Time-Critical Ethernet Data Streams With Dynamic Resource Reservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face issues with interruptions and inefficient data transmission due to competitive resource usage in Ethernet-based communication networks, leading to potential production downtime and quality of service violations, especially with time-critical data.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that assigns selected datagrams to data streams and transmits them between network nodes, using a superordinate communication control device to reserve resources and adapt to changing operational constraints by setting local cycle durations and monitoring topology changes, ensuring efficient resource utilization and quality of service compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bandwidth reservation is implemented for high-priority data frames, then quality of service for time-critical data is improved, but device complexity increases due to resource reservation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by reserving bandwidth resources in advance for time-critical data streams before actual data transmission occurs. The system pre-configures bandwidth allocations and establishes reserved channels ahead of time, ensuring that when time-critical data needs to be transmitted, the necessary resources are already available and guaranteed, thus improving quality of service without adding complexity during actual transmission operations.
2Reliability
If credit-based shapers are used for bandwidth monitoring, then quality of service for audio and video streams is improved, but transmission efficiency of control data decreases due to compulsory pauses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different transmission strategies for different data types within the same network. Time-critical control data receives preferential treatment with guaranteed bandwidth and no compulsory pauses, while audio and video streams use credit-based shaping mechanisms. This localized differentiation ensures that control data transmission efficiency is not degraded by pauses intended for other traffic types, while still maintaining quality of service where needed.
3Reliability
If network resources are reserved for specific data streams, then quality of service for reserved streams is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases due to reserved resources remaining unused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making bandwidth reservations adjustable and adaptable rather than fixed and static. The system allows bandwidth allocations to be dynamically modified based on actual traffic patterns and changing operational requirements. When reserved resources are not fully utilized, the system can reallocate or adjust the reservation levels, ensuring that quality of service is maintained when needed while minimizing wasted resources during periods of lower demand, thus improving overall resource utilization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and communication system for transmitting time-critical data, wherein selected datagrams are assigned to data streams and transmitted via paths for the data streams, where reservation requests are transmitted to a higher-level communication controller to reserve resources to be provided by the communication devices for transmitting data streams, in each case via a reservation function component, which is assigned to a first or second communication terminal or a communication device that is connected to the communication terminal and forwards datagrams, and where in the event of reservation requests, the higher-level communication controller ascertains a respective path and checks whether sufficient resources for transmitting the data streams while maintaining the specified service quality parameters are available in communication devices along the respective path, and the higher-level communication controller ascertains a proposed local cycle duration for selected communication devices.