Coordination Unit for Synchronized Telegram Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inexpensive network controllers like the I210, used in industrial Ethernet-based communication systems, can only store a single transmission time, leading to loss of transmission times and inability to reliably associate these times with telegrams from different application modules, particularly in PTCP protocols.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a coordination unit that manages the transmission of telegrams from multiple application devices, using a low-cost network controller to ascertain and store current transmission times, associate them with respective telegrams, and prioritize transmissions to prevent time loss and ensure reliable association.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If inexpensive network controllers (e.g., I210) are used, then cost is reduced, but the ability to store multiple transmission times is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A coordination device is introduced as an intermediary between the application devices and the transmission device. This coordinator manages the single transmission time storage location, ensuring that transmission times are properly recorded and associated with the correct telegrams even though the inexpensive network controller can only store one transmission time at a time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple telegrams are transmitted asynchronously from different PTCP modules, then communication functionality is improved, but transmission time association becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The coordination device implements a feedback mechanism where it monitors which transmission time has been read out from the memory and uses this information to control subsequent transmissions. The coordinator ensures that a new transmission time is only recorded after the previous one has been read, creating a reliable feedback loop that maintains accurate associations despite asynchronous telegram generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination device acts as a mediator that manages the interaction between multiple asynchronously operating PTCP modules and the single transmission time storage location. It coordinates the timing and association of transmission times with specific telegrams, ensuring reliability even when multiple modules operate independently.
3Device complexity
If transmission time is stored in single-location memory, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission time loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The coordination device performs preliminary actions by checking whether the current transmission time has been read out before allowing a new transmission time to be recorded. This preventive measure ensures that no transmission time is lost by being overwritten before it could be associated with its corresponding telegram.
Data Source
AI summary
To solve the problem of still being able to use an inexpensive network controller which can store only a single transmission time, even when telegrams from a plurality of application modules need to be sent in synchronized fashion and the transmission times thereof need to be reliably ascertained and reliably associated with the respective telegrams, provided is a communication device for the synchronized sending of telegrams, a communication system including such a communication device, and a method for the synchronized sending of telegrams. The communication device comprises a coordination device.