File Management with Versioned Middle Images for Control Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of updating control systems, including application environments, is time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the need to reset numerous control tags and manage large volumes of application data, especially during version upgrades or changes in hardware or operating systems.
Innovation Solution
A file management system that includes an application image management unit, a middle image management unit, and a file system configuration management unit to manage and ensure compatibility of files across different versions, allowing for efficient migration and compatibility processing of middle images within the application environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual resetting of control tags and management of application data is performed during control system updates, then compatibility and correctness of the updated system can be ensured, but the time and labor required for updates increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a middle image that is a copy of the application environment from the source control system. This middle image contains copied control tag settings and application data, which can be automatically transferred to the destination control system, eliminating manual resetting work while ensuring compatibility through the copied configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary packaging of the application environment into a middle image before the control system update. This middle image is prepared in advance with all necessary control tags and data, so that during the actual update process, the compatibility work has already been done, reducing update time significantly
2Manufacturing precision
If a large number of control tags and application data are managed manually during version upgrades, then detailed control and accuracy can be maintained, but the complexity of the update process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control tags, application data, and environment configurations into a single integrated middle image package. This consolidation reduces process complexity by treating multiple individual management tasks as one unified operation, while maintaining accuracy through the complete packaging of all necessary elements
Solution Approach 2:
The middle image acts as an intermediary that automatically transfers control tag settings and application data from source to destination systems. This intermediary mechanism maintains accuracy by preserving the original configurations while simplifying the update process, eliminating the need for manual management of individual control tags
3Reliability
If complete application environment rebuilding is performed during control system updates, then system compatibility and functionality can be ensured, but the productivity and speed of updates decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary application environment elements (control tags, data, configurations) into a separate middle image, rather than rebuilding the entire application environment. This extraction approach ensures system compatibility by including all necessary elements while improving update speed by avoiding unnecessary rebuilding operations
Solution Approach 2:
The middle image is prepared in advance as a preliminary package containing all necessary application environment elements. This preliminary action ensures compatibility is pre-validated while enabling faster updates, as the packaged middle image can be quickly deployed without performing complete environment rebuilding during the update process
Data Source
AI summary
A file management system that manages a file system in which a user interface is constituted, an application environment is constituted, and a middle layer is constituted includes: an application image management unit that manages an application image; a middle image management unit that manages a middle image for each version; and a file system configuration management unit that performs compatibility processing for using the middle image selected from the middle image management unit in the application environment, and places the middle image subjected to the compatibility processing in the application environment to make the middle image usable in the user interface.