Dual TCP/IP Stack Shunting for Real-Time Ethernet Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional train communication networks based on Ethernet technology face resource insufficiency in central processor units, leading to unreliable and non-real-time data processing.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method and device for communication data processing using a mixed hardware and software TCP/IP protocol stack, where real-time data is processed by a hardware TCP/IP channel and non-real-time data by a software TCP/IP channel, with integrated hardware logic to reduce CPU resource consumption and ensure reliable real-time data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all communication data is processed through the CPU using software TCP/IP protocol stack, then processing flexibility is maintained, but CPU resource consumption increases and real-time performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TCP/IP protocol stack processing into two parts: hardware-based processing for real-time data (urgent segments) and software-based processing for non-real-time data (non-urgent segments). The hardware TCP/IP protocol stack handles real-time data transmission and reception, while the software stack handles other data, thereby reducing CPU resource consumption for time-critical operations while maintaining processing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network processor as an intermediary component between the network interface and the CPU. This network processor executes instructions from a instruction storage unit to handle TCP/IP protocol processing, acting as a mediator that offloads real-time data processing from the CPU. The network processor can independently process real-time data without requiring immediate CPU intervention, thus improving real-time performance while reducing CPU resource consumption.
2Speed
If hardware TCP/IP protocol stack is used for real-time data processing, then real-time performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network processor is designed with multi-functionality, capable of handling both hardware-based TCP/IP protocol processing and software-based protocol processing. It can execute instructions to process real-time data in hardware mode while also supporting software-based processing for other data types. This universal design allows the system to achieve high-speed real-time processing without requiring completely separate dedicated hardware for each protocol layer, thereby managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between hardware-based and software-based TCP/IP protocol processing depending on the data type. Real-time data triggers hardware-based processing through the network processor, while other data uses software-based processing. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize performance for time-critical operations while avoiding the permanent complexity of fully dedicated hardware for all protocol processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a communication data processing method and apparatus, which are applied to a communication data processing device. The device comprises an Ethernet protocol stack apparatus. The Ethernet protocol stack apparatus is connected to a CPU. The Ethernet protocol stack apparatus comprises a software protocol channel for transmitting non-real-time data and a hardware protocol channel for transmitting real-time data. The hardware protocol channel comprises a hardware protocol stack for processing real-time data. The CPU is provided with a software protocol stack for processing non-real-time data. By means of data shunting, real-time data is transmitted through the hardware protocol stack channel, and non-real-time data is transmitted through the software protocol stack channel, so that loads of the CPU can be reduced, and the efficiency of the hardware protocol stack is improved, and the minimum delay of real-time data is ensured. High-precision clock synchronization can also be adopted in a system where the device is located, so that reliable transmission of real-time data frames within certain precision is ensured, and system-wide scheduling and management of data is performed on the basis of a scheduling table, to ensure that communications do not conflict.