Patent ID: 6115713
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of allocating high reliability data in a system including nodes communicating with each other over a network, the nodes each including a processing means for executing, a sensor interface for receiving sensor data elements from sensors in the system, and a memory means for storing programmed high level features, the processor means executing the programmed high level features to control a process, the method comprising steps of:storing in the memory means of a first node of the nodes expected ranges of values of at least one of the sensor data elements for use by the high level features;receiving a received data element of the sensor data elements from the sensor interface of the first node at the programmed high level features and comparing the received data element with an expected range of the ranges of values corresponding to the received data element in the first node at the programmed high level features;if the received data element is within the expected range, tagging the received data element with an indicator that the received data element is reliable and using the received data element in further execution of the programmed high level features to control the process in the first node;if the received data element is not within the expected range, seeking via the network from a second node of the nodes the received data element and substituting a value representative of the received data element within the expected range obtained from the second node; and wherein the step of seeking from the second node further comprises searching directories in the second node of the nodes for alternate storage locations for the received data element and for an alternate sensor of the sensors for producing a sensor data element corresponding to the received data element.