Communication system, communication method, communication device, chip and electronic device

Abstract

The application discloses a communication system, a communication method, a communication device, a chip and an electronic device. The communication system comprises a plurality of nodes, each node having a sending port and a receiving port, and each node is sequentially connected with the receiving port of an adjacent node through the sending port, forming a unidirectional ring path. In a self-generation mode, a node sends a data frame generated by itself to a next node, and the hop count of the data frame generated by itself is an initial value. In a relay mode, the node judges a hop count field in a received data frame. If the hop count does not reach a threshold value, the hop count of the data frame is incremented and then forwarded to a next node. If the hop count reaches the threshold value, the forwarding of the data frame is stopped. Through the unidirectional ring data path, full-duplex self-synchronization is realized. Each node autonomously decides to forward by checking whether the hop count in the data frame reaches the threshold value, without the need for central scheduling and address allocation, thereby improving the flexibility and stability of system expansion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of data communication technology, and more specifically, to a communication system, communication method, communication device, chip, and electronic device. Background Technology

[0002] In multi-node data interaction scenarios such as industrial control, intelligent sensor networks, and consumer electronics, efficient communication and data synchronization between multiple devices are core requirements for ensuring stable system operation. To achieve data transmission and command interaction among multiple nodes, existing technologies typically employ various communication protocols, including Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter (UART), Integrated Circuit Bus (I2C), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), Controller Area Network (CAN), 1-wire, and Local Interconnect Network (LIN). While these protocols are widely used in different application scenarios, they all have corresponding technical limitations. They require pre-configured addresses, rely on master-slave designs, and cannot meet the high requirements of multi-node systems for communication efficiency, ease of network configuration, and topology scalability.

[0003] Taking the UART protocol as an example, although it can achieve end-to-end bidirectional communication, in multi-node data synchronization scenarios, a specific node needs to be designated as the master node. The master node centrally collects data from the other slave nodes before distributing it. This architecture not only increases the complexity of network configuration but also generates significant transmission latency due to the centralized collection and secondary distribution of data, resulting in a substantial reduction in communication efficiency. The I2C protocol supports a multi-master, multi-slave communication architecture, but its communication link relies on pull-up resistors to maintain signal stability. This hardware characteristic directly limits the improvement of communication speed. At the same time, the arbitration process when multiple masters compete for the bus is logically complex and can only achieve half-duplex communication, further reducing data interaction efficiency. In addition, the I2C protocol requires each node to be assigned an independent address. The limited address space not only limits the number of nodes that can be expanded but also easily leads to the problem of duplicate address configurations, increasing the difficulty of network deployment and maintenance. Although the SPI protocol has a high communication rate, it adopts a master-slave architecture with a single master and multiple slaves, which cannot support flexible communication modes with multiple masters and multiple slaves. Moreover, the communication link requires at least four signal lines, occupying a lot of hardware resources and hindering the miniaturization and low-cost design of devices. The CAN protocol is widely used in automotive, industrial control, and other fields, but it also suffers from the limitations of half-duplex communication. The multi-master bus arbitration process is time-consuming, and configuring node parameters such as filtering and baud rate is cumbersome, increasing the difficulty of system debugging. The shortcomings of the 1-wire and LIN protocols are even more pronounced. Both only support half-duplex communication and have low communication speeds. The 1-wire protocol can only achieve simple end-to-end transmission, while the LIN protocol not only does not support multi-master architectures but also has a theoretical limit on the number of slave devices, failing to meet the expansion needs of large-scale multi-node networks.

[0004] In summary, existing communication protocols cannot simultaneously achieve high efficiency, convenience, and scalability in multi-node communication scenarios. There is an urgent need to propose a new communication system and device to address these technical challenges. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a communication system, communication method, communication device, and chip. According to one aspect of the invention, a communication system is provided, comprising: multiple nodes, each node having a transmitting port and a receiving port, wherein the multiple nodes are sequentially connected end-to-end to the receiving ports of adjacent nodes through their respective transmitting ports to form a unidirectional ring data path; each node is configured to: in a spontaneous mode, the node transmits its own generated data frames to the next node, with the hop count in the self-generated data frames set to an initial value; in a relay mode, the node judges the hop count segment in the received data frames, and if the hop count does not reach a first threshold, it increments the hop count of the data frame and forwards it to the next node; if the hop count reaches the first threshold, it stops forwarding the data frame; wherein the hop count in the data frame is used to record the number of times the data frame has been forwarded.

[0006] Optionally, the node enters spontaneous mode when it has finished preparing its own data; the node enters relay mode when it receives a data frame from the previous node, and the first threshold is the total number of nodes in the communication system minus two.

[0007] Optionally, the data frame includes at least a frame header and several payloads. The frame header includes a hop count for recording the number of times the data frame has been forwarded. Each node uses the same serial encoding format for signal transmission, and there is no need to allocate addresses to each node.

[0008] Optionally, the data frame further includes at least one of a data frame description, a check field, and a frame tail, wherein the data frame description belongs to the frame header, the check field includes an error correction code or a parity check code, and the frame tail is located at the very end of the data frame.

[0009] Optionally, each payload includes a start bit, data bits, and an end bit, wherein the data is raw data comprising multiple bits; all nodes in the communication system communicate at the same baud rate.

[0010] Optionally, each node is further equipped with a counter to count the number of received data frames within a preset period. When the count value reaches a second threshold, the node stops receiving data frames, and when the node finishes sending the data frames it generates, it is determined that the communication system has completed synchronization.

[0011] Optionally, the second threshold is the total number of nodes in the communication system minus one. If a node fails to complete synchronization within the preset period, the node is forced to enter standby mode and report a timeout error.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication method is provided, applied to a unidirectional ring path composed of multiple nodes. The communication method includes: connecting multiple nodes end to end to form a ring path; powering on / resetting the nodes to enter a standby state; when any node has completed its own data preparation, encapsulating it into a data frame with hop count initialization and sending it to the next node; the node checks the hop count of the received data frame; if the hop count is less than a first threshold, the node increments the hop count of the data frame and forwards it to the next node; otherwise, it stops forwarding.

[0013] Optionally, the node is in standby mode when its sending port is idle. In standby mode, the node monitors its receiving port. If a node finishes receiving a data frame before it finishes preparing to receive a data frame it generates, it will enter relay mode first; otherwise, it will enter spontaneous mode first. If both are completed simultaneously, the node will first enter spontaneous mode to send its own generated data frame to the next node, and then enter relay mode to forward the received data frame to the next node.

[0014] Optionally, each node further includes a counter, and the communication method further includes each node counting the number of received data frames within a preset period, stopping receiving when the count value reaches a second threshold, and determining that the entire network synchronization is completed after the data frames it generates are sent; if synchronization is not completed within the preset period, the node is forced to enter standby mode and report a timeout error.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication device is provided for use as a node in the aforementioned communication system. The communication device includes: a receiving module for acquiring a data frame sent by a previous node through a receiving port; a sending module for sending a data frame to a next node through a sending port; a buffer module for temporarily storing data; and a control module connected to the receiving module, sending module, and buffer module respectively. The control module is configured to: control the communication device to enter a spontaneous mode when its own data preparation is complete, wherein the sending module encapsulates its own data into a data frame with an initial hop count and sends it; control the communication device to enter a relay mode when a data frame is received, wherein the sending module increments the hop count of the received data frame by one and sends it; and stop forwarding if the hop count of the received data frame reaches a first threshold. The communication device does not require address configuration.

[0016] Optionally, the receiving module includes: a filtering unit for removing signal glitches; a first conversion unit for converting the filtered signal into a parallel signal; a parsing unit for identifying the frame header, payload, check field, and frame tail according to the frame format; and a first verification unit for performing integrity verification and / or error correction on the payload.

[0017] Optionally, the sending module includes: a second verification unit for calculating a verification field based on the payload; an encapsulation unit for adding a frame header, a verification field, and a frame trailer to form a complete data frame; and a second conversion unit for converting parallel data frame signals into serial data frame signals and sending them through the sending port.

[0018] Optionally, the control module is configured to: when the transmitting port is idle, the communication device is in standby mode and monitors the receiving port through the receiving module; if the received data frame is ready before the data frame generated by itself is ready, it will enter the relay mode first, otherwise it will enter the spontaneous mode first; if both are ready at the same time, it will enter the spontaneous mode first, and after the data frame generated by itself is sent, it will enter the relay mode to forward the received data frame.

[0019] Optionally, the control module includes a counter, used to count the number of received data frames within a preset period. When the count value reaches a second threshold, reception stops, and the control module determines that the network synchronization is complete after it has finished sending its own data frames. If synchronization is not completed within the preset period, the control module forces a return to standby mode and reports a timeout error.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a chip is provided for use as a node in the aforementioned communication system. The chip includes: a receiving module for acquiring a data frame sent by a previous node through a receiving port; a sending module for sending a data frame to a next node through a sending port; a buffer module for temporarily storing data; and a control module connected to the receiving module, the sending module, and the buffer module, respectively. The control module is configured to: control the chip to enter a self-sponsoring mode when its own data preparation is complete, wherein the sending module encapsulates its own data into a data frame with an initial hop count and sends it; control the chip to enter a relay mode when a data frame is received, wherein the sending module increments the hop count of the received data frame by one and sends it; and stop forwarding if the hop count of the received data frame reaches a first threshold. The chip does not require address configuration.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic device is provided, comprising a plurality of communication devices as described above, wherein the plurality of communication devices are sequentially connected end-to-end to the receiving ports of adjacent communication devices through their respective transmitting ports to form a unidirectional ring data path.

[0022] The communication system, method, device, chip, and electronic equipment provided by this invention form a unidirectional ring data path by connecting multiple nodes end-to-end in a single-transmit, single-receive manner. This communication system features a minimalist physical topology and eliminates the complex mechanisms required in traditional multi-node networks, such as address allocation, master-slave arbitration, and direction switching. Each node can achieve full-duplex communication in any number of nodes using only two ports: a receiving port and a transmitting port. Communication processes can be initiated and terminated spontaneously, achieving automatic synchronization. Each node autonomously decides whether to forward data frames by checking if the hop count reaches a first threshold, eliminating the need for central scheduling. In principle, only the total number of nodes participating in the communication system needs to be configured for each node; the elimination of address allocation for each node not only eliminates potential address conflicts and master node setup issues but also significantly saves port resources, reduces the workload of node configuration, and makes network configuration and expansion more flexible. Furthermore, the solution of this invention allows the preparation and completion time of data frames for each node to be asynchronous.

[0023] Furthermore, thanks to the ring link and the hop-by-hop accumulation mechanism, by setting a counter, each data frame automatically terminates after traversing a second threshold number of nodes. Specifically, the second threshold is, for example, the total number of nodes minus 1. At this point, each data frame has traversed all nodes, which can effectively avoid invalid retransmissions. Combined with relay mode forwarding and optional check fields, stability and reliability can be significantly improved. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the node connection of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the composition of a data frame in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the structure of the payload in a data frame of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating the communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 6 A schematic diagram illustrating the application of the communication system of this invention to an LED display screen is shown.

[0031] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the communication system of this invention applied to a temperature sensor is shown in this embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding of this application, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the present application are shown in the drawings. However, the present application may be implemented in different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this application.

[0033] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0034] In the description of this application, the words "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate that they are examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments. "And / or" in this document describes an association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. "Connection" describes a connection relationship between related objects. For example, A and B are connected, which can indicate a direct connection between A and B, or an indirect connection between A and B through other devices / units / modules. "Multiple" refers to two or more. Furthermore, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or execution order, and that "first," "second," etc., do not necessarily imply differences.

[0035] Furthermore, the same reference numerals in the figures denote the same or similar structures, thus repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. That is, the various parts in this specification are described using a combination of parallel and progressive methods, with each part focusing on its differences from the others. Similar or identical parts can be referred to interchangeably. Terms expressing position and direction described in this application are illustrative based on the accompanying drawings, but changes can be made as needed, and all such changes are included within the scope of protection of this application. The accompanying drawings in this application are for illustrating relative positional relationships only and do not represent actual scale.

[0036] This application describes many specific details of the invention, such as the specific structure, dimensions, connection relationships, and techniques of the modules, in order to provide a clearer understanding of the invention. However, as those skilled in the art will understand, the invention may be implemented without following these specific details.

[0037] This invention can be presented in various forms, some of which will be described below.

[0038] Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the node connection of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication system includes multiple nodes, specifically, for example, node 1, node 2, node 3, node 4... node n, for a total of n nodes. Each node has a transmitting port tx and a receiving port rx. The transmitting port tx of node 1 is connected to the receiving port rx of node 2, the transmitting port tx of node 2 is connected to the receiving port rx of node 3, the transmitting port tx of node 3 is connected to the receiving port rx of node 4... and the transmitting port tx of node n is connected to the receiving port rx of node 1. That is, multiple nodes form a unidirectional ring data path with multiple nodes in a single transmitting and receiving manner and connected end to end.

[0039] Each node in this communication system has only two communication ports: a transmitting port (tx) and a receiving port (rx). If each node is a chip, the number of pins involved in communication on the chip can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, the nodes are connected end-to-end to form a ring structure. The signals emitted by the nodes flow unidirectionally within this ring network, which not only simplifies the node connection method and reduces the risk of connection errors, but also facilitates the maintenance and management of the communication network. Each node in this communication system has three functions: data production, data reception, and data relay. Its data relay function can effectively improve the stability of the communication system and prevent the communication quality from degrading as the number of nodes increases.

[0040] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the composition of a data frame in a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this communication system, each node encapsulates data into data frames for transmission, such as... Figure 2As shown, each data frame includes, for example, a frame header field, a payload, a checksum field, and a frame trailer field. The frame header field includes a hop count and a data frame description. The hop count describes the number of times the data frame has been forwarded by nodes in the communication system. The data frame description describes information such as the frame length. The payload carries valid data, including payload 1, payload 2, ..., payload m, totaling m bytes. Specifically, if each node is a chip used for display driving, its payload may be RGB data, brightness adjustment data, temperature data, etc. The checksum field is used for integrity verification, including, for example, a redundancy check code or error correction code. The frame trailer field indicates the end position of a complete data frame. The data frame description, checksum field, and frame trailer field in the frame header are optional fields; a data frame with only the hop count and payload in the header can also meet the requirements of the communication system of this invention. The check field of the data frame may include, for example, an error correction code or a parity check code. Specifically, the corresponding parity check code can be obtained by bitwise XORing of each payload and used as the check field of the data frame.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, Figure 2 The payload consists of m bytes. Encoding each byte encodes the entire payload field. Specifically, in this embodiment, each byte of the payload includes a 1-bit start bit, 8 bits of data bits, and a 1-bit stop bit, where the 8 bits of data bits carry the original data. This design allows all communication nodes in the communication system to communicate using the same baud rate.

[0042] Figure 4 The diagram illustrates a communication method according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes the following steps:

[0043] In step S10, multiple nodes are connected end-to-end to form a ring link; specifically, each node includes a receiving port rx and a transmitting port tx, and the nodes are connected end-to-end in a single-transmit, single-receive manner to form a ring link. Figure 1 The unidirectional ring link shown includes, for example, n nodes. Each node is connected and its parameters are configured. Specifically, for example, the total number of nodes n is pre-stored in each node.

[0044] In step S20, the node is powered on / reset and enters standby mode; specifically, after each node is powered on or reset, the node is initialized to enter standby mode.

[0045] In step S30, when any node has completed its own data preparation, it encapsulates it into a data frame with hop count initialized and sends it to the next node. Specifically, when any node has completed its own data preparation, it enters spontaneous mode, encapsulates its prepared data into a data frame with hop count initialized to 0, and sends the data frame to the receiving port rx of the next node through the sending port tx.

[0046] In step S40, the node performs a hop count check on the received data frame. Specifically, the node enters relay mode, parses the data frame received by its receiving port rx, obtains the hop count in the frame header, and checks the hop count, for example, by comparing the hop count y with a first threshold x pre-stored locally by the node. The first threshold x is related to the number of nodes n in the ring link, specifically, x = n - 2.

[0047] In step S41, the hop count of the data frame is incremented by 1 and then forwarded to the next node; specifically, when the hop count y in the received data frame does not reach the first threshold x, i.e. y < x = n-2, the hop count y of the received data frame is incremented by 1 and then transmitted to the receiving port of the next node.

[0048] In step S42, the data frame has been synchronized across the entire network and will no longer be forwarded. Specifically, when the number of hops y in the received data frame reaches the first threshold x, i.e., y≥x=n-2, it indicates that the data frame has been transmitted to all nodes in the ring link, i.e., the data frame has been synchronized across the entire network. The current node will no longer forward the data frame and will discard the data frame after synchronizing it.

[0049] The method does not necessarily have to be performed in the order of steps S10 to S40. The order of some steps can be interchanged, for example, steps S30 and S40 can be interchanged, which does not affect the implementation of the method.

[0050] Furthermore, each node in this communication method also adheres to the following constraints:

[0051] When the node's transmit port is idle, the node is in standby mode and continuously monitors its receive port;

[0052] If a node finishes receiving a data frame before it finishes preparing its own data frame, the node enters relay mode, checks the hop count of the received data frame, and decides whether to forward it to the receiving port of the next node based on the hop count.

[0053] If a node finishes receiving a data frame later than its own data frame is ready, the node enters spontaneous mode and prioritizes sending its own data frame to the receiving port of the next node.

[0054] If the reception of a data frame is completed and the node's own data frame preparation is completed simultaneously, the node first enters spontaneous mode. After the spontaneous mode period ends, it then enters relay mode.

[0055] Furthermore, each node also includes a counter, which counts the number of data frames it receives within a preset period. When the counter count is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the receiving port of that node stops receiving data frames. Specifically, the second threshold is, for example, the total number of nodes minus 1. If the node has completed sending its own data frames, it means that the data of all nodes in the communication system has been synchronized. If a node has not completed data synchronization within the preset period (including failure to forward received data frames or failure to send its own data frames), it indicates that there is a timeout problem in the communication system. The node is forced to enter a standby state and reports the timeout error, for example, by indicating the timeout error through an indicator light set on the node. Of course, the first threshold x and the second threshold can also be adjusted according to requirements, and are not limited to the first threshold x being the total number of nodes minus 2 and the second threshold being the total number of nodes minus 1 in the above embodiment; they can also be other values.

[0056] Figure 5This diagram illustrates a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The communication device is, for example, a node in the aforementioned communication system; specifically, it is, for example, a chip. The communication device includes: a receiving module 110, a control module 120, a buffer module 130, and a transmitting module 140. A receiving port rx is connected to the receiving module 110, and a transmitting port tx is connected to the transmitting module 140. The receiving module 110 includes a filtering unit 111, a first conversion unit 112, a parsing unit 113, and a first verification unit 114. The receiving port rx is connected to the filtering unit 111, which filters the 1-bit serial signal transmitted from the receiving port rx to remove signal glitches. The first conversion unit 112 is connected to the filtering unit 111. The first conversion unit 113 is connected to the first conversion unit 112. The first conversion unit 113 identifies the frame header, frame tail, and payload according to the data frame format. The first verification unit 114 verifies and corrects the payload according to the verification field. The first verification unit 114 transmits the verified signal to the control module 120. The control module 120 is used for receiving and sending control signals. The control module 120 is connected to the buffer module 130. The control module 120 can write data to the buffer module 130 and read data from the buffer module 130. The transmitting module 140 includes a second verification unit 121, an encapsulation unit 122, and a second conversion unit 123. The second verification unit 121 is connected to the control module 120 and calculates a redundant field (verification field) based on the payload and the error correction algorithm. The encapsulation unit 122 is connected to the second verification unit 121 and is used to add a frame header and a frame trailer to package the payload into a data frame. The second conversion unit 123 is connected to the encapsulation unit 122 and is used to convert 8 bits of parallel data into 1 bit of serial data and send the data frame to the receiving port rx of the next node through the transmitting port tx.

[0057] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to an LED display screen. The LED display screen includes, for example, a control card, a transmitting card, a receiving card, and a display module. The receiving card and the display module are... Figure 6 (Not shown in the diagram) In this embodiment, the control card receives the complete image transmitted from the host computer, divides the image into blocks, and transmits them to the corresponding sending cards. The sending cards then send the corresponding display signals to the receiving card of the display module, which drives the display module to perform the display. In this embodiment, multiple sending cards are connected by connecting lines to form a unidirectional ring data path, thus forming the communication system of this embodiment.

[0058] Specifically, the LED display screen in this embodiment includes, for example, four sending cards: sending card 1, sending card 2, sending card 3, and sending card 4. Each sending card includes an image processing unit, a communication chip, and a post-processing unit. The communication chip in the sending card is, for example, a... Figure 5 The communication device shown can be used as a node in a communication system.

[0059] For example, the host computer transmits a complete image of a display frame to the control card. The control card divides the complete image into four blocks: image block 1, image block 2, image block 3, and image block 4, and sends them to the corresponding sending cards. The image processing unit in each sending card processes the corresponding image block into the corresponding local result.

[0060] Taking the sending card 1 as an example, the image processing unit in the sending card 1 receives the image block 1, processes it to form a local result 1, and sends it to the communication chip. The communication chip receives other local results transmitted from the sending end tx4 of the sending card 4 through the receiving end rx1, and sends the local result 1 in the sending card 1 and other local results whose number of hops has not reached the threshold to the communication chip of the sending card 2 through the sending end tx1.

[0061] By employing the communication system provided by this invention, each transmitting card can obtain all local results after complete image segmentation and processing, enabling the subsequent processing unit in the transmitting card to perform processing based on all local results.

[0062] Because in existing technologies, a single transmitting card can only acquire data for its corresponding image block, there may be obvious dividing lines in the display at the junction of adjacent image blocks. However, in the display screen using the solution of this invention, each transmitting card can obtain local results for each image block of the complete image, thereby providing data support for improving the display effect at the junction of adjacent image blocks in subsequent processing units.

[0063] exist Figure 6 In the provided LED display screen, the communication chip in its sending card can serve as a node in the communication system of the present invention. The working process of the sending card in the LED display screen is as follows: First, the image processing unit inside each sending card processes the image it receives into blocks into corresponding local results; then, each sending card transmits its local results to the communication chip in the sending card; finally, after a preset data synchronization time, the communication chip in each sending card obtains all the local results and transmits all the local results to the subsequent processing unit in the sending card.

[0064] Figure 7This diagram illustrates the application of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention to a temperature sensor. Since a single temperature sensor can only detect a limited spatial range, to detect the average temperature over a larger spatial area, multiple temperature sensors need to be placed at different locations in the space to obtain temperature data from these locations. The overall average temperature of the space is then obtained through algorithms such as averaging. Taking a planar area as an example, the area can be divided into eight sub-areas, each with a temperature sensor. The temperature sensors in the eight sub-areas are connected sequentially to form a unidirectional ring data path. Each temperature sensor includes, for example, a temperature acquisition unit, a communication chip, and a post-processing unit. The communication chip in the temperature sensor is connected to... Figure 6 The communication chip is similar and will not be described in detail here; the temperature acquisition unit is used to collect the temperature data of the sub-region and transmit the temperature data to the communication chip. The communication chip can obtain the temperature data of all sub-regions through the ring data path. The communication chip transmits the temperature data of all sub-regions to its subsequent processing module.

[0065] Specifically, the average temperature measurement steps for the planar region are as follows: First, the temperature sensors of all sub-regions are connected to form a ring data path, so that the communication chip in the temperature sensor forms the aforementioned communication system; then, the temperature acquisition unit in the temperature sensor of each sub-region periodically collects temperature data and provides it to the communication chip; after a preset synchronization time, the communication chip in each temperature sensor obtains the temperature data of other sub-regions; finally, the temperature data of all sub-regions are provided to the subsequent processing unit, and the average temperature of the planar region is obtained after the algorithm calculation of the subsequent processing unit.

[0066] The communication system, method, device, chip, and electronic equipment provided by this invention form a unidirectional ring data path by connecting multiple nodes end-to-end in a single-transmit, single-receive manner. This communication system features a minimalist physical topology and eliminates the complex mechanisms required in traditional multi-node networks, such as address allocation, master-slave arbitration, and direction switching. Each node can achieve full-duplex communication in any number of nodes using only two ports: a receiving port and a transmitting port. Communication processes can be initiated and terminated spontaneously, achieving automatic synchronization. Each node autonomously decides whether to forward data frames by checking if the hop count reaches a first threshold, eliminating the need for central scheduling. In principle, only the total number of nodes participating in the communication system needs to be configured for each node; the elimination of address allocation for each node not only eliminates potential address conflicts and master node setup issues but also significantly saves port resources, reduces the workload of node configuration, and makes network configuration and expansion more flexible. Furthermore, the solution of this invention allows the preparation and completion time of data frames for each node to be asynchronous.

[0067] Furthermore, thanks to the ring link and the hop-by-hop accumulation mechanism, by setting a counter, each data frame automatically terminates after traversing a second threshold number of nodes. Specifically, the second threshold is, for example, the total number of nodes minus 1. This can effectively avoid invalid retransmissions. Combined with relay mode forwarding and optional check fields, stability and reliability can be significantly improved.

[0068] As described above, these embodiments of the present invention do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to specific embodiments. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the above description. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to effectively utilize the invention and its modifications. The scope of protection of this invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. A communication system, characterized in that, include: Multiple nodes, each with a sending port and a receiving port, are connected end-to-end to the receiving ports of adjacent nodes through their respective sending ports to form a unidirectional ring data path. Each node locally stores a first threshold, which is a predetermined value obtained based on the total number of nodes in the communication system and is independent of the address of each node, thus eliminating the need for address configuration. In spontaneous mode, the node sends the data frame it generates to the next node, and the number of hops in the data frame it generates is set to an initial value; In relay mode, the node judges the hop count segment in the received data frame. If the hop count does not reach the first threshold, the node increments the hop count of the data frame and forwards it to the next node. If the number of hops reaches the first threshold, then the forwarding of the data frame is stopped; The hop count in a data frame is used to record the number of times the data frame has been forwarded.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The node enters spontaneous mode when it has finished preparing its own data; the node enters relay mode when it receives a data frame from the previous node, and the first threshold is the total number of nodes minus two.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The data frame includes at least a frame header and several payloads. The frame header includes a hop count for recording the number of times the data frame has been forwarded. Each node uses the same serial encoding format for signal transmission, and there is no need to allocate addresses to each node.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The data frame also includes at least one of the following fields: data frame description information, check field, and frame tail. The data frame description information belongs to the frame header. The check field includes an error correction code or a parity check code. The frame tail is located at the very end of the data frame.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each payload includes a start bit, data bits, and an end bit, wherein the data is raw data comprising multiple bits; all nodes in the communication system communicate at the same baud rate.

6. The communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each node is also equipped with a counter to count the number of received data frames within a preset period. When the count value reaches a second threshold, the node stops receiving data frames, and the communication system is considered to have completed synchronization when the node finishes sending the data frames it generates.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second threshold is the total number of nodes in the communication system minus one. If a node fails to synchronize within the preset period, the node is forced to enter standby mode and a timeout error is reported.

8. A communication method, characterized in that, This communication method, applied to a unidirectional ring path consisting of multiple nodes, includes: Connect multiple nodes end to end to form a ring path; A first threshold is pre-stored locally on each node. The first threshold is a predetermined value obtained based on the total number of nodes in the communication system and is independent of the address of each node, so there is no need to configure the address. The node is powered on / reset and enters standby mode; Each node encapsulates its own data into a hop-count initialized data frame and sends it to the next node once it has finished preparing its own data. The node checks the hop count of the received data frame; if the hop count is less than the first threshold, the node increments the hop count of the data frame and forwards it to the next node; otherwise, it stops forwarding.

9. The communication method according to claim 8, characterized in that, When the sending port is idle, the node is in standby mode. When in standby mode, the node monitors its receiving port. If the node finishes receiving a data frame earlier than the node finishes preparing its own generated data frame, it will enter relay mode first; otherwise, it will enter spontaneous mode first. If both are completed simultaneously, the system first enters the spontaneous mode to send the self-generated data frame to the next node, and then enters the relay mode to forward the received data frame to the next node.

10. The communication method according to claim 9, characterized in that, Each node also includes a counter, and the communication method further includes each node counting the number of received data frames within a preset period, stopping receiving when the count value reaches a second threshold, and determining that the entire network synchronization is completed after the data frames it generates are sent; if synchronization is not completed within the preset period, the node is forced to enter standby mode and report a timeout error.

11. A communication device, characterized in that, The communication device, used as a node in the communication system according to any one of claims 1-7, comprises: The receiving module is used to obtain data frames sent by the previous node through the receiving port; The sending module is used to send data frames to the next node through the sending port; The caching module is used to temporarily store data; The control module is connected to the receiving module, the transmitting module, and the buffer module respectively, and the control module is configured as follows: When its own data preparation is complete, the communication device is controlled to enter the spontaneous mode, and the sending module encapsulates its own data into a data frame with an initial hop count and sends it out. When a data frame is received, the communication device is controlled to enter relay mode. The sending module increments the hop count of the received data frame by one and then sends it out. If the hop count of the received data frame reaches the first threshold, forwarding stops. The communication device locally stores the first threshold, which is a predetermined value obtained based on the total number of nodes in the communication system and is independent of the address of each node, thus eliminating the need for address configuration.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, characterized in that, The receiving module includes: The filtering unit is used to remove glitches from the signal; The first conversion unit is used to convert the filtered signal into a parallel signal; The parsing unit is used to identify the frame header, payload, checksum field, and frame trailer according to the frame format. The first verification unit is used to perform integrity verification and / or error correction on the payload.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The sending module includes: The second verification unit is used to calculate the verification field based on the payload. Encapsulation unit, used to add frame header, check field and frame trailer to form a complete data frame; The second conversion unit is used to convert parallel data frame signals into serial data frame signals and send them through the transmission port.

14. The communication device according to claim 13, characterized in that, The control module is configured as follows: When the transmitting port is idle, the communication device is in standby mode and monitors the receiving port through the receiving module; If the received data frame is ready before the data frame it generates is ready, it will enter relay mode first; otherwise, it will enter spontaneous mode first. If both are ready at the same time, it will enter spontaneous mode first, and then enter relay mode to forward the received data frame after the data frame it generates is sent.

15. The communication device according to claim 14, characterized in that, The control module includes a counter, which counts the number of received data frames within a preset period. When the count reaches the total number of nodes minus one, reception stops, and the module determines that the entire network synchronization is complete after it finishes sending its own data frames. If synchronization is not completed within the preset period, the module is forced to return to standby mode and reports a timeout error.

16. A chip, characterized in that, The chip, used as a node in the communication system according to any one of claims 1-7, comprises: The receiving module is used to obtain data frames sent by the previous node through the receiving port; The sending module is used to send data frames to the next node through the sending port; The caching module is used to temporarily store data; The control module is connected to the receiving module, the transmitting module, and the buffer module respectively, and the control module is configured as follows: When its own data preparation is complete, the chip is controlled to enter the spontaneous mode, and the sending module encapsulates its own data into a data frame with the initial number of hops and sends it out. When a data frame is received, the chip is controlled to enter relay mode. The sending module increments the hop count of the received data frame by one and then sends it out. If the hop count of the received data frame reaches the first threshold, forwarding stops. The chip pre-stores the first threshold locally. The first threshold is a predetermined value obtained based on the total number of nodes in the communication system and is independent of the address of each node, thus eliminating the need for address configuration.

17. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes multiple communication devices as described in claim 11, wherein the multiple communication devices are sequentially connected end-to-end to the receiving ports of adjacent communication devices through their respective transmitting ports to form a unidirectional ring data path.

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