Hierarchical Inheritance Database for Configuration Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-component systems, there is a challenge in disseminating data that defines changes to system or component states, settings, or configurations to other interrelated systems/components, and determining the value of unnamed data items, which often results in inefficiencies or errors.
Innovation Solution
A multi-component process notification system using a database with hierarchical inheritance, where each system component only needs to be aware of its controlled parameters, and the system manager handles resource management and communication between components through a configuration database, employing directed hierarchical inheritance to determine parameter values and notify components of changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each system component checks frequently to detect changes in other components, then system reliability improves, but system efficiency deteriorates due to frequent checks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a notification system where components automatically receive feedback about changes in other components through a centralized database. Instead of components actively checking for changes, the system provides passive feedback by notifying components when relevant data changes occur, thereby maintaining reliability without the overhead of frequent active checks
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system enables components to serve themselves by automatically detecting and communicating changes through the database hierarchy. Each component can independently register its interests and receive notifications without requiring other components to actively poll or check for changes, improving overall system efficiency
2Reliability
If each system component is aware of all parameters in the system, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system information space into hierarchical groups and namespaces within the database structure. Components only need to be aware of parameters within their specific namespace and hierarchy level, rather than the entire system state. This segmentation maintains reliability by ensuring components have access to relevant data while reducing complexity by limiting the scope of parameters each component must track
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system provides local quality by delivering change notifications specifically tailored to each component's interests and hierarchy level. Components receive notifications only for changes within their relevant scope, rather than being notified of all system changes. This localized approach maintains reliability by ensuring components have necessary information while reducing complexity by filtering out irrelevant data
3Ease of operation
If default values are assumed for unspecified data items, then ease of operation improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized configuration database as an intermediary between data definition and data usage. The database hierarchy and inheritance mechanism act as a mediator that automatically resolves unspecified data items by searching parent hierarchies for default values. This intermediary approach maintains ease of operation by automatically providing defaults while improving data accuracy by systematically searching the hierarchy rather than making arbitrary assumptions
Data Source
AI summary
A database system comprising a plurality of access keys stored in a first data memory device sector, each access key associated with a node value stored in a second data memory device sector. An access key processor configured to receive an input value and return the associated node value for the input value if the input value matches an access key stored in the first data memory device sector. The access key processor is configured to generate a revised input value if the input value does not match an access key stored in the first data memory device; a default node value stored in the second data memory device sector and associated with a portion of the input value, wherein the access key processor is configured to return the default node value as part of the revised input value.