation and communication resource consumption while maintaining reliable resource coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If decentralized peer-to-peer coordination is used, then computation and communication resources are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource deployment efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by enabling each resource controller to independently manage its own resources and make local decisions based on local conditions. This distributed autonomy improves deployment efficiency while the standardized peer-to-peer interaction protocols keep system complexity manageable through modularity and uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3696672B1System and method for coordinating resources
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3696672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3696672B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3696672B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Coordination of a plurality of resources is disclosed to respond to a local service target. A local measurement is taken by a first resource and, if the first resource cannot satisfy the local service target, short range recruitment of one or more additional resources is performed by providing a first signal to a cluster of resources associated with the first resource. If the short range recruitment does not satisfy the local service target, a second signal is provided to a network resource controller for long range recruitment of one or more resources to satisfy the local service target.