Ethernet AVB Data Transmission with Guaranteed Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Ethernet AVB standard for communication networks in motor vehicles has a slow start-up time for data transport with guaranteed quality of service, which is problematic for real-time-critical data and data transmission when the network is initialized, as it requires resource reservation requests that can lead to delays and potential rejection.

Innovation Solution

A method where data packets are transmitted without guaranteed transmission time initially, and a reservation request is sent later, allowing immediate data stream transmission without waiting for confirmation, with subsequent redeclaration of data packets to ensure guaranteed transmission time, mimicking the faster response times of FlexRay and MOST networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If resource reservation requests are sent before data transmission in an Ethernet AVB network, then quality of service is guaranteed, but start-up time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of service guaranteeVSAvoidstart-up time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring quality of service parameters and reservation requests during network initialization or before actual data transmission is needed. This allows the network to have resources pre-allocated and ready, eliminating the need to wait for reservation confirmation during critical start-up phases while maintaining QoS guarantees.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by allowing the network to switch between different transmission modes - using guaranteed QoS transmission for non-critical data and best-effort transmission for time-critical start-up data. The system dynamically adjusts resource allocation and transmission priorities based on the specific needs of different data streams and network conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If reservation requests are sent for all data streams, then transmission time is guaranteed, but network configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission timeVSAvoidnetwork configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of service guarantees to different data streams based on their specific requirements. Time-critical start-up data receives best-effort immediate transmission without full reservation overhead, while other data streams receive appropriate QoS guarantees. This localized differentiation reduces overall configuration complexity while maintaining necessary guarantees where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by introducing dynamic priority levels and transmission modes that can be adjusted without reconfiguring the entire network. By modifying transmission parameters such as priority queues and buffer management rather than fundamental network topology or protocol settings, the system reduces configuration complexity while maintaining transmission time guarantees.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the network waits for reservation request confirmation before transmitting data, then resource allocation is ensured, but real-time critical data transmission is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocationVSAvoiddata transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-allocating buffer resources and establishing transmission paths before time-critical data arrives. The network performs preliminary resource reservation for anticipated start-up data flows, so when the data actually needs to be transmitted, the path is already prepared and resources are immediately available, eliminating waiting time while ensuring resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements skipping by allowing time-critical start-up data to bypass the normal reservation confirmation waiting process. The system rushes through the transmission of such data using best-effort mechanisms immediately, accepting that resource allocation may be less formalized, while still maintaining overall network stability and allocating resources afterward to catch up on any gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP2847966B1Method for transmission of data in a packet oriented communications network, corresponding system and corresponding computer program product
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2847966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2847966B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a packet-oriented communications network (1), in particular of a motor vehicle and to a user terminal configured for carrying out said method. In said method, data packets can be transmitted without a guaranteed transmission time for the data packets (8) and with a guaranteed maximum transmission time for the data packets (7) in said communications network (1). For a data transmission (6) with a guaranteed transmission time, a specific quality of service is reserved prior to the data transmission (6) by means of a reservation request (4) from the sender of the data to the receiver (2, L) of the data and the data transmission with a guaranteed transmission time is only started once a confirmation (5) of the reservation request (4) sent by the sender (2, T) has been received. In addition, selected data that is to be transmitted in a guaranteed transmission time is sent directly as a data stream (6) of data packets (8) and a reservation request (4) is sent after the start of the data stream (6).