Work Device Time Synchronization for Cross-Controller Log Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In work devices with multiple control devices, individual control devices often fail to measure time accurately, making it difficult to compare action logs and determine maintenance needs across devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where each control device measures time based on a reference time acquired from a third control device, ensuring synchronization and enabling accurate recording and analysis of action logs and maintenance determinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each control device uses its own independent time measurement, then device operation is simple and autonomous, but time synchronization between devices deteriorates making log comparison difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference time source as an intermediary that provides standardized time information to all control devices. Each control device acquires reference time from this common source and uses it to synchronize its local time measurement, enabling accurate time comparison across devices while maintaining their operational autonomy
Solution Approach 2:
The reference time source serves as a universal time standard that can be acquired by any control device in the system. This universal time reference enables all devices to function with synchronized time measurements, allowing log comparison and coordinated operation across the entire work device system
2Measurement precision
If control devices acquire reference time from a third control device, then time synchronization improves, but system complexity increases due to additional communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The third control device acts as an intermediary that already possesses accurate time measurement capabilities. By having control devices acquire reference time from this existing mediator rather than implementing complex inter-device communication protocols, the system achieves time synchronization without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Each control device independently acquires reference time from the third control device using existing communication interfaces. This self-service approach allows devices to synchronize their own time measurements without requiring complex centralized time management or inter-device negotiation protocols
Data Source
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AI summary
In the case where multiple individual work devices that respectively execute a sequence of multiple tasks are controlled in an integrated manner by an integrated control device, log analysis among the multiple individual work devices is difficult. One of four individual work devices 12 transmits time inquiry signal S to main integrated control device 72 via serial communication cable 86. Main integrated control device 72 returns the time at time T at which time inquiry signal S was received to the one of four individual work devices 12 to which time inquiry signal S was transmitted. One of four individual work devices 12 receives a reply from main integrated control device 72 at time T1, adds the communication time to the time at time T, and calculates the time at time T1. One of four individual work devices 12 starts the calculation of the in-device time from calculated time T1 as a starting point. Also, one of four individual work devices 12 logs based on in-device time.