Distribution Node Telegram Fragmentation and Reassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation networks face challenges in ensuring real-time data transmission due to the FIFO principle in distribution nodes, which can delay critical control tasks, especially when mixed with non-real-time traffic and nodes that do not support fragmentation procedures.
Innovation Solution
A distribution node with a switching unit that checks for fragmentation support in recipients and assembles telegram fragments for standard subscribers that do not support fragmentation, allowing for mixed operation and flexible network expansion while ensuring real-time data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the distribution node uses FIFO principle for telegram transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the real-time capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments telegrams into fragments with different priority levels (express traffic and preemptable traffic). This allows the distribution node to handle different types of data differently - critical real-time telegrams are segmented and transmitted with priority, while non-critical telegrams follow standard FIFO processing, thus maintaining simplicity for most cases while enabling real-time capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution node dynamically adjusts its transmission behavior based on the priority level of incoming telegrams. When express traffic is detected, the node temporarily changes from strict FIFO to priority-based transmission. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain simplicity under normal conditions while providing real-time capability when high-priority telegrams arrive.
2Reliability
If VLAN tagging is used to prioritize telegrams, then the real-time capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex VLAN tagging for all telegrams, the patent segments only the critical real-time telegrams into express traffic fragments. This selective segmentation approach provides real-time capability for essential data while avoiding the complexity of implementing VLAN tagging for all network traffic, thus balancing performance improvement with device complexity.
3Speed
If fragmentation method is used for telegram transmission, then the transmission speed is improved, but the reliability decreases when standard subscribers receive fragmented telegrams
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution node acts as an intermediary that detects whether a subscriber supports fragmentation before transmitting. When a standard subscriber (without fragmentation support) is identified, the node reassembles fragments into complete telegrams before transmission. This intermediary function allows the network to benefit from fragmentation speed improvements for supported nodes while ensuring reliability for standard nodes that cannot handle fragments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter (fragmented vs. complete telegram) based on the subscriber's capability. The distribution node adapts the telegram format dynamically - sending fragmented telegrams to subscribers that support fragmentation for faster transmission, and complete telegrams to standard subscribers to ensure reliability. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between speed and reliability.
4Productivity
If all nodes support fragmentation, then the transmission efficiency is improved, but the adaptability decreases when mixing with standard subscribers
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution node dynamically adapts its transmission behavior based on the capability of the target subscriber. When communicating with fragmentation-supporting nodes, the node uses fragmented telegrams for high efficiency. When communicating with standard nodes, the node reassembles and transmits complete telegrams. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to maintain high productivity with advanced nodes while ensuring compatibility with standard nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution node is designed with multi-functionality to handle both fragmented and complete telegrams, as well as both express traffic and standard traffic. This universal capability allows the node to operate in heterogeneous networks with mixed node types, maintaining both transmission efficiency for advanced nodes and compatibility for standard nodes simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
In an automation network comprising a plurality of network segments, fragmenting subscribers that support a fragmentation method as well as standard subscribers that do not support the fragmentation method can be provided for in the network. A distribution node in the automation network has at least one input/output interface that is in communication with a network segment. The switching unit in the distribution node checks whether a subscriber in a network segment to which a telegram is to be sent supports the fragmentation method, and whether the telegram to be sent is fragmented. If the subscriber does not support the fragmentation procedure and the telegram to be sent is fragmented, the switching unit in the distribution node assembles the telegram fragments to form the telegram and then sends the assembled telegram on to the subscriber.