Scoped Parameter Contexts for Dependency Graph Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing job control systems face challenges in managing parameter dependencies and conflicts across tasks in a dependency graph, leading to ambiguities and uncertainties in parameter values during task execution.

Innovation Solution

The method involves maintaining multiple parameter contexts based on the dependency graph, allowing each task to bind values to parameters within its scope, and using explicit parameter passing to check for conflicts and ambiguities, ensuring consistent parameter values across repeated executions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single global parameter context is used, then parameter management is simple, but name conflicts and ambiguities occur when peer tasks access shared parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter context structureVSAvoidparameter value consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single global parameter context into multiple parameter contexts, each associated with a specific task or task group in the dependency graph. This segmentation allows parameters to be scoped to specific tasks, preventing name conflicts when peer tasks access shared parameters, while maintaining simple access patterns within each context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension to parameter management by associating parameter contexts with tasks in the dependency graph rather than using a flat global scope. This dimensional approach organizes parameters along the task execution hierarchy, enabling clear scoping rules that resolve ambiguities while preserving execution efficiency.

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

2Reliability

If parameters are passed explicitly between tasks, then conflicts and ambiguities can be checked, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter value consistencyVSAvoidparameter binding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces parameter contexts as intermediary structures that mediate between tasks. Instead of direct complex parameter passing, tasks interact through these contextual intermediaries that automatically manage parameter binding, scoping, and conflict detection, simplifying the overall mechanism while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically detect parameter conflicts and ambiguities by analyzing the dependency graph and parameter bindings. This feedback allows the system to identify issues before execution and provide guidance for resolving conflicts, reducing the need for manual complexity management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple parameter contexts are maintained according to dependency graph, then name conflicts are reduced, but the overhead for maintaining contexts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter scope isolationVSAvoidtask execution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing parameter contexts and their scopes based on the dependency graph before task execution begins. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for runtime context creation and reduces overhead during actual task execution, improving productivity while maintaining reliable parameter isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts parameter context usage based on the actual task execution path. When tasks execute in parallel, the system efficiently manages multiple contexts without significant overhead. When tasks execute sequentially, the system reuses contexts to minimize overhead, thereby optimizing productivity while maintaining scope isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If peer tasks can share parameters, then adaptability improves, but ambiguities and conflicts increase without proper scoping rules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparameter sharing capabilityVSAvoidscoping rule system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal parameter context framework that serves multiple functions: it enables parameter sharing between peer tasks, provides clear scoping rules, detects conflicts, and maintains adaptability. This multi-functional approach allows the system to handle various parameter sharing scenarios without requiring separate mechanisms for each case.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7594227B2Dependency graph parameter scoping
Publication Date: 2009.09.22 AB INITIO TECHNOLOGY LLC
  • US7594227B2 patent drawing
  • US7594227B2 patent drawing
  • US7594227B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A number of tasks are defined according to a dependency graph. Multiple parameter contexts are maintained, each associated with a different scope of the tasks. A parameter used in a first of the tasks is bound to a value. This binding includes identifying a first of the contexts according to the dependency graph and retrieving the value for the parameter from the identified context.