Cluster-Based Communications Device Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communications networks with limited resources, such as in-vehicle networks, existing technologies face challenges in reducing communications complexity and efficiently utilizing power and bandwidth, particularly due to the overhead caused by source and destination MAC addresses in Ethernet frames.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves allocating communications devices to clusters, assigning identical addresses to each device within a cluster, and allowing each cluster to communicate using a unique protocol, with a port-to-protocol lookup table facilitating packet forwarding based on cluster addresses and protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Ethernet frames with source and destination MAC addresses are used, then reliable communication can be established, but communications complexity and packet overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into zones with zone identifiers, and further segments address identification by using only destination address information in the packet header. This reduces the addressing complexity while maintaining communication reliability through zone-based routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the source MAC address field from the packet header, keeping only the destination address information. This extraction reduces packet overhead and communications complexity while the destination address alone suffices for reliable routing and delivery.
2Reliability
If Ethernet frames with source and destination MAC addresses are used, then communication reliability is ensured, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the source MAC address field from the packet header, reducing the amount of data that must be processed and transmitted. This reduction in data volume directly lowers power consumption while the destination address maintains sufficient information for reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the addressing scheme into zone identifiers and using simplified destination addressing, the patent reduces the processing burden on network devices, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining communication reliability.
3Reliability
If Ethernet frames with source and destination MAC addresses are used, then communication reliability is ensured, but communications bandwidth utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the source MAC address field from the packet header, reducing the total packet size and overhead. This reduction increases the effective data throughput and improves communications efficiency while the simplified destination addressing maintains reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the addressing information to use only essential destination address data in the header, reducing the bandwidth consumed by control information and increasing the proportion of bandwidth available for actual data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of communications involves allocating communications devices of a wired communications network to clusters, assigning addresses to the clusters, where each communications device within one of the clusters has an identical address, and conducting communications between the communications devices based on the addresses assigned to the clusters.