Parallel Program Updating in Hierarchical Control Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face inefficiencies in program updating, particularly when a large number of control portions need to be updated sequentially, leading to prolonged update times due to the hierarchical supervisory-subordinate relationships between control portions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus classifies devices into groups based on supervisory-subordinate relationships and stores program updating order information, allowing parallel updates within each group, with the main control portion coordinating the update process based on this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If program updating is performed sequentially for each control portion in hierarchical order, then updating reliability is maintained, but updating time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control portions into multiple groups based on their supervisory-subordinate relationships. Each group can be updated independently and in parallel, breaking the sequential dependency chain. This segmentation allows simultaneous updating of multiple control portions without compromising reliability, as long as the hierarchical dependencies within each group are respected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of control portions into groups based on their hierarchical relationships before the actual updating process. This preliminary organization enables the system to identify which control portions can be updated in parallel, preparing the updating schedule in advance to minimize total updating time while maintaining reliability constraints.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of control portions is increased to handle more functions, then system functionality is improved, but updating complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting control portions into groups based on their hierarchical relationships, the patent manages the complexity of updating numerous control portions. Each group can be updated independently, making the overall updating process more manageable despite the large number of control portions in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal updating method that can be applied to any number of control portions regardless of their specific functions. The grouping and parallel updating approach works universally across different system configurations, making the updating process scalable and adaptable to systems with varying numbers and types of control portions.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an information processing apparatus that allows program updating to be promptly completed. In the information processing apparatus, a memory of at least one of a plurality of devices or a storage portion stores program updating order information specifying an order for updating a program in each device group. Upon an acquisition portion acquiring update data, in accordance with an order of priority in each device group represented by the program updating order information, each of the plurality of devices classified into a plurality of device groups performs program updating with respect to itself.