Distributed Inspection Data Management With Local Key-Value Storage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing production systems face challenges in efficiently managing large volumes of inspection data from multiple apparatuses, leading to data consistency issues and processing bottlenecks when using a single database to collect inspection results.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a key-value database on inspection apparatuses for storing and managing inspection result data, allowing for efficient storage and delayed transmission to a management server, which also includes a key-value and relational database for easy data conversion and analysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single database is used to collect inspection result data from multiple inspection apparatuses, then data centralization is achieved, but processing bottlenecks and data consistency issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata centralizationVSAvoiddata collection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized database system into distributed database units at each inspection apparatus. Each apparatus maintains its own database, segmenting the data management function across multiple independent nodes, thereby eliminating the single-point bottleneck while maintaining data accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical data management structure with local databases at the apparatus level and a central management server at the system level. This adds a spatial dimension to data storage, allowing data to exist simultaneously at multiple levels (local and central) without forcing all data through a single collection path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single database is used to collect inspection result data from multiple inspection apparatuses, then data centralization is achieved, but data consistency and association complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata centralizationVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data storage function from the central management server and places it at each inspection apparatus. This separation allows each apparatus to independently manage its own data with simple local storage rules, while the central server focuses only on data retrieval and analysis, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Each inspection apparatus autonomously manages its own database, performing local data storage, retrieval, and validation without requiring centralized coordination for every operation. This self-service approach simplifies data management at the source while reducing the burden on the central system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If inspection result data is stored in traditional database format, then data structure is maintained, but searching and retrieval efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata structureVSAvoiddata retrieval time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the data storage parameter from traditional relational database format to key-value database format. This parameter change optimizes the data structure for rapid retrieval operations while maintaining data integrity, allowing O(1) time complexity for data access compared to the O(n) or O(log n) complexity of traditional databases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a hybrid data storage approach by implementing both key-value databases at the apparatus level for fast retrieval and traditional relational databases at the central server for structured analysis. This composite approach leverages the strengths of both database types for different operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2492767B1Inspection system, management server, inspection apparatus and method for managing inspection data
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 OMRON CORP
  • EP2492767B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2492767B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2492767B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An inspection system is provided that can efficiently perform the management of data obtained from a plurality of apparatuses. An inspection system (10) includes inspection apparatuses (11 a), (11 b) and (11c) to inspect products that are produced in a factory, and a management server (30) that is connected via a communication line to the inspection apparatuses (11a), (11 b) and (11c). The inspection apparatus (11a) includes an apparatus-side inspection result DB (database) (14a). The apparatus-side inspection result DB (14a) stores the inspection result data, which is data representing the result of inspecting a substrate with the inspection apparatus (11 a). The apparatus-side inspection result DB (14a) is a key-value database that is constituted by keys and values.