Communication Controller Hardware Timer for Scheduled Message Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current process control systems face inefficiencies in data communication, particularly in handling scheduled and unscheduled messages, which leads to increased software overhead and latency due to the need for precise timing calculations and conversions between different time bases.
Innovation Solution
A communication controller that maintains an internal timer and uses a Next Scheduled Event trigger to manage message transmission, allowing for automatic synchronization of Node Time and Octet Time, enabling efficient coordination of scheduled and unscheduled messages without relying on software-intensive calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If software-intensive timing calculations and conversions between different time bases are performed to manage scheduled and unscheduled messages, then precise timing control is achieved, but software overhead increases and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based timing calculations with hardware timer circuits that automatically generate interrupt signals for scheduled message transmission. The timer hardware performs timing functions that would otherwise require complex software calculations, reducing CPU overhead while maintaining precise timing control for both scheduled and unscheduled messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication controller uses its own internal timer hardware to automatically manage transmission timing without requiring continuous software intervention. The timer self-generates interrupt signals based on scheduled events, allowing the system to self-regulate message transmission timing while minimizing software processing requirements.
2Measurement precision
If software-intensive timing calculations and conversions between different time bases are performed to manage scheduled and unscheduled messages, then precise timing control is achieved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based timing calculations with hardware timer circuits that automatically generate interrupt signals for scheduled message transmission. The timer hardware performs timing functions that would otherwise require complex software calculations, reducing CPU overhead while maintaining precise timing control for both scheduled and unscheduled messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and programs timer interrupt intervals for scheduled messages in advance. By setting up the timer hardware with predetermined timing parameters, the system eliminates the need for real-time software calculations, reducing latency while maintaining precise timing for both scheduled and unscheduled message transmission.
3Productivity
If automatic timing coordination of scheduled and unscheduled messages is implemented, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based timing calculations with hardware timer circuits that automatically generate interrupt signals for scheduled message transmission. The timer hardware performs timing functions that would otherwise require complex software calculations, reducing CPU overhead while maintaining precise timing control for both scheduled and unscheduled messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication controller integrates multiple functions including scheduled message transmission, unscheduled message handling, and timing coordination into a single unified system. The hardware timer and interrupt mechanism serve multiple purposes: generating transmission triggers, managing time bases, and coordinating message delivery, thereby improving communication efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device on a process control network transmits scheduled messages at periodic intervals and unscheduled messages between scheduled message transmissions. A dynamic time remaining value is produced by subtracting a current timer value from a next scheduled event time each time the timer is incremented. If the time required to transmit an unscheduled message is greater than the time remaining value, the message is not transmitted.