Timestamp Tracking in Distributed Systems for Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracking program progress and user interaction in distributed systems are tedious, error-prone, and significantly disrupt system operation, requiring manual log file analysis and comparison with target values.
Innovation Solution
Generating and storing time stamps with defined data sets, such as time, location, and type, at specific system locations, using low computing power, and employing software or hardware-based generation with minimal system influence, followed by graphical representation for efficient analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual log file analysis is used to track program progress, then system disruption is minimized, but analysis speed and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically generates time stamps and stores them in memory without requiring manual intervention. The evaluation unit automatically reads and analyzes these time stamps to detect errors and track program progress, eliminating the need for manual log file analysis while maintaining high analysis speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis of log files with an automated electronic system. Time stamps are generated electronically and stored in memory, then automatically evaluated by a processing unit that can quickly detect errors and track program progress without human intervention.
2Speed
If time stamps are generated using software-based methods, then computing power consumption is reduced, but generation speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows configuration of time stamp generation parameters to switch between software-based and hardware-based methods. The system can adapt the generation method based on performance requirements, using hardware-based generation when high speed is needed and software-based generation when lower computing power consumption is acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between software-based and hardware-based time stamp generation methods depending on operational requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between generation speed and energy consumption based on current workload and available resources.
3Reliability
If time stamps are stored in intermediate memory, then system influence is minimized, but data retention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts time stamp data from the main program execution flow and stores it separately in intermediate memory. This separation allows the time stamps to be retained without interfering with normal program operation, while the evaluation unit can later read and analyze this stored data to detect errors and track progress.
Solution Approach 2:
Intermediate memory serves as an intermediary between the time stamp generation process and the evaluation process. It temporarily stores the time stamp data, allowing the system to minimize influence on the distributed system during generation while ensuring reliable data retention for subsequent analysis.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If graphical representation of time stamps is implemented, then error detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded graphical representations to display time stamp data, where different colors indicate different states or conditions. This visual encoding enables rapid error detection and pattern recognition without requiring complex analysis, as the human eye can quickly identify anomalies through color variations in the graphical display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms numerical time stamp data into graphical representations that visualize temporal patterns and relationships in a more intuitive dimension. By converting abstract time data into visual forms, the system makes error detection and program progress tracking more accessible and faster, reducing the cognitive load on the evaluation unit.
Data Source
AI summary
Program progress, the flow of information and/or the interaction of users in a distributed system of programmable controls and/or data-processing systems is/are tracked. Time stamps are generated and stored at previously defined places of the system. The time stamps contain a respective time and an ID and also may contain a respective clock time, a location, a type, a consecutive number and/or other data. The time stamps are generated on a software or hardware basis.