Configurable Distributed System Simulation Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed processing systems for vehicles face challenges in simulating realistic timing due to issues like jitter and communication latencies, leading to non-deterministic output sequences and differences in message timestamps between real-world and simulated scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a simulation clock that remains static during processing tasks, using metadata from real-world scenarios to align frame initiation times and message timestamps, and introduces a statistical mode to simulate message timing based on observed latency and jitter patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simulation clock is advanced continuously during processing, then the simulation progresses through time, but the timing becomes non-deterministic and does not align with real-world scenarios due to jitter and communication latencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing timing metadata from real-world scenarios before the simulation runs. This metadata includes observed execution times, message timestamps, and latency patterns that are used to guide the simulation clock, ensuring the simulation follows realistic timing behavior without needing to continuously advance through time during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of time progression from continuous advancement to static holding. The simulation clock is held static during processing tasks, and only advanced when necessary to align with real-world timing events. This parameter change eliminates the non-deterministic timing issues caused by continuous progression while maintaining accurate timing alignment with real-world scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If the simulation clock remains static during processing, then timing alignment with real-world scenarios improves, but the simulation progression is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the simulation clock static during processing tasks while still enabling parallel processing of multiple tasks. The static clock ensures accurate timestamp generation for all tasks executing at the same simulation time, while the system continues to progress through simulation frames by advancing the clock only when needed to transition between time steps.
3Adaptability or versatility
If message timestamps are generated based on real-world latency patterns, then the simulation becomes more realistic, but the complexity of timing management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating real-world timing characteristics in the simulation using stored metadata. Instead of complex real-time timing management, the system copies observed execution times, message timestamps, and latency patterns from real-world recordings into the simulation. This allows the simulation to exhibit realistic timing behavior without the complexity of managing actual latency variations during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback by incorporating observed timing data from real-world scenarios back into the simulation process. The metadata collected during real-world operation feeds into the simulation to guide clock advancement and message timestamp generation, creating a feedback loop that ensures the simulation accurately reflects real-world timing behavior without requiring complex adaptive timing management.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for the configurable simulation of distributed systems, such as vehicle-based processing systems. Simulations may be performed in various modes in which the timing of operations is based on timing observed in real-world instances or other recorded processes. In one simulation mode, the execution times of individual tasks are aligned to those of a recorded process. Data consumed during the recorded process is also consumed during the corresponding portion of the simulation, and data generated during the simulation is associated with timing data from data generated during the recorded processes. In another simulation mode, data generated during the simulation is associated with timing data based on a statistical analysis of timing data from one or more recorded processes. The various simulation modes, and a production mode for real-word instances, may be provided via a unified application programming interface.