Electronic Component State Verification via Hash Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for checking the actual state of electronic components are not reliable, particularly in ensuring successful updates of operating systems across multiple components connected within a network, often requiring significant effort to verify correct loading and configuration.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a central unit connected to electronic components via a network, which determines the actual state by comparing specified component and status information using hash values, and outputs an error signal if the actual state differs from a predetermined target state, ensuring reliable verification of component updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing methods are used to check the actual state of electronic components, then the verification process is simpler, but the reliability of verification is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification reliabilityVSAvoidverification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing hash values of the target state before the actual state changes occur. When verification is needed, the system only needs to compare the newly calculated hash value with the pre-stored target hash value, rather than performing a complete state verification. This resolves the contradiction by making verification reliable through hash comparison while keeping the process simple through pre-computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the complex problem of verifying electronic component states into a simpler parameter comparison problem by using hash values. Instead of verifying entire system states, the invention converts state information into compact hash parameters that can be efficiently compared. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high verification reliability through accurate hash comparison while reducing process complexity through parameter transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If manual verification methods are used for electronic component updates, then the verification process is easier to implement, but significant effort and time are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification efficiencyVSAvoidverification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual verification mechanics with an automated hash-based verification system. Instead of manually checking component states, the system automatically calculates hash values and compares them with target hash values. This resolves the contradiction by dramatically improving verification efficiency through automation while reducing the time required compared to manual verification processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy (hash value) of the target state that can be quickly compared against the actual state. Rather than verifying the entire complex state of electronic components, the system uses compact hash value copies that represent the essential state information. This resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid automated verification (improving productivity) while minimizing verification time through efficient hash comparison.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive state verification is performed on all electronic components, then the accuracy of verification is higher, but the complexity of the verification system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate verification accuracyVSAvoidverification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms comprehensive state verification into precise hash value comparison. By converting complex state information into compact hash parameters, the system achieves high verification accuracy through exact hash matching while keeping the verification system simple. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement precision through accurate hash comparison while reducing device complexity through parameter transformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential verification information from complex electronic component states by calculating hash values. Instead of verifying all aspects of component states, the system extracts critical state information into compact hash representations that can be efficiently compared. This resolves the contradiction by achieving high verification accuracy through essential parameter extraction while reducing system complexity by focusing only on critical state attributes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3876477B1Method for checking the current condition of electronic components
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH DE
  • EP3876477B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3876477B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for verifying the actual state (IC) of at least two electronic components (2), each comprising predefined component information and state information, is described, comprising the following steps: - determining the actual state (IC) of all electronic components (2) based on the predefined component information and the state information, - providing a predefined target state (TS) of the electronic components (2), - comparing the determined actual state (IC) with the predefined target state (TS), and - outputting an error signal based on the comparison. Furthermore, a device (1), a rail vehicle (6), a computer program, and a computer-readable storage medium are described.