Synchronization in a distributed system
First Claim
1. A method for synchronizing control efforts of a plurality of controllers associated with a process, the method comprising:
- receiving updated process information regarding the process in association with a time stamp indicating when the updated process information was collected;
determining a maximum delay associated with distributing the updated process information to at least one of the plurality of controllers;
determining, based on the determined maximum delay, an apply time at which the plurality of controllers are to react to the updated process information, andupdating, at each controller of the plurality of controllers, a process model based on the updated process information and the determined apply time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for synchronizing the control efforts of a plurality of controllers includes determining an apply time for using updated information. The apply time can take into account worst case processing and/or communication delays across a system. Reacting to the updated information only after at the apply time ensures that all system elements are able to react to the updated information in concert. A time stamp indicates when the data was collected. The apply time indicates when the data can be used. Process modeling or simulation is used to estimate system status at the apply time based on the system status at the time of the time stamp, the updated information, and predetermined information regarding the behavior of the system over time. In a document processor, the method allows tightly coupled modules, such as sheet transportation modules, to behave in a cooperative manner when separate modules are in contact with the same sheet.
33 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for synchronizing control efforts of a plurality of controllers associated with a process, the method comprising:
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receiving updated process information regarding the process in association with a time stamp indicating when the updated process information was collected; determining a maximum delay associated with distributing the updated process information to at least one of the plurality of controllers; determining, based on the determined maximum delay, an apply time at which the plurality of controllers are to react to the updated process information, and updating, at each controller of the plurality of controllers, a process model based on the updated process information and the determined apply time. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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2. The method of claim I further comprising:
producing a control signal, at each controller of the plurality of controllers, based on the updated process model, beginning after the determined apply time.
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9. The method of claim I wherein determining a maximum delay associated with distributing the updated process information comprises:
determining a maximum number of state periods associated with transmitting the updated process information to the plurality of controllers.
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15. A system comprising:
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a plurality of controllers, each controller of the plurality being operative to control a portion of a task associated with a process; a distributing element that is operative to receive updated process information regarding the process, select controllers of the plurality to receive the updated process information, distribute the updated process information to the selected controllers in conjunction with at least one of a time stamp indicating when the undated process information was collected and an apply time indicating when the information is to be used. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for synchronizing control efforts of a plurality of module controllers in a document processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving updated sheet processing information in association with a time stamp indicating when the updated sheet processing information was collected; determining a maximum delay associated with distributing the updated sheet processing information to at least one of the plurality of module controllers; determining, based on the determined maximum delay, an apply time at which the plurality of module controllers are to react to the updated sheet processing information, and updating, at each controller of the plurality of module controllers, a sheet process model based on the updated sheet processing information and the determined apply time. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A document processing system comprising:
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a first xerographic marking engine; a plurality of transport module controllers, each transport module controller of the plurality being operative to control a portion of a sheet transportation task related to transporting a sheet to or from the first xerographic marking engine; a distributing element that is operative to receive updated process information, select transport module controllers of the plurality to receive the updated process information based on the received updated process information, and distribute the updated process information to the selected transport module controllers in conjunction with at least one of a time stamp indicating when the information was collected and an apply time indicating when the information is to be used. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification