Geometric Locking for Concurrent Autonomous Map Updates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Concurrent updates to large-scale maps by multiple systems can lead to map corruption and adverse events due to the lack of causal ordering and manual intervention, especially in autonomous and semi-autonomous systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing geometric-based mutual exclusion locks to enforce causal ordering of map updates, using geometric region descriptions to manage concurrent updates, and setting timeout periods to prevent stale locks, ensuring consistent and efficient map updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple automated systems update map resources concurrently without coordination, then map update productivity increases, but map reliability deteriorates due to corruption and causal ordering violations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lock service as an intermediary between multiple client systems and map resources. This mediator manages concurrent access by issuing geometric locks that enforce causal ordering, allowing high throughput while preventing corruption through coordinated access control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments map resources into geometric regions and uses geometric locks with spatial identifiers to manage access to different regions independently. This segmentation enables parallel updates to non-overlapping regions while maintaining consistency within each region, resolving the contradiction between concurrency and consistency.
2Reliability
If manual scheduling is used to manage concurrent map updates, then map reliability is maintained through causal ordering, but update productivity decreases due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service automated lock management where clients automatically acquire, hold, and release geometric locks without manual intervention. The lock service autonomously manages lock state, timeout periods, and conflict resolution, maintaining causal ordering while eliminating manual scheduling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of lock management from manual scheduling to automated geometric-based locking with timeout periods. This parameter change enables the system to maintain causal ordering through automated mechanisms rather than manual intervention, significantly improving productivity while preserving reliability.
3Reliability
If timeout periods are not implemented for locks, then map update consistency is maintained, but system productivity decreases due to stale deadlocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic timeout checks on geometric locks to prevent stale deadlocks. The lock service periodically evaluates whether locks should be released based on timeout periods, maintaining consistency by enforcing time-bound access while improving productivity by preventing indefinite blocking.
Data Source
AI summary
In various examples, causal ordering of concurrent updates for map resources may be enforced using geometric-based locks such that disparate systems may update the map resources concurrently. For instance, the disclosed systems and methods may lock first map resources corresponding to a first area of an environment so a first client may exclusively update the first map resources. While the first map resources are locked for updating by the first client, a request may be received from a second client to update second map resources. In some instances, the second map resources may correspond to a second area that overlaps the first area, and a timeout period—which may be extended by the first client—may be established. If the timeout period is met, the first map resources may be unlocked and the second client may resubmit the request to lock the second map resources for exclusive updating.