Serial Communication Protocol for UPS Data Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication protocols for network entities, such as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices, face challenges in presenting consistent data across multiple interfaces and generating common log files, leading to data delays and inconsistencies among monitoring devices, especially when multiple devices need to communicate over a single connection.
Innovation Solution
A serial-based communication protocol that allows multiple devices to operate in a 'pass-through' mode, enabling data to be repeated across multiple interfaces, and includes authentication methods for secure communication, eliminating the need for addressing in messages, and supporting coordinated control and observation of a single monitored device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple devices use conventional serial-based point-to-point protocols to communicate with a monitored device, then each device can independently monitor the system, but data delays occur between multiple devices causing log files to be different and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a master device as an intermediary that centralizes data acquisition from the monitored device and distributes it to multiple slave devices. This mediator architecture ensures all slaves receive identical data simultaneously, eliminating data delays and inconsistencies that occur when each slave independently communicates with the monitored device using conventional point-to-point protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is segmented into hierarchical roles: one master device and multiple slave devices. The master device handles all communication with the monitored device, while slave devices receive distributed data. This segmentation separates the data acquisition function (performed by master) from data distribution (also master) and local monitoring (slaves), resolving the conflict between independent monitoring and data consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are connected in a daisy-chain configuration using conventional protocols, then device complexity is reduced, but the protocol does not allow for multiple devices to communicate over the same connection effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced serial protocol is designed to be universal, allowing a single communication connection to serve multiple devices with different functions (master, slave, pass-through). The protocol incorporates role identification and authentication mechanisms that enable any device on the chain to understand its function and communicate appropriately, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate protocols for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol implements dynamic role assignment and authentication, where devices can be configured as master, slave, or pass-through based on system needs. The authentication mechanism dynamically verifies device identities and permissions, allowing the system to adapt to different configurations while maintaining protocol simplicity. This dynamic approach enables versatile multi-device communication without hardcoding complex protocols.
3Ease of operation
If higher-level protocols such as HTTP are used to transmit data from multiple devices, then data can be read in a common format by widely available software, but significant microprocessor resources are required increasing device cost
Solution Approach 1:
The master device serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of data formatting and protocol management. Slave devices with limited microprocessor resources simply receive pre-formatted data from the master, eliminating the need for them to implement resource-intensive higher-level protocols like HTTP. This mediator approach maintains data accessibility while reducing processor requirements at the slave device level.
Solution Approach 2:
The master device creates copies of the monitored device's data and distributes these copies to multiple slave devices. Each slave receives an identical copy of the data in a standardized format, eliminating the need for individual devices to independently process or format the data. This copying mechanism provides ease of operation with simple, resource-efficient slave devices.
4Productivity
If low-level communication methods such as analog signals are used between devices and an intermediary system, then processor bandwidth requirements are reduced, but the information is subject to external interference and low performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces vulnerable analog signal transmission with digital serial communication. The enhanced protocol uses digital data packets with authentication and error checking mechanisms, substituting the mechanical/analog transmission system with a more robust digital system that maintains processor efficiency while significantly improving signal quality and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol incorporates beforehand cushioning through authentication mechanisms and data validation checks performed before data processing. The master device verifies slave device identities and data integrity prior to accepting or transmitting information, preventing interference and errors from propagating through the system. This proactive validation maintains processor efficiency while ensuring high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect relates to a communication protocol for communicating between one or more entities, such as devices, hosts or any other system capable of communicating over a network. Another aspect relates to a system architecture that permits more than one slave system (e.g., a slave device) to be connected to a master system (e.g., a master device) in a communication system implementing a master/slave protocol. In one aspect, a pass-through device is provided that facilitates communication and authentication to one or more downstream slave devices. Yet another aspect relates to a star-based configuration of slave devices coupled to the master, and protocols for communicating and authenticating slave devices. Another aspect relates to a protocol that allows communication between entities without a priori knowledge of the communication protocol. In such a protocol, for example, information describing a data structure of the communication protocol is transferred between communicating entities. Further, an authentication protocol is provided for providing bidirectional authentication between communicating entities. In one specific example, the entities include a master device and a slave device coupled by a serial link. In another specific example, the communication protocol may be used for performing unbalanced transmission between communicating entities.