Communication Device Link Pulse Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network systems with multiple slave devices face significant delays in establishing links when all devices are turned on simultaneously due to link pulse collisions, which cannot be effectively resolved by existing techniques.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a first and second communication unit that transmits link pulses at a predetermined timing and performs reset processing if a link is not established within a given time period, shifting pulse timings to avoid collisions and ensure rapid link establishment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If multiple slave devices are turned on simultaneously in a conventional network system, then the devices can start operation quickly, but link pulse collisions occur causing significant delays in link establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the master device transmit a reset signal to slave devices before link pulse transmission begins. This preliminary reset action synchronizes the slave devices and prevents them from transmitting link pulses simultaneously, thereby avoiding collisions and enabling rapid link establishment without delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The master device receives link pulses from slave devices and provides feedback by transmitting reset signals when collisions are detected or when link establishment fails. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust transmission timing and resolve collisions, ensuring rapid and reliable link establishment even when multiple devices are turned on simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If slave devices transmit link pulses at the same timing, then the communication protocol is simple, but link pulse collisions occur repeatedly causing link establishment delays
Solution Approach 1:
The master device acts as an intermediary between slave devices, receiving link pulses and coordinating their transmission timing. By introducing this intermediary that manages the link pulse transmission process and sends reset signals to synchronize devices, the system maintains simple slave device protocols while achieving reliable collision-free link establishment.
3Loss of time
If the communication device performs reset processing immediately after a time period elapses without link establishment, then link establishment speed improves, but the device requires additional control functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit in the master device performs multiple functions: it receives link pulses from slave devices, determines whether link establishment has failed, transmits reset signals to synchronize devices, and monitors link establishment status. By making the control unit multi-functional, the system achieves rapid link establishment without requiring additional dedicated reset processing hardware, thus improving speed while minimizing added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A slave device is realized that establishes a link with a master device or another slave device such that a large link delay hardly occurs. The slave device includes a PHY unit, a COM unit, and a MPU unit. The PHY unit starts an operation according to the specification of the AutoMDI/MDI-X function when the slave device is turned on or the PHY unit itself is reset. After a predetermined time period has elapsed, the MPU unit resets the COM unit, and the PHY unit is reset in response to the reset of the COM unit.