Multi-Time Domain Gateway for Time-Sensitive Fieldbus Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time-sensitive fieldbus systems are not fully compatible with each other, requiring synchronization of time domains and communication cycles, which is challenging and often economically unviable, especially when integrating different generations of fieldbuses.
Innovation Solution
A gateway that supports multiple time domains, allowing time-sensitive fieldbuses to communicate without synchronizing their time domains or communication cycles, by using timers to synchronize with each fieldbus and buffer non-time-sensitive data to avoid interfering with time-sensitive transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If time domains and communication cycles are synchronized between fieldbuses, then compatibility and seamless networking are improved, but system complexity and reconfiguration costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway acts as an intermediary device between fieldbuses with different time domains and communication cycles. It receives data from one fieldbus, buffers it temporarily, and forwards it to another fieldbus at the appropriate time, enabling compatibility without requiring synchronization between the fieldbuses themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the time synchronization function from the data transmission function. Each fieldbus maintains its own independent time domain and communication cycles, while the gateway handles the time domain conversion and coordination separately, allowing fieldbuses to operate independently without complex inter-synchronization.
2Reliability
If time-sensitive data is transmitted with strict real-time requirements, then transmission reliability is improved, but flexibility in networking different fieldbus types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway pre-configures buffer memory and transmission schedules before data arrives. It prepares the appropriate buffer size and forwarding timing based on the characteristics of both connected fieldbuses, enabling reliable time-sensitive data transmission while maintaining flexibility to connect different fieldbus types without real-time negotiation.
3Reliability
If non-time-sensitive data is transmitted outside time slots, then interference with time-sensitive transmissions is reduced, but data transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway dynamically manages buffer memory allocation based on the timing requirements of time-sensitive data. When time-sensitive transmission slots are approaching, the gateway prioritizes buffering and forwarding such data, while flexibly scheduling non-time-sensitive data transmission in the remaining time periods, optimizing both reliability and efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for linking a first time-sensitive fieldbus (10) to a second time-sensitive fieldbus (20). The first time-sensitive fieldbus (10) has a first subscriber device (12, 14) and a first dedicated time domain (16), and the second time-sensitive fieldbus (20) has a second subscriber device (22, 24) and a second dedicated time domain (26), said first and second fieldbus (10, 20) being connected together by means of a gateway (30) in order to transmit data. The method has the following steps: defining the first time domain (16) in the first fieldbus (10) by means of the first subscriber device (12, 14) of the first fieldbus (10); defining the second time domain (26) in the second fieldbus (20) by means of the second subscriber device (12, 24) of the second fieldbus (20); transmitting time-sensitive data in defined first time slots (50) within the first fieldbus (10); transmitting time-sensitive data in defined second time slots (52) within the second fieldbus (20); and synchronizing the gateway (30) as a slave with respect to the first time domain (16) of the first fieldbus (10) and additionally with respect to the second time domain (26) of the second fieldbus (20), wherein the gateway (30) supports at least two time domains (32, 34) simultaneously. The invention additionally relates to a corresponding system and a corresponding gateway (30).