Scalable and flexible control system having symmetrical control units
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsDanny A. Reed, Suyash Sinha, Mohamed E. Fathalla, Charles J. Williams, Boyd L. Hays
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Abstract
A control system is described that includes a scalable collection of one or more symmetric control units. The control units govern separate respective aspects of a target system, such as a data center. Each control unit can include a set of pluggable modules, including learning functionality, decision functionality, event processing functionality, sensor functionality, and actuator functionality. The scalable and extensible nature of the control system allows the control system to be quickly and efficiently deployed in response to changes in the target system being controlled.
Claims20
A control system for controlling a target system, comprising:
- at least two control units having symmetric functionality, each control unit comprising:
- sensor processing functionality configured to receive sensor information;
- actuator processing functionality configured to control at least one actuator associated with the target system;
- and
- decision functionality configured to control the target system to achieve at least one goal specified by a policy, the decision functionality accepting at least one input and generating at least one output which promotes said at least one goal,
- at least one of the decision functionality, sensor processing functionality, and actuator processing functionality corresponding to a pluggable module.
A control unit for controlling a target system, comprising:
- a sensor service module configured to receive sensor information from one or more sensors;
- actuator processing functionality configured to control at least one actuator associated with the target system;
- an event processing module configured to facilitate processing of information within the control unit and interaction of the control unit with at least one other control unit;
- a decision module configured to control the target system to achieve at least one goal specified by a policy, the decision module accepting at least one input and for generating at least one output which promotes said at least one goal;
- and
- a learning module configured to dynamically adjust behavior of the control unit based on at least one dynamic factor,
- each of the learning module, decision module, event processing module, sensor service module, and actuator processing functionality corresponding to a respective pluggable module.
A method for controlling at least one target system, comprising:
- providing at least two control units to control at least two respective aspects of the target system, said at least two control units collectively comprising a control system, said at least two control units including symmetric functionality;
- for each control unit, selecting pluggable modules for use in the control unit;
- for each control unit, selecting policy information which defines at least one goal to be achieved by the control unit;
- and
- using the control system to govern operation of the target system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.