Ethernet Daisy-Chain Port Deactivation for Subscriber Position Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the chain position of network participants in an Ethernet daisy chain topology generate significant network traffic and are inefficient, especially with larger networks, and fail to provide a straightforward mapping of network participant positions to their locations within the chain.
Innovation Solution
A method involving selective deactivation of ports in an Ethernet daisy chain, where network participants temporarily deactivate their ports to send status messages to a gateway, allowing the gateway to identify and assign their positions within the chain, thereby creating a table that maps identification numbers to locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the subscriber is assigned to a cell based on the cell receiving the strongest uplink signal, then the network coverage is maintained, but the chain position determination becomes inaccurate when the subscriber is in a chain formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal measurement process by introducing a specific measurement resource (CSI-RS) dedicated to chain position detection, separate from the normal uplink signal used for cell assignment. This allows independent optimization of each function without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a downlink reference signal (CSI-RS) as an intermediary to indirectly determine chain position. Instead of directly measuring uplink signals from multiple subscribers, the system uses downlink signal quality measurements at the subscriber side to infer chain formation status and report it to the network.
2Reliability
If traditional cell assignment methods are used without considering chain formation, then the network operation is simple, but call drop rates increase when subscribers form chains
Solution Approach 1:
The subscriber device performs self-measurement of downlink reference signal quality and autonomously determines chain position status. The device then reports this information to the network, eliminating the need for complex network-side detection mechanisms while improving call reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs chain position determination before call establishment by measuring downlink reference signals and reporting chain status to the network. This preliminary information allows the network to make informed decisions about resource allocation and handover, preventing call drops before they occur.
3Productivity
If multiple subscribers share the same time-frequency resource for uplink transmission, then the network resource utilization is efficient, but signal interference increases making chain position detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the measurement dimension from uplink (subscriber to base station) to downlink (base station to subscriber). By having subscribers measure downlink reference signals instead of the network measuring uplink signals, the system avoids interference issues while maintaining resource efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining a chain position of a network subscriber (21.1-21.4) in an Ethernet network, in which the network subscribers (21.1-21.4) are connected to one another in a daisy chain and the daisy chain is coupled, at its two ends, to a respective port (11a-16a, 11b-16b) of an Ethernet gateway (1). The method comprises the following steps: (a) deactivating one of the two ports (11a-16a, 11b-16b) of the Ethernet gateway (1); (b) acquiring a status message from one of the network subscribers (21.1-21.4) concerning non-connected ports (22.1a-22.4a, 22.1b-22.4b) of the network subscriber (21.1-21.4) in question; (c) extracting at least one identification number from the status message from the network subscriber (21.1-21.4) in question and assigning a first chain position to the identification number; (d) deactivating the other port (22.1a-22.4a, 22.1b-22.4b) of the network subscriber (21.1-21.4) in question; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) until all of the network subscribers (21.1-21.4) with their identification number have been acquired, wherein subsequent chain positions are assigned in the repetitions of step (c). The invention furthermore relates to an arrangement of agricultural devices, in particular milking stalls, which are designed to carry out the method.