Communication Controller Message Filtering for Fieldbus Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fieldbus communication protocols face inefficiencies in data packet reception and processing, leading to increased processing time due to unnecessary interrupts from messages not addressed to specific devices, and there is a need for improved communication efficiency in process control systems.
Innovation Solution
A communication controller that filters out unnecessary messages by processing only messages addressed to it, using a message format with specific attributes to prevent transmission during message reception, thereby reducing software interrupt loading and enhancing communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the communication controller processes all received messages, then message reception completeness is improved, but processing time increases due to unnecessary interrupts from messages not addressed to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and filters out unnecessary messages from the reception stream by implementing address-specific filtering at the communication controller level. The controller selectively processes only messages addressed to it, eliminating interrupts from irrelevant messages while maintaining complete reception of relevant messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective processing based on message destination address. Different messages are treated differently - those addressed to the specific device are processed fully, while others are ignored. This creates localized processing quality matched to the device's operational needs.
2Productivity
If the communication controller enables continuous transmission, then communication productivity is improved, but transmission conflicts occur when messages are received during transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by setting a transmission inhibition flag when a message is received, before any transmission can occur. This preliminary state change prevents transmission initiation during reception, eliminating conflicts while maintaining high productivity through efficient message handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where the reception of a message generates a control signal that feeds back to inhibit transmission. This feedback loop ensures transmission reliability by preventing overlapping transmissions while maintaining productivity through rapid message processing and immediate inhibition when needed.
3Reliability
If the communication controller processes all interrupts, then message processing completeness is improved, but software interrupt loading increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary interrupts by implementing address-specific filtering. Only interrupts from messages addressed to the specific device are allowed to reach the software processing layer, significantly reducing interrupt loading while maintaining complete processing of relevant messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary filtering layer at the communication controller that sits between the physical reception layer and the software processing layer. This intermediary selectively passes only relevant interrupts to software, reducing complexity and processing load while maintaining processing completeness for addressed messages.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication controller in a device on a network automatically prevents transmission of data onto the network in response to a transmit request from a CPU of the device if a message is being received or has been received but not read or acknowledged.