System and method for synchronizing configurations in a controller network

• US 20100023605A1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Wei, Schumacher, Dennis Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,954 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/177 Initialisation or configuration control processor initialisation G06F9/4405

Abstract

A method is disclosed for synchronizing configuration data. The method may include providing a controller network that includes a plurality of control modules and each control module may have registration information stored thereon. The method may include detecting a registration information change associated with a control module and receiving current configuration data from the control module, if the registration information change is detected. The method may also include creating new configuration data for each control module in the controller network based on the received current configuration data, and synchronizing the configuration of each control module with the created new configuration data.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing configuration data, comprising:

providing a controller network that includes a plurality of control modules, wherein each control module has registration information stored thereon;

detecting a registration information change associated with a control module;

receiving current configuration data from the control module, if the registration information change is detected;

creating new configuration data for each control module in the controller network based on the received current configuration data; and

synchronizing the configuration of each control module with the created new configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the registration information includes a most recent file update time stamp and a most recent synchronization time stamp.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting a registration information change includes:

receiving the registration information from a control module in the controller network;

comparing the most recent file update time stamp with the most recent synchronization time stamp; and

detecting the registration information change if the most recent file update time stamp does not match the most recent synchronization time stamp.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current configuration data includes at least one read request or at least one write request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating new configuration data for each control module includes:

analyzing relationships of the current configuration data associated with the controller modules in the controller network;

optimizing the current configuration data based on available resources in the controller network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the current configuration data maximizes the communication efficiency of the controller network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the configuration of each control module includes:

sending the created new configuration data to each control module;

updating the configuration of each control module with the corresponding new configuration data; and

receiving updated registration information from each control module.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the configuration of each control module includes:

making a first attempt to synchronize the configuration of each control module;

receiving a confirmation from each control module if the configuration of each control module is synchronized; and

making a second attempt to synchronize the configuration of each control module, if the confirmation is not received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the configuration of each control module includes:

clearing the new configuration data in each control module; and

reverting the configuration of each control module to previously running configuration data.

10. A configuration synchronization system for synchronizing configuration data in a controller network, wherein the controller network includes a plurality of control modules with registration information stored thereon, comprising:

a processor configured to;

detect a registration information change associated with at least one control module;

receive current configuration data from the at least one control module, if the registration information change is detected;

create new configuration data for each control module in the controller network based on the received current configuration data; and

synchronize the configuration of each control module with the created new configuration data; and

a memory unit configured to store the current configuration data and the new configuration data.

11. The configuration synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the registration information includes a most recent file update time stamp and a most recent synchronization time stamp, and wherein the processor being configured to detect a registration information change includes the processor being configured to:

receive the registration information from a control module in the controller network;

compare the most recent file update time stamp with the most recent synchronization time stamp; and

detect the registration information change if the most recent file update time stamp does not match the most recent synchronization time stamp.

12. The configuration synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the processor being configured to create new configuration data for each control module includes the processor being configured to:

analyze relationships of the current configuration data associated with the controller modules in the controller network;

optimize the current configuration data based on available resources in the controller network.

13. The configuration synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the processor being configured to synchronize the configuration of each control module includes the processor being configured to:

send the created new configuration data to each control module;

update the configuration of each control module with the corresponding new configuration data; and

receive updated registration information from each control module.

14. The configuration synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the processor being configured to synchronize the configuration of each control module includes the processor being configured to:

clear the new configuration data in each control module; and

revert the configuration of each control module to previously running configuration data.

15. The configuration synchronization system of claim 10, wherein the current configuration data and the new configuration data are stored under different file directories, and the current configuration data may be maintained in the memory unit until the synchronization succeeds.

16. A machine, comprising:

a controller network including a plurality of control modules with registration information stored thereon; and

a configuration synchronization system coupled to the controller network, being configured to;

detect a registration information change associated with at least one control module;

receive current configuration data from the at least one control module, if the registration information change is detected;

create new configuration data for each control module in the controller network based on the received current configuration data; and

synchronize the configuration of each control module with the created new configuration data.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the registration information includes a most recent file update time stamp and a most recent synchronization time stamp, and wherein the configuration synchronization system being configured to detect a registration information change includes the configuration synchronization system being configured to:

receive the registration information from a control module in the controller network;

compare the most recent file update time stamp with the most recent synchronization time stamp; and

detect the registration information change if the most recent file update time stamp does not match the most recent synchronization time stamp.

18. The machine of claim 16, wherein the configuration synchronization system being configured to create new configuration data for each control module includes the configuration synchronization system being configured to:

analyze relationships of the current configuration data associated with the controller modules in the controller network;

optimize the current configuration data based on available resources in the controller network.

19. The machine of claim 16, wherein the configuration synchronization system being configured to synchronize the configuration of each control module includes that the configuration synchronization system being configured to:

clear the new configuration data in each control module; and

revert the configuration of each control module to previously running configuration data.

20. The machine of claim 16, further including a display device configured to display status information related to synchronizing the configuration of each control module.