Duplicate Data Link Frames for Zero-Downtime Process Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional process control systems face challenges in achieving high real-time communication with high reliability and availability, particularly in scenarios where communication downtime during abnormalities needs to be minimized within a control scan period.
Innovation Solution
The system generates duplicate data link layer transmission frames and transmits them through physically independent communication paths, allowing for simultaneous data transmission on multiple paths, thereby eliminating the need for path diagnosis, abnormality detection, and restoration processes, which reduces downtime to zero.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single-path communication is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication downtime during abnormalities exceeds the control scan period
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes multiple communication paths (primary and standby) before abnormalities occur. When a failure is detected, the standby path is already prepared and can be activated immediately without detection-to-switching delay, achieving zero communication downtime within the control scan period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares redundant communication paths in advance to cushion against potential failures. By having a standby path ready before any abnormality occurs, the system eliminates the need for real-time path switching decisions, ensuring communication continuity within the control scan period.
2Reliability
If path diagnosis and abnormality detection processes are implemented, then communication reliability is improved, but CPU load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system performs self-diagnosis and self-recovery automatically. The controller monitors communication status and autonomously switches to standby paths without external intervention, reducing CPU load while maintaining high reliability through automated fault detection and recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where communication status is continuously monitored and fed back to the controller. Based on this feedback, the system automatically activates standby paths when abnormalities are detected, achieving reliable communication with minimal CPU intervention.
3Reliability
If duplicate transmission frames are sent through multiple paths, then communication availability is improved, but data link layer processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system segments data transmission into independent primary and standby paths at the data link layer. Each path operates independently with its own frame transmission, allowing parallel processing and eliminating the need for complex coordination between paths while maintaining high availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a dimensional aspect by introducing a standby path parallel to the primary path. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous transmission through multiple paths without increasing processing complexity, as each path is handled independently in the data link layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-readable recording medium having stored therein an information processing program causes an information processing apparatus to execute a processing of generating a first transmission frame and a second transmission frame by duplicating a transmission frame of a data link layer in response to accepting a transmission request for data that is used for process control, transmitting the first transmission frame to a first NIC, transmitting the second transmission frame to a second NIC, transmitting the first transmission frame in the first NIC to a network, and transmitting the second transmission frame in the second NIC to the network.