Device with extensibility

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10810018-B2
Application number	US-201816106137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2018
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A device with extensibility includes an architecture modeled as an ability acquisition model including an ability unit for implementing an ability, an data input unit that is an interface for an input from the ability unit, and a data output unit that is an interface for an output from the ability unit, as an architecture for additionally incorporating a new ability to a basic configuration of the device, and includes an ability setting unit for adding the new ability to the device by setting a function to each of the ability unit, the data input unit, and the data output unit, based on ability providing data including ability setting data, input setting data, and output setting data.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device with extensibility, comprising a processor configured to perform operations comprising:
operation according to a basic configuration of the device;
operation according to an architecture incorporating a new ability to the basic configuration of the device, the architecture incorporating the new ability being modeled according to an ability acquisition model comprising:
an ability unit configured to implement the new ability;
a data input unit comprising an interface for an input to the ability unit; and
a data output unit comprising an interface for an output from the ability unit; and

operation as an ability setting unit configured to add the new ability to the device by setting a functionality of each of the ability unit, the data input unit, and the data output unit, based on ability providing data comprising ability setting data, input setting data, and output setting data.

2. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured such that operation according to the basic configuration comprises operation as a sequence control unit configured to operate with sequence control.

3. The device with extensibility according to claim 2 ,
wherein the processor is configured such that:
operation as the data input unit comprises operation to import data from the basic configuration based on a control signal from the sequence control unit; and
operation as the data output unit comprises operation to output data to the sequence control unit.

4. The device with extensibility according to claim 3 ,
wherein the processor is configured such that:
operation as the basic configuration comprises operation as an image input unit configured to receive image data from a camera of an object to be inspected, and operation as an inspection result output unit configured to output an inspection result of the object to be inspected to an external device, and
operation as the data input unit comprises operation to import data from the image input unit based on a control signal from the sequence control unit.

5. The device with extensibility according to claim 4 ,
wherein the processor is configured such that operation as the sequence control unit comprises operation that, in response to the sequence control unit receiving a detection signal that is output from a sensor for detecting the object to be inspected, outputs a control signal to the image input unit such that the image input unit holds the image data obtained after a predetermined time period.

6. The device with extensibility according to claim 3 ,
wherein the processor is configured such that:
operation as the basic configuration comprises operation as a voice input unit configured to receive voice data from a user terminal, and operation as a result output unit configured to output a speaker identification result of the voice data to the user terminal, and
operation as the data input unit comprises operation to import data from the voice input unit based on a control signal from the sequence control unit.

7. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ability providing data comprises operation confirmation data, and
the processor is configured such that operation as the ability setting unit comprises operation to confirm, using the operation confirmation data, whether the added new ability correctly operates, after the function is set for each of the ability unit, the data input unit, and the data output unit based on the ability providing data.

8. The device with extensibility according to claim 7 ,
wherein the operation confirmation data comprises one or more pieces of input data and determination information for determining whether data, which is processed by the ability unit in response to the input data being received by the data input unit, is data to be output from the data output unit, and
the processor is configured such that operation as the ability setting unit comprises operation to confirm, using the determination information, whether the added new ability correctly operates by determining data that is output from the data output unit, which is obtained by the input data being received by the data input unit.

9. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ability setting data comprises data for setting, in the ability unit, a function of implementing the new ability,
the input setting data comprises data for setting, in the data input unit, a function relating to an interface for an input into the ability unit, and
the output setting data comprises data for setting, in the data output unit, a function relating to an interface for an output from the ability unit.

10. The device with extensibility according to claim 9 ,
wherein the function relating to the interface for the input to the ability unit comprises at least one of a function of importing data from the basic configuration to the data input unit, a function of importing data from another device to the data input unit, a function of processing the imported data, and a function of converting a data format so as to be compatible with the ability unit.

11. The device with extensibility according to claim 9 ,
wherein the function relating to the interface for the output from the ability unit comprises at least one of a function of processing the data that is output from the ability unit, a function of converting the data format so as to make it compatible with the basic configuration, and a function of converting the data format so as to be compatible with the other device.

12. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor comprises a rewritable electronic circuit, and
the ability providing data comprises data that is written in the rewritable electronic circuit.

13. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein
the ability providing data comprises a program that is executed by the processor.

14. The device with extensibility according to claim 1 ,
wherein the new ability is acquired through machine learning.

15. The device with extensibility according to claim 2 ,
wherein the ability providing data comprises operation confirmation data, and
the processor is configured with the program such that operation as the ability setting unit comprises operation as the ability setting unit configured to confirm, using the operation confirmation data, whether the new ability correctly operates, after the function is set for each of the ability unit, the data input unit, and the data output unit based on the ability providing data.

16. The device with extensibility according to claim 2
wherein the ability setting data comprises data for setting, in the ability unit, a function of implementing the new ability,
the input setting data comprises data for setting, in the data input unit, a function relating to an interface for an input into the ability unit, and
the output setting data comprises data for setting, in the data output unit, a function relating to an interface for an output from the ability unit.

17. The device with extensibility according to claim 2 ,
wherein the processor is configured to perform operation such that operation as an architecture comprises operation as an architecture comprising a rewritable electronic circuit, and
the ability providing data comprises data that is written in the rewritable electronic circuit.

18. The device with extensibility according to claim 2 ,
wherein
the ability providing data comprises a program

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Ando Tanichi

Classifications

• G06N3/0464

  Convolutional networks [CNN, ConvNet] · CPC title

• G06N3/09

  Supervised learning · CPC title

• G06N3/126

  Evolutionary algorithms, e.g. genetic algorithms or genetic programming · CPC title

• G10L17/00

  Speaker identification or verification techniques · CPC title

• G06F16/258 Primary

  Data format conversion from or to a database · CPC title