Dual-Core ATM Redundant CPU Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
ATM software failures and hardware upgrades often result in significant downtime, as existing systems require rebooting or powering off, leading to prolonged unavailability and inefficiencies in transaction processing.
Innovation Solution
A dual-core ATM system with redundant hardware sets, including two central processing units, that allows seamless switching of peripheral devices to an already-booted core, minimizing downtime and enabling continuous operation even during software failures or maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-core ATM system is used, then the device complexity is lower, but the reliability deteriorates due to catastrophic software failures requiring lengthy reboots
Solution Approach 1:
The ATM system is segmented into two independent CPU cores, each capable of independently executing ATM operations. This segmentation allows one core to fail while the other continues to operate, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by dividing the system into functional segments that can operate independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The standby core is pre-booted and prepared in advance before any failure occurs. When a failure is detected, the system immediately switches to the pre-prepared standby core, eliminating reboot delays. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing redundancy beforehand rather than reacting to failures.
2Productivity
If traditional ATM systems perform software updates or hardware replacements, then maintenance can be conducted, but the productivity deteriorates due to extended downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-core architecture enables continuous transaction processing by switching to a standby core when the active core requires maintenance. While one core undergoes software updates or hardware replacements, the other core continues to handle customer transactions without interruption, resolving the contradiction between maintenance needs and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The standby core is maintained in a pre-booted state with updated software ready before any maintenance is needed. This allows the active core to be taken offline for maintenance while the standby core immediately takes over, eliminating downtime and maintaining productivity throughout the maintenance process.
3Reliability
If an ATM requires a system reboot due to software failure, then the system can recover, but the loss of time increases due to 30 minutes or more of unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The standby core is pre-booted and ready before any failure occurs. When a software failure is detected on the active core, the system immediately switches to the pre-prepared standby core, bypassing the lengthy reboot process entirely. This resolves the contradiction by preparing a ready-to-use backup in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
A duplicate (copy) of the ATM processing system is maintained in the standby core with identical functionality. When the active core fails, the standby copy immediately takes over without requiring a reboot sequence, resolving the time loss by using a pre-existing functional copy rather than restarting from scratch.
4Reliability
If hardware redundancy is implemented with dual cores, then the reliability improves through failover capability, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
Both CPU cores are designed with identical multi-functional capabilities to handle all ATM operations independently. This universality allows either core to perform any transaction type, reducing the need for specialized components and simplifying the overall architecture despite the dual-core configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral devices and system resources are merged and shared between both cores through a common bus and control architecture. This combining approach reduces the total component count compared to having completely separate systems, as both cores share power supply, memory, and peripheral interfaces, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining redundancy.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments a dual-core automated teller machine (ATM). The dual core ATM system and method includes two physical central processing units (“computing devices” or “cores”) that are configured to perform operations in coordination with peripheral devices. Peripheral devices of the dual-core ATM system can include a peripheral screen, such as a touch screen, a card reader, a PIN pad (e.g., an encrypted pin pad or “EPP”), a cash dispenser, and a cash deposit module. A peripheral switch can isolate one of the computing devices from the one or more peripheral devices and that can permit the other of the computing devices to control the one or more peripheral devices. By maintaining redundant hardware sets within the ATM enclosure, the system can avoid a necessary reboot or powering-off in the event of, for example, a software failure.