Synchronization method

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising

• assigning an unambiguous address to each machine instruction of the functionally identical sequences based on a position of each machine instruction within the functionally identical sequences;
• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying an instantaneous value of a synchronization counter in each subsystem to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization position based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• determining the unambiguous address of a first instruction of the machine instructions being carried out and the unambiguous address of a second instruction of the machine instructions corresponding to the synchronization position;
• while executing the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions, at least after the special event has been registered by the alerted subsystem, continuously comparing the unambiguous address of the first instruction of the machine instructions being executed to the unambiguous address of the second instruction of the machine instructions corresponding to the synchronization position;
• interrupting execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem exactly on attaining the synchronization position;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining and producing by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• and
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising:

• executing, by each subsystem, an increment instruction to one of increment and decrement a synchronization counter, the increment instruction being executed one of (i) after a fixed number of individual instructions of the machine instructions has been executed, and (ii) at certain substantially equidistant run time intervals, based on evaluation of run times of a number of the functionally identical machine instructions, the increment instruction further being executed in conjunction with a jump instruction:
• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying an instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in each subsystem to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization target value based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• interrupting execution of each subsystem at a synchronization position within the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions when the synchronization counter attains the synchronization counter target value;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining and producing by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising:

• inserting increment instructions into the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions, the increment instructions one of incrementing and decrementing a synchronization counter, the increment instructions being inserted one of (i) after a fixed number of individual instructions of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions, and (ii) at certain substantially equidistant run time intervals, run times of a number of machine instruction of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions having been evaluated, the increment instruction further being inserted in conjunction with each jump instruction:
• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying an instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in each subsystem to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization target value based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• interrupting execution of each subsystem at a synchronization position within the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions when the synchronization counter attains the synchronization counter target value;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining and producing by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising a synchronization counter;

• generating the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions from an instruction sequence of a programming language;
• testing one of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions and the instruction sequence for a search sequence, the search sequence being one of (i) selected ones of machine instructions, and (ii) selected ones of the instruction sequence;
• recognizing an occurrence of the search sequence;
• placing increment instructions one of before and after the search sequence, the increment instructions one of incrementing and decrementing a synchronization counter;
• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying an instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in each subsystem to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization target value based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• interrupting execution of each subsystem at a synchronization position within the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions when the synchronization counter attains the synchronization counter target value;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining and producing by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising:

• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying an instantaneous value of a synchronization counter in each subsystem to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization target value based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• interrupting execution of each subsystem at a synchronization position within the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions when the synchronization counter attains the synchronization counter target value;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• relaying a synchronization signal from each subsystem to another subsystem upon attainment of the synchronization counter target value by the synchronization counter;
• producing the specific response by each subsystem upon receiving the synchronization signal from all of at least one other subsystem;
• and
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.

A synchronization method for a redundant automation system having subsystems in communication with each other and executing functionally identical sequences of machine instructions to control a process, said synchronization method comprising:

• incrementing a synchronization counter in each subsystem upon execution of each jump instruction in the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions;
• detecting and registering a special event by an alerted subsystem;
• relaying from each subsystem an instantaneous value of the synchronization counter to another subsystem, starting with the alerted subsystem;
• determining by each subsystem a synchronization target value based on the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter therein and the instantaneous value of the synchronization counter in a different subsystem;
• interrupting execution of each subsystem at a synchronization position within the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions when the synchronization counter attains the synchronization counter target value;
• relaying the special event from the alerted subsystem to each other subsystem;
• determining and producing by each subsystem a specific response to the special event;
• recommencing after the synchronization position the execution of the functionally identical sequences of machine instructions by each subsystem after production of the specific response.