Redundant Data Storage for Analysis Device Fault Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data transfer methods for analysis devices, such as medical diagnostic analyzers, require manual interventions, can result in data loss due to delayed export in case of device defects, and often involve expensive hardware solutions, lacking efficient redundancy and independence between internal and external storage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where analysis devices continuously store newly created or modified data redundantly on a non-volatile removable storage medium, independent of the internal storage, allowing seamless transfer to a replacement device in case of faults, using a non-volatile removable storage medium like CompactFlash cards, which are not essential for basic operation but ensure data redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual data export procedures are used, then data can be transferred between devices, but data loss occurs due to delayed export when device defects happen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata safetyVSAvoiddata transfer delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously and automatically exporting data to a centralized server before any device failure occurs. The data management method implements scheduled automatic exports at predetermined intervals, ensuring data is pre-transferred to safe storage locations, eliminating both data loss and transfer delays when defects occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If automatic data export is implemented, then data transfer occurs without manual intervention, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic data transferVSAvoiddata management system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized server as an intermediary that manages data storage and coordination between multiple analysis devices. This mediator handles the complexity of automatic data management, scheduling, and storage, while individual devices only need to communicate with the server using standard protocols, thereby reducing the operational complexity at the device level while enabling automatic data transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If standardized data protocols are used, then data can be exchanged between devices, but data redundancy and independence between internal and external storage are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata exchange capabilityVSAvoidstorage redundancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds another dimension to data storage by implementing a hierarchical storage architecture: local internal storage on each device, external removable storage media, and centralized cloud server storage. This multi-dimensional storage approach maintains data exchange capability through standardized protocols while significantly enhancing redundancy and independence, as data exists in multiple locations across different storage dimensions simultaneously.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2366163B1Method and system for managing data of analysis devices
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS GMBH
  • EP2366163B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2366163B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2366163B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A process for the management of data of an analysis device, which data serve for the operation of a further analysis device which is designed so as to be equivalent to the first analysis device, is disclosed. The analysis device newly creates or modifies data on an internal memory medium of the analysis device and the first analysis device, during its operation, continuously stores the newly created or modified data in a redundant manner in a non-volatile removable storage medium, with the removable storage medium being independent of the internal memory medium.