Communication in a distributed system
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between a first element and a second:
- element in a system, the method comprising;
determining at least one goal related to a task to be performed by the second element;
determining at least one constraint related to how the at least one goal is to be achieved;
communicating the at least one goal and the at least one constraint to the second element; and
receiving an error message if the second element is not capable of achieving the at least one goal in accord with the at least one constraint.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Controllers communicate commands in terms of goals and constraints. A goal is an objective. A constraint is information regarding how the goal is to be achieved. For example, a constraint may specify when, or how much of, a resource may be used to achieve a goal. Additionally, or alternatively, a constraint may specify an acceptable or expected accuracy or tolerance regarding how the goal is achieved. Each controller is expected to achieve assigned goals in accord with associated constraints. Thereby, system communication may be reduced. If controllers achieve goals according to specified constraints, the controllers do not need to provide updates or be updated regarding the status of activities of other controllers or regarding other operational context information. In some embodiments, commands are generally not acknowledged. Instead, serving controllers respond to a command with an error message if a goal cannot be met in accord with an associated constraint.
159 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a first element and a second:
- element in a system, the method comprising;
determining at least one goal related to a task to be performed by the second element;
determining at least one constraint related to how the at least one goal is to be achieved;
communicating the at least one goal and the at least one constraint to the second element; and
receiving an error message if the second element is not capable of achieving the at least one goal in accord with the at least one constraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- element in a system, the method comprising;
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20. A document processing system comprising:
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a first xerographic marking engine;
a transport system that is operative to transport media to and/or from the first marking engine, the transport system including a plurality of transport actuators;
at least one actuator controller that is operative to control at least one transport actuator of the plurality of transport actuators to transport print media based on at least one received goal and at least one received constraint; and
at least one supervisory controller that is operative to communicate at least one goal and at least one constraint to the at least one actuator controller. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method that is operative to coordinate activities of a plurality of controllers in a document processing system, the method comprising:
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determining a processing path through the document processing system for a sheet of print media, the path including a first module that is tightly coupled to a second module, whereby for at least a portion of a processing performed by the system both the first module and the second module operate on the sheet at the same time;
determining respective first and second controllers associated with the first and second modules;
determining respective cooperative first and second goals and constraints for actions of the first module and the second module;
communicating the respective first cooperative goal and constraint to the first controller; and
communicating the respective second cooperative goal and constraint to the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A system comprising:
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a first system element;
a second system element; and
a communication link between the first element and the second element, wherein the first system element is operative to determine at least one goal related to a task to be performed by the second element, to determine at least one constraint related to how the at least one goal is to be achieved by the second element and to communicate the at least one goal and the at least one constraint to the second element in a message carried over the communications link, and wherein the second system element is operative to receive the message carried over the communications link, evaluate the at least one goal and the at least one constraint in light of capabilities of the second element and to communicate an error state in a message carried over the communications link to the first element, if the evaluation indicates that the second element is not capable of achieving the at least one goal in accord with the at least one constraint. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification