Ethernet Safety Packets With Field-Level Error Detection Codes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems face challenges in maintaining data integrity due to issues like corruption, repetition, sequence errors, loss, delay, insertion, masquerade, and incorrect addressing, which current Ethernet frame structures struggle to address effectively, particularly in meeting the stringent error probability requirements of safety integrity levels (SIL) as defined by IEC 61508.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and device that calculates and transmits data error detection codes within packets to detect errors, ensuring the integrity of data transmission by generating and analyzing error detection codes using a safety protocol data unit and Ethernet frame structure, which includes error detection codes for each data field, allowing for error detection and transitioning to a fail-safe state if errors are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current Ethernet frame structures are used for data transmission, then device complexity and ease of operation are maintained, but data integrity and reliability cannot satisfy the stringent error probability requirements of safety integrity levels (SIL)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission protocol into distinct layers: a standard Ethernet frame layer for basic communication and a safety protocol layer for integrity verification. The safety protocol data unit is further segmented into multiple data fields, each with its own error detection code. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple Ethernet infrastructure while adding targeted safety features only where needed, rather than complicating the entire communication protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary safety protocol layer that sits between the standard Ethernet frame and the application layer. This intermediary layer includes safety-specific elements such as error detection codes, sequence numbers, and integrity verification mechanisms. By placing this intermediary layer, the system can leverage existing Ethernet infrastructure while adding the necessary safety features without requiring complete protocol redesign.
2Reliability
If multiple error detection codes are calculated and transmitted for each data field, then error detection capability and data integrity are improved, but packet size and transmission overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by calculating error detection codes specifically for each individual data field within the safety protocol data unit, rather than using a single generic check for the entire packet. This allows error detection to be targeted and efficient - each field gets appropriate verification tailored to its specific requirements. The error detection code for each field is compact and only adds overhead for that specific field's integrity verification.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive error detection mechanisms are implemented to detect corruption, repetition, sequence errors, loss, delay, insertion, masquerade and addressing errors, then reliability and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by including sequence numbers and error detection codes with each data field before transmission. These preliminary markers enable the receiving device to quickly verify integrity and detect errors such as repetition or sequence errors without requiring complex post-reception analysis. The fail-safe state mechanism is also prepared in advance, allowing rapid response when errors are detected.
Data Source
AI summary
A first communication device calculates a plurality of data error codes for detecting an error in a plurality of data fields by using the plurality of data fields. The first communication device generates a packet comprising the plurality of data fields and the plurality of data error codes, and then transmits the packet which is generated to a second communication device.