Ethernet Protocol Stack Shim Layer for Deterministic OT Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet communications suffer from packet arrival jitter, making them unsuitable for time-sensitive or critical data transmission, particularly in operational technology (OT) networking, which requires high timing precision and high-integrity communications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a time-division multiplexing shim layer between the PHY and MAC layers in the Ethernet protocol stack to facilitate both packet-switching and non-packet-switching transmission modes, allowing for time-sensitive services like constant-bit-rate (CBR) to be transmitted via a time-division multiplexing shim layer, aligning bit rates with Ethernet bus clocks, and embedding client data into fixed-size frames for deterministic delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packet switching is used in Ethernet communications, then network bandwidth efficiency is improved, but packet arrival jitter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments data traffic into two distinct categories: packet-switched traffic for conventional data and circuit-switched traffic for time-sensitive services. This segmentation allows each type of traffic to be handled by an appropriate transmission mode, with packet switching maintaining bandwidth efficiency and circuit switching ensuring timing precision for critical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects between packet-switching and circuit-switching modes based on the service type and timing requirements of the data being transmitted. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to optimize for either bandwidth efficiency or timing precision depending on the specific traffic characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional Ethernet is used for OT networking, then ease of deployment is improved, but timing precision and communication integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes conventional Ethernet infrastructure multi-functional by enabling it to handle both traditional packet-switched traffic and time-sensitive circuit-switched traffic simultaneously. This allows existing Ethernet networks to provide OT networking capabilities without requiring completely separate infrastructure, thus maintaining ease of deployment while improving timing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a service classification mechanism and dual transmission mode system as intermediaries between the Ethernet infrastructure and OT networking requirements. This intermediary layer enables timing-precise communications by routing time-sensitive traffic through circuit-switched paths while leaving conventional traffic on packet-switched paths.
3Productivity
If packet switching is used, then network infrastructure utilization is improved, but communication integrity for critical data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the network transmission paths into packet-switched and circuit-switched channels, allowing critical data to be routed through dedicated circuit-switched paths that guarantee communication integrity, while non-critical data utilizes packet-switched paths for efficient infrastructure utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality levels of service are applied locally to different data streams based on their requirements. Time-sensitive critical data receives circuit-switched treatment with guaranteed integrity, while conventional data receives packet-switched treatment with efficient utilization, allowing each data type to receive the appropriate quality of service.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for processing data in an Ethernet protocol stack is disclosed. The method comprises receiving client data for transmission via an Ethernet bus, and selectively transmitting the client data over the Ethernet bus by one of packet switching or non-packet-switching transmission based on an identity of the originating client device.