Switching device for Ethernet-based fieldbus

Abstract

The invention relates to a switching device for an Ethernet-based field bus. A switching device includes a primary interface and at least two secondary interfaces, a plurality of protocol modules, an identification module, and at least two first selection elements associated with the at least two secondary interfaces. The protocol modules are configured such that the protocol modules provide switching and / or routing functionality. The identification module is configured to identify predetermined type values in Ethernet frames, generate a predetermined selection signal, and generate a selection signal indicating a protocol assigned to the identified type value when one of the predetermined type values is identified in a first Ethernet frame. The selection elements comprise at least two first selection elements which are respectively electrically connected with the at least two secondary interfaces, and for each first selection element, at least two input ends of the corresponding first selection element are connected with corresponding output ends of the at least two protocol modules; and the output end of the corresponding first selection element is connected with the sending port of one of the auxiliary interfaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a switching device for an Ethernet-based field bus, a gate network list for a field programmable logic array and a programming code for a field programmable logic array. Background Art

[0002] In automation technology, fieldbuses are used to transmit messages or telegrams between various devices, such as controllers and machines in automated production systems. The messages to be transmitted contain, for example, control instructions, control parameters, sensor data or status data. Fieldbuses can be based on Ethernet, where messages corresponding to the respective fieldbus message format are transmitted as useful data in Ethernet frames. Examples of fieldbuses that support Ethernet are or Depending on the fieldbus type, the field devices can be wired according to various topologies such as ring, star or line topology. For various fieldbuses in star topology, messages are usually forwarded and routed to the field devices according to different methods. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention provides a switching device for an Ethernet-based fieldbus, a gate network list for a field programmable logic array and a programming code for a field programmable logic array according to the independent patent claims. The dependent patent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0004] The switching device according to the present invention comprises a main interface and at least two secondary interfaces, a plurality of protocol modules, an identification module and a plurality of selection elements. These protocol modules are set up to provide switching and / or routing functions according to at least one of a plurality of protocols. The identification module is set up to: identify a predetermined type value in an Ethernet frame; generate an assigned selection signal; and, if one of these predetermined type values ​​is identified in a first Ethernet frame, generate the following selection signal, which is assigned to the protocol corresponding to the identified type value. These selection elements include at least two first selection elements, which are electrically connected to the at least two secondary interfaces respectively, wherein, for each selection element in these first selection elements, at least two input ends of the corresponding first selection element are connected to the corresponding output ends of at least two protocol modules, and the output end of the corresponding first selection element is connected to the transmission port of one of these secondary interfaces. Correspondingly, the switching / routing of the switching device is determined by a selection signal, which is generated by the identification module based on the identified type value. Since the type value characterizes a specific protocol, the protocol module used is selected according to the protocol used in the received Ethernet-based fieldbus message. Thus, the switching device according to the invention automatically adjusts itself to one of the various Ethernet-based field buses. For example, a first (master) device, such as a controller, can be connected to a master interface, and other (slave) devices, such as field devices, controlled by the controller, can be connected to a secondary interface. To this end, the switching device is configured by the identification module based on a first Ethernet frame from a first field device.

[0005] The Ethernet frame conforms in particular to the IEEE 802.3 standard and / or the ISO / IEC 8802-3 MAC standard. Furthermore, the type value comprises in particular an EtherType value according to the IEEE 802.3 standard and / or the ISO / IEC 8802-3 MAC standard and / or a UDP port number. Alternatively, the type value can also be implemented by means of a client-specifically assigned type value (and these type values ​​are recorded, for example, in the useful data field of the Ethernet frame).

[0006] According to one embodiment, the main interface has a transmission port, and the selection elements include a second selection element, wherein the output of the second selection element is connected to the transmission port of the main interface. The input of the second selection element is connected to the output of the corresponding protocol module. Correspondingly, the message can be transmitted back to the main device connected to the main interface. Since the configuration of the switching device is determined by a first Ethernet frame, which is sent by a (main) device connected to the main interface, the switching device maintains its configuration according to a protocol, which is suitable for the feedback of the (slave) device connected to the secondary interface (assuming that the main device does not send an Ethernet frame that would result in an additional selection signal during its waiting for feedback).

[0007] According to one embodiment, the selection element includes at least one third selection element, wherein the output end of the at least third selection element is connected to the corresponding input end of the protocol module, and wherein one of the input ends of the at least one third selection element is connected to the receiving port of the main interface, and wherein each of the input ends of the at least one third selection element is connected to the corresponding output end of one or more of the protocol modules. Correspondingly, the source of the input end of the protocol module to which the output end of the third selection element is connected can be selected according to the configuration.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the selection elements include at least one fourth selection element, wherein the output of the at least one fourth selection element is connected to the corresponding input of the protocol module, and wherein the input of the at least one fourth selection element is connected to the assigned output of the protocol module. This embodiment enables internal routing of signals between protocol modules based on the selection signal.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the protocol comprises a standard protocol; wherein the identification module is configured so that the identification module generates a selection signal when initializing the switching device and / or before receiving the first Ethernet frame, and the selection signal signals the standard protocol; and / or wherein each selection element is configured so that the selection element switches to a state corresponding to the selection signal indicating the standard protocol when initializing the switching device and / or before receiving the selection signal from the identification module. Each selection element in the first selection element and, if present, the second selection element can have an input end assigned to the standard protocol. The standard protocol is in particular a (general) Ethernet routing / switching function. The standard protocol, for example, enables communication with all devices connected to an interface during the configuration phase of the system after commissioning.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the identification module is configured so that: the identification module retains the selection signal as long as the supply voltage is supplied to the switching device, or retains it until another selection signal is generated based on the type value of another second Ethernet frame received at the receiving terminal of the primary interface, and / or each selection element is configured so that: the selection element retains its state after switching to one of the states until another selection signal is generated, or retains its state as long as the supply voltage is supplied to the switching device. This embodiment enables the configuration of the switching device to be maintained for a specific period of time, for example in order to receive a message of a device connected to one of the secondary interfaces and forward the message to the primary port.

[0011] According to one embodiment, each selection element is configured such that: if the selection element has no input associated with the protocol indicated in the selection signal, the selection element switches in response to the selection signal to a state in which no input of the selection element is connected to an output of the selection element. In this way, it can be avoided that the communication is directed to a protocol module or port that is not associated with the identified type value and the corresponding protocol.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the identification module is configured such that: when the Ethernet frame does not contain any specified type value, the identification module does not generate a selection signal or retains an existing selection signal. Correspondingly, after recognizing a known type value (in particular an EtherType value, i.e. a predetermined type value), when an Ethernet frame with an unknown type value is received, the configuration of the switching device is maintained. If the selection signals are non-permanent signals that configure the selection elements, then these selection signals maintain their configuration state until a new selection signal is generated, then the option of not generating a selection signal causes: these selection elements to maintain their state.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a plurality of protocol modules and / or the identification module and / or a plurality of selection elements are implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). This enables the configurable (e.g., various protocols, protocol modules) implementation of the switching device to be implemented using a fast processing approach.

[0014] According to one aspect, a gate network list is provided, which, when implemented on an FPGA, prompts the FPGA to implement a protocol module and / or an identification module and / or a selection element of the switching device according to the implementation of the switching device. The term "gate network list", as commonly used in the field of electronic circuits, refers to a description of the connectivity of an electronic circuit, which includes at least a list of electronic components and a list of nodes connecting these electronic components (or their ports).

[0015] According to one aspect, a programming code (bit stream) for a field programmable gate array, i.e., an FPGA, is provided, which, when programmed into the FPGA, causes the FPGA to implement a protocol module and / or an identification module and / or a selection element of a switching device according to the present invention. The term "programming code" refers to a code that determines the internal routing and logic in the FPGA, i.e., which elements (gates, logic cells, LUTs, ...) of the FPGA are used, how these elements are configured, and how signals are directed between them. The programming code can be stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory of the FPGA, such as an EEPROM, and is automatically loaded when the FPGA is started. When the FPGA is started, the programming code is loaded, for example, into the SRAM of the FPGA, which determines the internal routing and logic.

[0016] Further advantages and embodiments are described in the description and in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are schematically shown in the drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 A switching device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Figure 1 A switching device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. In the figure, connections between elements are shown as lines with arrows, wherein the arrows indicate the direction of data transmission.

[0020] The switching device includes a main interface 2 and a plurality of secondary interfaces 20, 22, 24. Although the exemplary switching device shown has three secondary interfaces, there are usually at least two secondary interfaces. Each interface in the main interface and the secondary interface has a receiving port and a sending port. In particular, the main interface has a receiving port 6 and a sending port 8, and these secondary interfaces 20, 22, 24 have a receiving port 26 and a sending port 28. Each interface can have a (not explicitly shown) connector, such as an 8P8C socket (RJ45) or other connectors used for Ethernet-based networks, for connecting to a cable. In addition, each interface can include a receiver and a transmitter or a transceiver (e.g., an Ethernet PHY transceiver) to receive a signal and provide a corresponding internal signal at the receiving port, and to transmit the internal signal provided at the sending port as a signal on the cable (if connected). The term "internal signal" refers to a signal within the switching device, such as a voltage level determined by the hardware of the switching device. Alternatively, the receiver and transmitter (or transceiver) may be provided in a protocol module (these protocol modules are described further below). Alternatively, the receiver and transmitter or transceiver may be part of the switching device. In this case, the interfaces, more precisely the receiving and transmitting ports of the interfaces, are (electrical) connections for receiving and transmitting communication signals, which are received and transmitted by the Ethernet PHY connected to the interfaces (i.e., receiving and transmitting ports). This means that the interfaces (i.e., receiving and transmitting ports) may be connected to Ethernet PHYs, which are not part of the switching device itself.

[0021] The switching device comprises an identification module 14, which is connected to the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2. The identification module 14 is configured such that: the identification module identifies predetermined EtherType values ​​(more generally, "predetermined type values", see below) in Ethernet frames, which are received at the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2. That is, the identification module 14 receives Ethernet frames from the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 and analyzes these Ethernet frames in order to determine their EtherType values, that is, the identification module 14 determines (identifies) whether the EtherType value contained in the EtherType field of these Ethernet frames is one of these predetermined EtherType values. Optionally, the identification module 14 is also configured such that: the identification module takes into account the VLAN tag (if present) in the Ethernet frame during the analysis (VLAN: Virtual Local Area Network; VLAN tags are also called 802.1Q tags and are marked with a value of 0x8100).

[0022] It is assumed that the Ethernet frame (and Ethernet block) conforms to the IEEE 802.3 standard and / or the ISO / IEC 8802-3 MAC standard. Correspondingly, certain information, such as a specific communication protocol, is indicated by a corresponding EtherType value (referred to as EtherType or EtherType value in these standards). Thus, the value 0x88CD represents Agreement (especially III), the value 0x8892 represents Protocol, value 0x88A4 represents The protocol can also be characterized by EtherType 0x0800 (IP protocol) following the UDP header (User Datagram Protocol) with a destination port number of 0x88A4.

[0023] exist Figure 1 In the subsequent description of, the identification module is configured, for example and for simplicity, so that: the identification module identifies specified EtherType values, which are contained in Ethernet frames according to IEEE 802.3 and / or ISO / IEC 8802-3MAC standards. Generally, other specified type values ​​can be used instead of or in addition to the EtherType value. In particular, any field value contained in the Ethernet frame indicating a specific field bus can be used, that is, the field value is recognized by the identification module and mapped to the selection signal. As already mentioned, for example, a specific UDP port number can indicate a specific protocol, such as the EtherCAT protocol. Another example is the Modbus TCP / IP fieldbus, which is mapped to the Ethernet switching / routing (ET). As already mentioned, different type values ​​can be mapped to the same protocol, that is, these type values ​​cause: the same selection signal is generated. The term "type value" can generally include more than one numerical value, for example in the case of EtherCAT, the EtherType 0x0800 is followed by the UDP port number 0x88A4.

[0024] Furthermore, an additional type field may be inserted into the Ethernet frame (particularly into the valid data) by a field device connected to the primary interface. The type field may have predefined type values, which are detected by the identification module in order to generate a corresponding selection signal. In this case, the protocol modules may be configured such that: when the protocol modules route Ethernet frames from the primary interface to the secondary interface, the protocol modules remove the type field, and when routing Ethernet frames from the secondary interface to the primary interface, the protocol modules add the type field (with the corresponding type value), so that commercially available (e.g. commercially available) devices may be connected to the secondary interface.

[0025] Based on the identified EtherType value (or type value in general), the identification module 14 generates and outputs a selection signal 16. The selection signal may be output, for example, via one or more signal lines. The selection signal may be a temporary signal or a permanent signal.

[0026] In particular, the identification module 14 is configured to generate a set of predetermined selection signals. Which selection signal is generated from the set depends on the EtherType value identified (i.e., the EtherType is assigned to the selection signal). Multiple EtherType values ​​may cause the same selection signal to be output. The set of predetermined selection signals may include a standard selection signal, which is generated when the switching device, in particular the identification module, is initialized and / or started (e.g., when the supply voltage is started or when it is started) and / or when the EtherType value is not suitable for the predetermined EtherType value. Additionally, the standard selection signal may also be output when a specific EtherType value, i.e., one of the predetermined EtherType values, is identified. Therefore, each of these predetermined EtherType values ​​is mapped to one of these predetermined selection signals, which is generated when the corresponding EtherType value is identified (different EtherType values ​​may be assigned to the same selection signal). Additionally, certain events may be assigned to one of these predetermined selection signals, such as the standard selection signal, which is generated when the event occurs. These events may be, for example, the initialization or startup of the switching device (boot-up), in which no specific EtherType value is detected in the Ethernet frame.

[0027] The switching device includes a plurality of protocol modules 30, 32, 34, 36. Figure 1In the exemplary embodiment of the embodiment, four protocol modules are shown, but the switching device generally includes at least two protocol modules. Each protocol module has: at least one input end, which is generally provided with reference numeral 38; and at least one output end, which is generally provided with reference numeral 40. Each protocol module is set up to provide functions such as routing and / or switching functions according to one protocol from a plurality of (routing) protocols. For example, the first protocol module 30 is configured as an Industrial Ethernet switch (Industrial Ethernet-Switch), the second protocol module 32 is configured as an EtherCAT slave, the third protocol module 34 is configured as a Sercos slave, and the fourth protocol module 36 provides an Ethernet MAC (Media Access Control) function for communicating with the third protocol module 34 (Sercos slave). So-called UCC frames (UCC: Unified Communication Channel, which is part of the Sercos communication scheme) (as indicated by the double arrows) are exchanged between the third protocol module 34 and the fourth protocol module 36 so as to enable regular Ethernet switching of UCC frames. Thus, the protocol modules 34 and 36 together form a gateway for standard Ethernet communication with a Sercos network (e.g. a closed loop topology). The second protocol module 32 (EtherCAT slave) and the third protocol module 34 (Sercos slave) for example basically hand over telegrams contained in Ethernet frames from the input terminal 38 to the output terminal 40, as indicated in the corresponding specifications (EtherCAT, Sercos). A protocol module, such as the second protocol module 32, may also include a processing unit 33, which provides some fieldbus-specific telegram processing functions. Additionally, the third protocol module 34 can extract and / or add Ethernet telegrams to the Sercos network in exchange with the protocol module 36 (usually a standard Ethernet MAC unit) in order to provide a gateway for standard Ethernet frames. To this end, the processing logic 37 organizes the exchange of telegrams between the protocol modules 34 and 36.

[0028] exist Figure 1In the embodiment shown in , there are three (routing / switching) configurations: (universal) Ethernet switching / routing (ET), EtherCAT (EC) and Sercos (S3). In particular, more than one fieldbus protocol (as indicated by EtherType) may correspond to the same configuration. For example, the Ethernet values ​​of a fieldbus using (universal) Ethernet switching / routing (ET) may all be associated with ET. As in many cases, the EtherType value indicates a specific protocol, each protocol being assigned to (or corresponding to) at least one EtherType value (predetermined EtherType value). As already mentioned, in addition to EtherType, there may also be other telegram standards for field values, in particular for some of the fieldbuses not explicitly mentioned above. Since the selection signal is output based on the identified fieldbus type, each selection signal is an indication of a (routing) configuration. The protocol may include a standard protocol, such as ET, wherein the above-mentioned standard selection signal indicates the standard protocol.

[0029] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in , the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 is connected to the corresponding input terminals 38 of the second protocol module 32 and the third protocol module 34. These connections can be regarded as direct connections. Additionally, the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 is connected to the input terminal of the (third) selection element 68 (see the description of the selection element below), wherein the output terminal of the selection element is connected to the allocated input terminal of the first protocol module 30. This connection can be regarded as an indirect connection. Typically, the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 is connected to the corresponding input terminal 38 of at least one or at least two of these protocol modules (in the sense of direct connection). In any case, the Ethernet frame received at the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 can be transmitted to at least two of these protocol modules and processed there, wherein it is assumed that there is an additional indirect connection in the case of only one direct connection.

[0030] The switching device also includes a plurality of selection elements 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, exemplarily multiplexers, which are connected to the identification module 14 to receive the output selection signal 16. Each of these selection elements 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 is set up to switch to one of the predetermined different states in response to the reception of the selection signal, wherein the state to which the selection element switches depends on the selection signal. Different selection elements can have different sets of states. Each selection element 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 has an output and at least two inputs 72, 74, 76. For each selection element, each input is assigned to one of the protocols. The selection module may have fewer inputs than protocols.

[0031] The state set includes at least a number of states corresponding to the number of input terminals, which are also referred to as connection states. If the selection element is in one of these connection states, (exactly) one of the input terminals is connected to the output terminal. Optionally, the state set of each selection element (independent of other selection elements) includes a state also referred to as a disconnected state, in which no input terminal is connected to the output terminal. For each selection element, each of these predetermined selection signals is assigned to one of the states of the selection element, that is, when the selection signal is received and / or present (in other words, in response to the generated selection signal), the selection element is switched to the corresponding state. If a selection signal assigned to the connection state is received and / or present, the input terminal assigned to the protocol represented by the selection signal is connected to the output terminal. If a selection signal that is not assigned to the connection state, i.e., assigned to the unconnected state, is newly generated and / or present, no input terminal is connected to the output terminal. Different selection signals can correspond to the disconnected state. One of the states of each selection may also (independently of the other selection elements) be a default state, to which the selection element is switched when no selection signal has been received (or does not exist) or when initializing and / or starting the switching device and / or the selection element and / or in response to a standard selection signal.

[0032] For example, about Figure 1In response to a selection signal indicating an ET protocol (e.g., when an EtherType value of 0x8892 indicating PROFINETRT is identified, a normal Ethernet routing / switching function), the first input terminal 72 of the selection element 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding selection element. In response to a selection signal indicating an EC protocol (e.g., when an EtherType value of 0x88A4 indicating EtherCAT is identified, an EtherCAT routing function), the second input terminal 74 of the selection element 60, 62, 64, 66 is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding selection element. In response to a selection signal indicating an S3 protocol (e.g., when an EtherType value of 0x88CD indicating that Sercos is identified is identified, a Sercos routing function), the third input terminal 76 of the selection element 60, 66, 68 is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding selection element. As shown in the figure, some of these selection elements do not have a connection state corresponding to each of these protocols, that is, a selection signal indicating a specific protocol may cause a disconnected state of these selection elements. Subsequently, no data flow takes place at the output of the selection element.

[0033] These selection elements include at least two (in Figure 1 In the example of the embodiment of the present invention, there are three first selection elements 60, 62, 64, which are associated with the secondary interfaces 20, 22, 24 in a one-to-one manner. For each first selection element, the output of the selection element is connected to the transmission port 28 of the secondary interface corresponding to the selection element. The input of each first selection element 60, 62, 64 is connected to the assigned output 40 of at least two (corresponding to the number of inputs of the corresponding first selection element) of the protocol modules 30, 32, 34, 36. In particular (since each input is assigned to a protocol), each input is connected to the corresponding output of the protocol module that provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol to which the input is assigned, or if more than one protocol module provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol, it is connected to one of these protocol modules.

[0034] Optionally, these selection elements comprise a second selection element 66. The output of the second selection element 66 is connected to the transmission port 8 of the main interface 2. The input of the second selection element 66 is connected to the assigned outputs 40 of at least two (corresponding to the number of assigned inputs of the first selection element) different protocol modules 30, 32, 34, 36. In particular, as in the case of the first selection element, each input is connected to a corresponding output of a protocol module providing routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol to which the input is assigned, or to one of these protocol modules if more than one protocol module provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol.

[0035] These selection elements may also include at least one third selection element 68 (in Figure 1 In the embodiment, a third selection element is included. The output end of the third selection element 68 is connected to the assigned input end 38 of the first protocol module 30. The input end of the third selection element 68 is connected to the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 (that is, the input end provides the above-mentioned indirect connection between the receiving port 6 of the main interface 2 and the protocol module). The other input ends of the third selection element are connected to the corresponding output ends of one or more protocol modules (depending on the protocol module connected to the output end of the third selection element). Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in FIG, an input of the third selection element 68 is connected to the fourth protocol module 36. Similar to the case of the first and second selection elements, each of the other inputs is connected to a corresponding output of a protocol module providing routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol, or to one of these protocol modules if more than one protocol module provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol.

[0036] Optionally, the selection elements additionally include at least one fourth selection element (not shown). The output of the fourth selection element is connected to the corresponding input of the protocol module. The input of the fourth selection element is connected to the output of at least two protocol modules. The fourth selection element (if present) provides internal routing between protocol modules. As for the first and second selection elements, each input is connected to the corresponding output of the protocol module that provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol to which the input is assigned, or if more than one protocol module provides routing and / or switching functions according to the protocol, it is connected to one of these protocol modules.

[0037] Each of these modules and elements, namely the identification module 14, the protocol modules 30, 32, 34, 36 and the selection elements 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, can be implemented as hardware modules and / or software modules independently of each other. Different modules or elements can be implemented on different hardware modules.

[0038] In particular, the identification module 14 and / or the protocol modules 30, 32, 34, 36 and / or the selection elements 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 can be implemented on an FPGA or as an ASIC. The input and output of the FPGA can then be connected to an Ethernet PHY transceiver. Alternatively, the Ethernet PHY transceiver can also be implemented at least partially on an FPGA or an ASIC.

Claims

1. A switching device for a field bus based on Ethernet, the switching device comprising: A host interface (2) having a receiving port (6); and at least two secondary interfaces (20, 22, 24) each having a transmission port (28), It is characterized by a plurality of protocol modules (30, 32, 34, 36), Each protocol module is configured to provide switching and / or routing functions according to one of a plurality of protocols. wherein the receiving port (6) of the main interface is connected to an assigned input terminal (38) of at least one of the protocol modules; an identification module (14) configured to identify a predetermined type value at a receiving port (6) of the primary interface of a received Ethernet frame and to generate a selection signal, wherein each protocol is assigned at least one of the predetermined type values, and each of the selection signals is assigned to one of the protocols, The identification module (14) is further configured to: when one of the predetermined type values ​​is identified in the first Ethernet frame, generate a selection signal (16), the selection signal being assigned to the type value characterizing the protocol, A plurality of selection elements (60, 62, 64, 66, 68), each of which has at least two inputs (72, 74, 76) and an output, wherein each input is assigned a protocol, Each selection element can be switched to different states, wherein in each state, one of the input terminals of the corresponding selection element is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding selection element, or none of the input terminals of the corresponding selection element is connected to the output terminal of the corresponding selection element, Each selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) is configured to switch to one of the states in response to the selection signal, so that an input terminal (72, 74, 76) of the protocol assigned by the selection signal (16) is connected to an output terminal of the selection element; The selection element comprises at least two first selection elements (60, 62, 64), the at least two first selection elements are connected to the at least two secondary interfaces (20, 22, 24), each of the corresponding at least two input ends (72, 74, 76) of the first selection element is connected to one of the at least two protocol modules (30, 32, 34), and the corresponding output end of the first selection element is connected to the sending port (28) of the secondary interface.

2. The switching device according to claim 1, in, The Ethernet frame complies with the standards according to IEEE 802.3 standard and / or ISO / IEC 8802-3 MAC standard, and / or includes an EtherType value according to IEEE 802.3 standard and / or ISO / IEC 8802-3 MAC standard; and / or the type value includes a UDP port number.

3. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The master interface (2) has a transmission port (8) and the first selection element comprises a second selection element (66), The output of the second selection element (66) is connected to the transmission port (8) of the main interface, and the input of the second selection element (72, 74, 76) is connected to the correspondingly assigned outputs of at least two of the protocol modules (30, 32, 34).

4. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The selection element comprises at least one third selection element (64), wherein an output of the at least one third selection element (64) is connected to an assigned input of a protocol module (30), and wherein one of the inputs (72) of the at least one third selection element is connected to a receiving port (8) of the main interface (2), and wherein each of the inputs (76) of the at least one third selection element (64) is connected to a correspondingly assigned output of one or more of the protocol modules (36).

5. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The selection elements comprise at least one fourth selection element, wherein an output of the at least one fourth selection element is connected to a correspondingly assigned input of a protocol module, and wherein an input of the at least one fourth selection element is connected to a correspondingly assigned output of at least two of the protocol modules.

6. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The protocols include standard protocols; The selection module (14) is configured such that: the selection module generates a selection signal (16), the selection signal indicating the standard protocol when the switching device is initialized and / or before receiving the first Ethernet frame; and / or each selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) is set up to switch to the following state when the switching device is initialized and / or before receiving the selection signal (16) from the identification module (14), the state corresponding to the selection signal indicating the standard protocol.

7. A switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The identification module (14) is configured to maintain the selection signal (16) as long as the power supply voltage is provided to the switching device, or to maintain the selection signal until another selection signal is determined based on the type value of another second Ethernet frame received at the receiving port of the main interface; and / or wherein each selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) is configured so that: the selection element maintains its state after switching to one of the states until another selection signal is generated, or maintains its state as long as the power supply voltage is provided to the switching device.

8. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, Each selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) is configured such that, if the selection element has no input associated with the protocol indicated in the selection signal (16), the selection element switches to a state in which no input (72, 74, 76) of the selection element is connected to an output of the selection element.

9. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The identification module (14) is configured to: if the Ethernet frame does not contain any predetermined type value, not generate a selection signal or to retain the attached selection signal (16).

10. The switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The protocol module (30, 32, 34, 36) and / or the identification module (14) and / or the selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) are implemented on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

11. A gate network list, when the gate network list is implemented on a field programmable gate array (FPGA), causes the FPGA to implement a protocol module (30, 32, 34, 36) and / or a selection module (14) and / or a selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) of a switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A programming code for a field programmable gate array (FPGA), when the programming code is programmed into the FPGA, the programming code causes the FPGA to implement a protocol module (30, 32, 34, 36) and / or a selection module (14) and / or a selection element (60, 62, 64, 66, 68) of a switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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