Time Division Communication Sub-Slot Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional time-division communication systems in Factory Automation cannot update or monitor communication settings without discontinuing data communication, leading to reduced throughput.

Innovation Solution

A communication system with sub-slots allocated for data and maintenance communication, where a master communication apparatus can change or monitor setting values in the communication setting registers using a maintenance communication sub-slot without interrupting data communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication settings are changed in conventional time division mode, then the setting can be updated, but the data communication must be temporarily terminated resulting in reduced throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication setting update capabilityVSAvoiddata communication throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication cycle is segmented into two distinct sub-slots: data communication sub-slots for normal data transmission and maintenance communication sub-slots for setting updates. This segmentation allows maintenance operations to occur without interfering with data communication, as each sub-slot serves its dedicated purpose within the divided cycle structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic maintenance communication sub-slots within the cyclic time division structure. These maintenance sub-slots occur at regular intervals to update or monitor communication settings, while data communication continues in other sub-slots, enabling periodic configuration changes without continuous interruption of data flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If a slot is allocated for data communication in time division mode, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but setting values cannot be changed during communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidsetting update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system implements multi-functionality by enabling communication apparatus to perform both data communication and maintenance communication functions. Through the dual sub-slot structure, the same communication infrastructure handles both data transmission and setting updates, with the master apparatus coordinating both functions without requiring separate dedicated systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a temporal dimension to the communication structure by dividing the time cycle into multiple sub-slots with different functions. This dimensional expansion of the communication framework allows simultaneous support for data communication and maintenance operations in different time segments, resolving the conflict between transmission efficiency and setting flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8126008B2Communication system and communication apparatus

Publication Date: 2012.02.28 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

Data communication sub-slots of a cycle in a time division mode are allocated to communication apparatuses; a maintenance communication sub-slot is allocated to the communication apparatus operating as a master communication apparatus; the communication apparatuses perform data communication with the use of the data communication sub-slots allocated thereto; and the communication apparatus uses the maintenance communication sub-slot to change or monitor information about the communication of the communication apparatuses in the time division mode.