Function Flow Control for Device Failure Reassignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control systems for linking multiple devices struggle to efficiently adapt and change device linkages in response to device failures, as they often have fixed one-to-one correspondences between functions and devices.
Innovation Solution
A control system that manages function flow information and link information to dynamically reassign functions to alternative devices in case of failures, allowing for easy changes in process management and efficient use of multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed one-to-one correspondence between functions and devices is used, then device assignment is simple and clear, but the system cannot easily adapt to device failures or changes
Solution Approach 1:
Each device is assigned multiple function identifiers, allowing a single device to perform multiple functions. This enables flexible reassignment where any device can take over any function, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable to failures without requiring complex one-to-one mapping management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines device-linkage information based on current device status and function requirements rather than using fixed assignments. When device failure occurs, the control device automatically recalculates and redistributes functions to available devices, enabling adaptation without manual intervention while maintaining manageable complexity through automation.
2Reliability
If dynamic reassignment of functions to devices is enabled, then the system can adapt to device failures, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically detects device failures and performs self-service reassignment of functions without external intervention. The system monitors device status, identifies failures, and autonomously redistributes functions to operational devices, maintaining reliability while controlling complexity through automated self-management rather than complex manual control procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors device operation status and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust function assignments. When device failure is detected through status feedback, the control device automatically triggers reassignment procedures, ensuring continuous operation while managing complexity through closed-loop control rather than open-loop complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices can perform multiple functions, then flexibility and adaptability improve, but the management of device-function linkages becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical management of device linkages with automated electronic control. The control device automatically manages the complex relationships between multiple devices and functions through software algorithms, eliminating the need for manual tracking and reassignment while maintaining full flexibility. This substitution of automated electronic management for manual mechanical management resolves the contradiction by making complex multi-function device management easy to operate.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a control system comprises a plurality of devices and a controller. The controller stores first information representing a linkage of a plurality of functions that realize a single process and second information representing a correspondence between the devices and the functions, and controls the devices based on the first information and the second information to realize the single process.