Duplex Control Unit Power Management for Software Consistency
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In duplexed information processing systems, the continuous power supply to backup control units for software updates increases power consumption, as they remain powered on at all times to match the active control unit's software, even when not actively used.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a power supply management mechanism where the backup control unit's power is only turned on when necessary, using a redundant power supply circuit that is typically off during normal operation, reducing overall power consumption by ensuring consistency with the active system's software only when a failure occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the backup control unit remains powered on at all times to maintain software consistency with the active control unit, then software consistency and failover capability are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup control unit's power state is made dynamic rather than static. The power supply circuit transitions between on and off states based on operational needs, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual requirements while maintaining failover capability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The backup control unit is powered on periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The power supply circuit activates the backup unit only when software updates are needed or when failover occurs, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining system reliability
2Use of energy by moving object
If the backup control unit is powered off to reduce power consumption, then power usage decreases, but software consistency with the active control unit deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Software updates are transferred to the backup control unit's storage medium while it is powered off. This preliminary action ensures that when the backup unit is powered on for failover or updates, the software is already consistent with the active control unit, eliminating the need for continuous power to maintain consistency
Solution Approach 2:
A storage medium acts as an intermediary between the active and backup control units. Software is copied to this intermediary storage while the backup unit is off, then transferred to the backup unit when needed, allowing software consistency to be maintained without continuous power supply
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing system includes a first control unit including a first memory configured to store first software, and a first controller configured to perform processing based on the first software and to update the first software in a case where an instruction to update the first software is received, and a second control unit configured to be coupled to the first control unit, the second control unit including a second memory configured to store second software that is the same as the first software, a second controller configured to perform processing based on the second software, and a first power supply circuit configured to start power supply to the second controller in a case where a failure in the first control unit is detected.