System and method for synchronizing configurations in a controller network

• US 8,326,954 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Wei, Schumacher, Dennis Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Hee Soo
• Application Number:
  US12/219,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/220
• 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 on a machine, comprising:

providing a controller network on the machine that includes a plurality of control modules, wherein the plurality of control modules have registration information stored thereon;

detecting a registration information change associated with at least one control module in the controller network, the registration information change indicating that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a previous synchronization of the plurality of control modules; and

in response to detecting a registration information change indicating that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a previous synchronization of the plurality of control modules;

receiving current configuration data from the plurality of control modules;

creating new configuration data for the plurality of control modules in the controller network based on the received current configuration data, wherein creating new configuration data includes;

identifying, in the current configuration data for the at least one control module, an input/output parameter associated with the at least one control module; and

generating a read/write request for at least another control module of the plurality of control modules to read/write the input/output parameter; and

synchronizing the configuration of the plurality of control modules by updating the plurality of control modules 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 the at least one 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 creating new configuration data for the plurality of control modules further includes:

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

optimizing the current configuration data based on available resources in the controller network and on the relationships of the current configuration data associated with the plurality of control modules.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein optimizing the current configuration data improves the communication efficiency of the controller network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the configuration of the plurality of control modules includes:

sending the created new configuration data to the plurality of control modules;

updating the configuration of the plurality of control modules with the corresponding new configuration data; and

receiving updated registration information from the plurality of control modules.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein synchronizing the configuration of the plurality of control modules includes:

making a first attempt to synchronize the configuration of the plurality of control modules;

receiving a confirmation from the plurality of control modules if the configuration of the plurality of control modules is synchronized; and

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

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether synchronization has failed; and

when it is determined that synchronization has failed;

clearing the new configuration data in the plurality of control modules; and

reverting the configuration of the plurality of control modules to prior configuration data.

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

a processor on the machine and configured to;

detect a registration information change associated with at least one control module in the controller network, the registration information change indicating that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a previous synchronization of the plurality of control modules; and

in response to detecting a registration information change indicating that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a previous synchronization of the plurality of control modules;

receive current configuration data from the plurality of control modules;

create new configuration data for the plurality of control modules in the controller network based on the received current configuration data, wherein creating new configuration data includes;

identifying, in the current configuration data for the at least one control module, an input/output parameter associated with the at least one control module; and

generating a read/write request for at least another control module of the plurality of control modules to read/write the input/output parameter; and

synchronize the configuration of the plurality of control modules by updating the plurality of control modules with the created new configuration data; and

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

10. The configuration synchronization system of claim 9, 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.

11. The configuration synchronization system of claim 9, wherein the processor being configured to create new configuration data for the plurality of control modules further 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 and on the relationships of the current configuration data associated with the plurality of control modules.

12. The configuration synchronization system of claim 9, wherein the processor being configured to synchronize the configuration of the plurality of control modules includes the processor being configured to:

send the created new configuration data to the plurality of control modules;

update the configuration of the plurality of control modules with the corresponding new configuration data; and

receive updated registration information from the plurality of control modules.

13. The configuration synchronization system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further:

determine whether synchronization has failed; and

when it is determined that synchronization has failed;

clear the new configuration data in the plurality of control modules; and

revert the configuration of the plurality of control modules to previously running configuration data.

14. The configuration synchronization system of claim 9, 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.

15. A machine, comprising:

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

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

detect a registration information change associated with at least one control module in the controller network, the registration information change indicating that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a previous synchronization of the plurality of control modules; and

in response to an indication that a new configuration file has been stored on the at least one control module since a prior synchronization of the plurality of control modules;

receive current configuration data from the plurality of control modules;

identify, in the current configuration data for the at least one control module, an input/output parameter associated with the at least one control module; and

generate a read/write request for at least another control module of the plurality of control modules to read/write the input/output parameter;

create new configuration data for the plurality of control modules in the controller network, the new configuration data including the generated read/write request; and

synchronize the configuration of the plurality of control modules by updating the plurality of control modules with the created new configuration data.

16. The machine of claim 15, 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.

17. The machine of claim 15, wherein the configuration synchronization system is further configured to:

determine whether synchronization has failed; and

when it is determined that synchronization has failed;

clear the new configuration data in the plurality of control modules; and

revert the configuration of the plurality of control modules to previously running configuration data.

18. The machine of claim 15, further including a display device configured to display status information related to synchronizing the configuration of the plurality of control modules.