Cross-Network Communication Links Using Explicit Routing Paths
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods for automatable industrial devices and systems across different networks face challenges in configuring communication links due to the lack of a homogeneous address space, requiring complex address translation or globally unique addresses, which are inflexible and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method for configuring a communication link between nodes in different networks using routing path information that specifies the networks and nodes to be traversed, employing a link identifier for message association and storage, and allowing for flexible service distribution and access control, thereby avoiding the need for global addressability and minimizing memory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If globally unique addresses or address translation are used to enable communication across networks, then address uniqueness is achieved, but system complexity and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The network address space is segmented into network-specific homogeneous address spaces. Each network maintains its own addressing scheme independently, with routing path information explicitly specifying the sequence of networks to traverse. This eliminates the need for globally unique addresses while maintaining address uniqueness within each network context.
Solution Approach 2:
Routing path information acts as an intermediary that bridges communication between nodes in different networks. Instead of requiring address translation or globally unique addresses, the routing path explicitly specifies the sequence of networks to traverse, enabling communication without complex address management.
2Reliability
If globally unique addresses are implemented across all networks, then address uniqueness is ensured, but memory requirements and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Addressing is segmented at the network level rather than requiring global uniqueness. Each network maintains its own homogeneous address space, and routing path information specifies the sequence of networks to traverse. This reduces memory requirements by eliminating the need to store and manage globally unique addresses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex address translation mechanisms are used to enable cross-network communication, then communication capability is achieved, but system flexibility and ease of configuration are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Routing path information serves as an intermediary that explicitly specifies the sequence of networks to traverse between source and destination. This approach maintains communication capability across heterogeneous networks while significantly improving configuration flexibility, as networks can be added, removed, or reconfigured without requiring complex address translation updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing path information enables dynamic configuration of communication links. Networks can be dynamically added or removed from the routing path without requiring reconfiguration of address translation mechanisms, providing greater adaptability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for configuring a communication link between a first node in a first of at least two networks and a second node in a second of at least two networks, wherein at least one of the first and second nodes is an automatable industrial device or an automatable industrial system, or a controller thereof. The at least two networks each individually form a homogeneous address space, but do not together form a homogeneous address space. A call is transmitted to configure the communication link between the first and second nodes, the call having routing path information specifying the routing path from the first node to the second node. The routing path information includes at least one identifier of each network or nodes to be traversed along the routing path, but not necessarily an identifier of the first network. The communication link is configured between the first and second nodes based on the routing path information.