Deterministic Network Device Opportunistic Management Packet Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

In deterministic networks, data packet loss leads to unused allocated cells, resulting in inefficiencies and the inability to utilize existing transmission opportunities for error detection and management, as conventional implementations do not allow for opportunistic insertion of management packets.

Innovation Solution

A network device detects the absence of a data packet and opportunistically generates and transmits a management packet in the allocated cell reserved for data packet transmission, enabling the use of unused cells for in-band management and providing attributes related to the failure, allowing destination devices to collect statistics and potentially adjust the network path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data packet loss is detected in deterministic networks, then reliability can be monitored, but the allocated cells become unused and cannot be utilized for management purposes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket loss detectionVSAvoidcell utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of packet loss (which causes cell waste) into a beneficial opportunity by inserting management packets into the lost data packet's allocated cell. The network device detects packet loss and uses the otherwise unused cell to transmit management information about the failure, thereby turning a waste product into a useful management channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the transmission cell multi-functional by allowing it to serve both as a data packet carrier (when successful) and as a management packet carrier (when data packet loss occurs). This universal usage maximizes cell utilization efficiency across different network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If management packets are inserted into allocated cells, then cell utilization improves, but the deterministic timing and exclusivity of the path may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell utilization efficiencyVSAvoiddeterministic path exclusivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior to the deterministic path by allowing the allocated cell to change its function based on real-time conditions. When packet loss is detected, the cell transitions from carrying data to carrying management packets, adapting the path's usage dynamically while maintaining deterministic timing through the time-slotted framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses management packets as intermediaries that carry information about network conditions without disrupting the underlying deterministic data transmission mechanism. These management packets act as mediators between the data layer and the management layer, allowing monitoring and control without compromising the deterministic path's core functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional implementations are used, then network simplicity is maintained, but error detection and management capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork implementation simplicityVSAvoiderror detection and management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data transmission and management functions into a single integrated system. By combining the data packet's allocated cell with management packet transmission, the system achieves error detection and management capabilities without adding separate dedicated channels, thus maintaining relative simplicity while enhancing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10491719B2Insertion of management packet into a wired deterministic path

Publication Date: 2019.11.26 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method comprises: a first network device in a deterministic network identifying at least one of first and second deterministic transmit opportunities for transmission of a data packet toward a destination device along a deterministic path of the deterministic network, the first deterministic transmit opportunity reserved for the first network device deterministically receiving the data packet from a second network device and the second deterministic transmit opportunity reserved for deterministic transmission by the first network device of the data packet toward the destination device along the deterministic path; the first network device detecting an absence of receiving the data packet from the second network device according to the first deterministic transmit opportunity; and the first network device selectively generating and deterministically transmitting according to the second deterministic transmit opportunity, in response to the absence of receiving the data packet, a management packet along the deterministic path.