Front End Processor Automatic Switching for Data Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current redundancy configurations for Front End Processors (FEPs) are overly simplistic, leading to data integrity and communication reliability issues during abnormal operating conditions, with no real-time effective prompt starting solution for Integrated Supervisory Control Systems (ISCS).
Innovation Solution
An automatic switching system for FEPs, comprising a primary and secondary FEP, where the secondary FEP takes over as a new primary when a fault occurs, ensuring data continuity and integrity by using secondary drivers to transmit control instructions and acquire data from external devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple data redundancy configuration is used for FEP, then device complexity is reduced, but data integrity and communication reliability cannot be effectively ensured during abnormal operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple driver paths (primary and secondary drivers) and establishing fault detection mechanisms before abnormalities occur. When a fault is detected in the primary driver's communication link, the system can immediately switch to the secondary driver without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus ensuring data integrity while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fault detection and switching control mechanism that mediates between the primary/secondary drivers and external devices. This intermediary layer monitors communication status and automatically activates the secondary driver when the primary fails, resolving the contradiction by adding reliability-enhancing functionality without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
2Speed
If only simple redundancy switching is performed when FEP abnormality occurs, then switching speed is improved, but real-time effective prompt starting solution for ISCS is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the fault detection module continuously monitors communication links and provides real-time status information to the switching control module. This feedback loop enables the system to not only switch quickly but also to provide real-time effective prompts to the ISCS about the abnormality status and switching actions, thus maintaining fast switching speed while enhancing real-time reliability
3Device complexity
If primary driver is used for all communication tasks, then device complexity is reduced, but system reliability deteriorates when communication link fault occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the driver functionality into primary and secondary driver components with distinct roles. The primary driver handles normal communication tasks while the secondary driver stands by as a backup. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple operation during normal conditions while providing enhanced reliability through the segmented backup structure, resolving the contradiction between complexity and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses an automatic switching system and method for a front end processor (FEP). The system includes: at least one external device and a FEP assembly. The FEP assembly is connected to the at least one external device. The FEP assembly provides services upward by using a primary memory, a primary TO manager, a secondary memory, and a secondary TO manager, and is connected downward to the at least one external device by using at least one primary driver and at least one secondary driver. The FEP assembly is configured to use the at least one secondary driver as a new primary driver when there is a fault in a communication link between the at least one primary driver and the at least one external device, to transmit a control instruction to the at least one external device and acquire data from the at least one external device.