System for reducing electrical wiring in complex apparatus, such as vehicles and aircraft
First Claim
1. A method of operating a group of controllers, comprising:
- a) maintaining a shared database, circulating through all controllers in sequence;
b) at each controller, when the shared database arrives,i) modifying the shared database; and
ii) transferring the modified shared database to another controller in the sequence.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling multiple processors, each of which controls a group of hardware devices. Each processor is equipped with storage space for a database. A single, shared, database circulates among the processors, and only a single processor receives the database at any given time. All processors are idle with respect to the database, except when the database arrives. Upon arrival, the receiving processor (1) loads the fresh copy of the circulating database into memory, (2) updates the database with current values from its inputs, (3) using the database as input, performs computation, (4) produces output which is used to both (a) control its hardware and (b) add data to the database, (5) transfers the modified database to the next processor, and (6) becomes inactive with respect to the database. This sequence is repeated by all processors. While not actively working with the database, the processors are free to perform other tasks.
23 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a group of controllers, comprising:
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a) maintaining a shared database, circulating through all controllers in sequence; b) at each controller, when the shared database arrives, i) modifying the shared database; and ii) transferring the modified shared database to another controller in the sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20)
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9. In a system wherein N controllers each control states of their own hardware devices, a method comprising:
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a) at all times, causing i) (N-1) controllers to be idle, with respect to the database, wherein they hold the output states of their devices constant, and ii) a single controller to be an active controller, with respect to the database; and b) delivering a shared database to an inactive controller A, and causing controller A to become active, with respect to the database, and to i) insert status data into the shared database, to create a modified shared database II; ii) utilize part of the modified shared database II as instructions for controlling devices; iii) transmit modified shared database II to another controller; and iv) become an inactive controller, with respect to the database. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a system wherein (1) multiple controllers control hardware devices, (2) at least one controller requires information which is not available locally at that controller, a method comprising:
a) circulating a single shared database among the controllers in sequence, wherein each controller, upon receiving the database i) inserts into the database data needed by other controllers, ii) acts upon part of the database, and iii) passes the shared database to another controller. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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a) maintaining a collection of controllers which control devices through inputs and outputs; b) maintaining one database, which is circulated continuously around to each controller; and c) maintaining a mapping scheme for at least one controller which i) identifies a subset of data in the database; ii) specifies a logic function to which the subset is to be applied as inputs; and iii) specifies where output of the logic function is to be sent or placed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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21. In a system wherein N controllers each control states of their own hardware devices, a method comprising:
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a) at all times, causing i) (N-1) controllers to be idle, wherein they hold states of their devices constant, and ii) a single controller to be an active controller; and b) delivering a shared database to an active controller A, and causing active controller A to i) utilize part of the shared database as instructions for controlling devices; ii) insert status data into the shared database, to create a shared database II; iii) transmit shared database II to another controller; and iv) become an inactive controller. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification