Communication Controller for Time-Critical Resource Reservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems in industrial automation face challenges in efficiently reserving resources for time-critical data streams, leading to potential rejection of high-priority processes due to unpredictable resource availability and competing data traffic.
Innovation Solution
A communication controller and method that assigns datagrams to data streams with identifiers and quality of service parameters, allowing a central network controller to dynamically reserve resources and prioritize data streams based on availability, using virtual local area networks and transmission queues to ensure high-priority data is transmitted reliably.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resources are immediately allocated upon receiving reservation requests, then resource availability is quickly determined, but high-priority data streams may be rejected due to competing traffic and unpredictable resource availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by announcing data streams and their quality of service requirements in advance before actual resource allocation. First communication devices transmit announcement datagrams containing data stream identifiers and QoS parameters ahead of time, allowing the superordinate communication controller to plan and reserve resources proactively rather than reactively, ensuring high-priority streams are not rejected due to temporary resource unavailability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the resource reservation process into distinct phases: announcement phase (first datagrams with QoS parameters), resource determination phase (superordinate controller calculates resource requirements), and allocation phase (second datagrams confirm resource reservation). This segmentation allows systematic handling of multiple data streams with different priorities, preventing resource conflicts by processing reservations in an organized sequence rather than immediate competing allocation
2Productivity
If multiple data streams with different quality of service requirements share the same network resources, then network utilization is maximized, but time-critical data streams may not meet their quality of service requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different quality characteristics to different data streams through specific QoS parameters associated with each data stream identifier. The superordinate communication controller determines specific resource allocations (bandwidth, timing, priority) for each announced data stream based on its QoS requirements, ensuring that time-critical streams receive guaranteed resources while less critical streams utilize available capacity, thus maintaining both high network utilization and QoS compliance
3Productivity
If a central network controller manages resource allocation for all data streams, then resource distribution is optimized, but the system complexity and configuration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling first communication devices to autonomously announce their data streams and QoS requirements through transmitted datagrams without manual configuration. The superordinate communication controller automatically processes these announcements, determines resource requirements, and sends allocation confirmations, eliminating the need for manual network configuration and reducing system complexity while maintaining optimized resource distribution
Data Source
AI summary
Method for transmitting time-critical data within a communication system, wherein selected datagrams are assigned to data streams and transmitted from first communication devices to second communication devices on paths containing third communication devices, where a superordinate communication controller ascertains a respective path for a respective data stream and, in the event of sufficient availability, reserves resources transmission of the respective data stream via the third communication devices, configures at least third communication devices, connected to a first or second communication device, such that datagrams assigned to data streams are each queued in transmission queues reserved for data streams and otherwise configures at least the third communication devices, connected to a first or second communication device, in each case at least temporarily such that datagrams assigned to selected data streams are queued in a transmission queue for data traffic handled without a specific quality of service guarantee.