Enhanced Ethernet Protocol Shortened Frames Unique ID

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ethernet protocols face inefficiencies due to high header overhead, latency, and limited bandwidth in Ethernet-switched backplane architectures, particularly in scenarios requiring high-speed data transfer and quality of service, which hinders their adoption for advanced computing and communication systems.

Innovation Solution

An enhanced Ethernet protocol that supports shortened frame sizes and utilizes a VLAN-like identifier for addressing within a constrained neighborhood, reducing header overhead and enabling efficient data transfer by using a VLAN-ID instead of conventional source and destination addresses, and allowing for optimized packet configurations through auto-negotiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If standard Ethernet protocol is used with conventional source and destination addresses, then global addressability and network compatibility are maintained, but header overhead increases and bandwidth efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidheader overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the conventional 6-byte source address and 6-byte destination address fields from the Ethernet header, replacing them with a simplified 2-byte unique ID field. This extraction eliminates redundant addressing information while retaining essential packet routing capability within the constrained network environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the addressing parameter from 48-bit MAC addresses to 16-bit unique IDs, fundamentally altering the address space representation. This parameter change reduces the header size from 14 bytes to approximately 4 bytes, achieving significant bandwidth efficiency improvements while maintaining addressability within the constrained neighborhood.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If standard Ethernet frame size is used, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but latency increases and link utilization decreases for short data frames

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoidlink utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic frame size adaptation, allowing the data payload portion of the Ethernet frame to be shortened when the actual data being transmitted is small. The frame structure becomes flexible rather than fixed, enabling the system to optimize frame size based on the actual data length, thereby reducing latency for short frames and improving overall link utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If conventional Ethernet addressing is used, then global network compatibility is maintained, but header processing overhead increases and speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidheader processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the lengthy source and destination address fields from the Ethernet header, extracting only the essential unique ID information needed for packet routing within the constrained network. This extraction reduces the header processing burden on network devices and enables faster packet forwarding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using the conventional approach of long MAC addresses for identification, the patent inverts the addressing strategy by using short unique IDs that are mapped to full MAC addresses only when necessary for external communication. This inversion places the lightweight identifier at the core of the protocol while maintaining compatibility with standard Ethernet when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If standard Ethernet protocol is used, then protocol universality is maintained, but adaptability to constrained neighborhood networks decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to constrained networksVSAvoidprotocol overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized addressing scheme tailored specifically for constrained neighborhood networks. Within this local domain, unique IDs provide optimized addressing, while the protocol maintains compatibility with standard Ethernet for external communication. This local optimization does not sacrifice global interoperability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent achieves multi-functionality by designing a protocol that operates effectively both within constrained networks using unique IDs and interfaces with standard Ethernet networks using conventional MAC addresses. The dual-mode operation allows the system to adapt to different network contexts, providing universality across diverse networking scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8116309B2Enhanced Ethernet protocol for shortened data frames within a constrained neighborhood based on unique ID

Publication Date: 2012.02.14 PSIMAST INC

AI summary

An enhanced Ethernet protocol for computing and telecommunication supports a shortened frame size for communicating data payloads among selected devices within a constrained neighborhood based on a unique identification.