Dynamic Diagnostic Frame Transmission for Industrial Communication Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication monitoring methods between equipment items in industrial settings face challenges in reliably detecting errors without saturating communication links or causing electrical overconsumption, especially due to random disturbances and varying transmission frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A method that dynamically adjusts the transmission frequency of diagnostic frames based on the state of communication, using a predetermined minimum time between control frames and an increasing function to ensure high reliability, while avoiding link saturation and energy overconsumption, by recalculating the probability of communication failure after each control frame transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If diagnostic frames are transmitted at a fixed frequency matched to the highest frequency of control frames, then communication error detection reliability is improved, but communication link occupancy increases and may lead to saturation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication error detection reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication link occupancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the diagnostic frame transmission frequency variable rather than fixed. The transmission frequency adapts dynamically based on the actual control frame transmission frequency and observed communication disturbances. When control frames are transmitted frequently, diagnostic frames are transmitted more often; when control frames are transmitted less frequently, diagnostic frame transmission frequency is reduced, thus maintaining reliability while avoiding link saturation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of diagnostic frame transmission frequency based on observed communication conditions. The system monitors the actual transmission frequency of control frames and adjusts the diagnostic frame frequency accordingly. Additionally, the presence of disturbances detected through diagnostic frames triggers parameter changes in transmission frequency to maintain reliability while optimizing resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If diagnostic frames are transmitted at a fixed frequency matched to the highest frequency of control frames, then communication error detection reliability is improved, but electrical energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication error detection reliabilityVSAvoidelectrical energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If diagnostic frames are transmitted less frequently, then communication link occupancy and energy consumption are reduced, but communication error detection reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication link occupancyVSAvoidcommunication error detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using diagnostic frames to monitor communication quality and feed this information back to adjust the transmission frequency. When disturbances are detected through diagnostic frames, the system increases the frequency of diagnostic frame transmission to maintain reliability. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the transmission frequency adapts to actual communication conditions, maintaining reliability while optimizing resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the transmission frequency of diagnostic frames is increased to detect errors with maximum reliability, then error detection capability is improved, but the communication link becomes saturated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror detection capabilityVSAvoidcommunication link efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9923791B2Method for monitoring communication between a transmitter and a receiver

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS

AI summary

A method is provided for monitoring a communication between a transmitting equipment item and a receiving equipment item, the transmitting equipment item transmitting control frames (TC_i) toward the receiving equipment item. The method makes it possible to optimize the frequency of transmission of diagnostic frames (TDx_i), thereby making it possible to avoid saturating the communication link and causing an overconsumption of electrical energy, while guaranteeing a high reliability concerning the state of the communication. The method makes it possible notably to adapt in real time the transmission of the diagnostic frames (TDx_i) to the state of the communication, by taking account of the fact that disturbances prevent the control frames (TC_i) from being correctly transmitted by the transmitting equipment item or received by the receiving equipment item and to adapt the transmission of the diagnostic frames (TDx_i) to the value of the rate of probability of occurrence of a communication failure (τfail), this rate being recalculated on each transmission of a control frame.