M:N High-Availability Control Resource Reallocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high availability systems rely on expensive and difficult-to-scale 1:1 physical redundant failover configurations, requiring extensive engineering efforts and formal hardware/software adjustments, especially when expanding production or replacing outdated components, which complicates hardware module management and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A system dynamically load-balances redistribution elements across a group of computing resources using an M:N working configuration, accessing operational data from a central data store to identify and redeploy resources, maintaining high availability without the need for 1:1 physical redundancy, by selecting suitable redistribution targets from a pool of remaining resources and executing remediation operations to ensure system integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 1:1 physical redundant failover configuration is used, then system reliability is improved, but hardware cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtualization to create a virtual copy of the standby controller that can serve multiple primary controllers simultaneously. Instead of requiring physical 1:1 redundant hardware, a single physical standby controller is virtualized to provide backup services to N primary controllers, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining reliability through virtual redundancy
Solution Approach 2:
The standby controller is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple primary controllers across different process areas. A single standby controller can assume the role of any failed primary controller through dynamic configuration, making the redundancy system universal rather than dedicated to specific hardware pairs
2Reliability
If 1:1 physical redundant failover configuration is used, then system reliability is improved, but scalability and ease of manufacture worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple redundancy functions into a single standby controller through virtualization. Instead of having separate standby units for each primary controller, the system combines all standby functions into one shared resource that dynamically allocates backup capacity as needed, enabling easier system expansion
Solution Approach 2:
The redundancy configuration is made dynamic rather than static. The standby controller can dynamically assume different roles and configurations based on which primary controller fails, allowing the system to adapt to various failure scenarios and scale flexibly without reconfiguring physical hardware connections
3Reliability
If formal hardware/software system definitions are required, then system reliability is ensured, but adaptability worsens when plant expansion is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization dimension that separates logical system definitions from physical hardware configurations. By moving redundancy management to the virtual/software layer, the system maintains formal definitions for reliability while gaining flexibility in physical deployment and expansion scenarios
Data Source
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AI summary
In a Boundaryless Control High Availability ("BCHA") system (e.g., industrial control system) comprising multiple computing resources (or computational engines) running on multiple machines, technology for computing in real time the overall system availability based upon the capabilities/characteristics of the available computing resources, applications to execute and the distribution of the applications across those resources is disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology can dynamically manage, coordinate recommend certain actions to system operators to maintain availability of the overall system at a desired level. High Availability features may be implemented across a variety of different computing resources distributed across various aspects of a BCHA system and/or computing resources. Two example implementations of BCHA systems described involve an M:N working configuration and M:N + R working configuration.