Automation Network Telegram Routing via Port Address Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automation networks face challenges in efficiently routing telegrams due to the need for complex routing tables and learning processes when network participants are replaced, leading to increased memory requirements and reduced data transmission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes a network distributor with end ports and forwarding ports, where port addresses are assigned as identifiers, allowing for direct routing of telegrams without complex routing procedures, and uses comparison or logical operators to manage port addresses, eliminating the need for a learning process when network participants are swapped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routing tables store entries for each combination of sending and receiving network participants with MAC addresses, then telegrams can be routed to specific network participants, but memory requirements increase with network size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing table into two separate tables: a port address table that maps end ports to port addresses, and a routing table that maps port addresses to output ports. This segmentation eliminates the need to store MAC addresses of all network participants in the routing table, significantly reducing memory requirements while maintaining routing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the port address information from the traditional MAC address-based routing table and stores it separately in a port address table. This extraction allows the routing table to contain only essential routing information (port address to output port mapping), reducing its size and improving efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If routing tables are updated through a learning process when network participants are replaced, then the routing table adapts to new participants, but data transmission efficiency is reduced during the learning period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assignment of port addresses to end ports during network configuration. When network participants are replaced, the pre-assigned port addresses remain valid and are immediately recognized by the network distributor, eliminating the need for learning processes and ensuring immediate data transmission efficiency.
3Reliability
If complex routing procedures are used to route telegrams through network distributors, then telegrams can reach their destination, but transmission throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assignment of port addresses to end ports and stores this mapping in a port address table. During telegram transmission, the network distributor directly uses the port address from the telegram header to look up the corresponding output port in the port address table, eliminating complex routing procedures and maximizing transmission throughput while ensuring reliable delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for routing telegrams in an automation network (100), wherein the automation network (100) comprises network subscribers (800) which are connected to one another via a data line network (200). At least one network subscriber (800) is designed as a master subscriber (105, 110) and sends telegrams to the network subscribers (800) via the data line network (200). In addition, at least one network subscriber (800) is designed as a network distributer (120, 130, 140), having multiple in/output ports PX, wherein the in/output ports PX, to which respective segments (300, 305, 310, 315, 320) with further network subscribers (800) are connected, are characterised as end ports. The master subscriber (105, 110) assigns a respective port address IDY to the end ports. Furthermore, the master subscriber (105, 110) assigns the port address IDY of the end port, to which the segment (300, 305, 310, 315, 320) with further network subscribers (800) is connected, as an identifier to a telegram which is intended for a segment (300, 305, 310, 315, 320) with further network subscribers (800) for processing. When the network distributer (120, 130, 140) receives a telegram with a port address IDY of an end port of the network distributer (120, 130, 140) as an identifier, the network distributer (120, 130, 140) outputs the telegram directly via the in/output port PX of the network distributer (120, 130, 140) corresponding with the end port of the port address IDY.