Hub-Free Network System Ring Topology Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network systems in control fields, particularly those using star topology, are unreliable due to communication failures caused by unstable power supply or hub malfunctions, which disrupt data transmission among control systems, and require additional hubs and elongated transmission media when transitioning to combined star and ring topologies.
Innovation Solution
A network system utilizing network interface cards with multiple communication ports connected in a ring topology, allowing selection of coaxial, twisted pair, or optical fiber cables based on distance, and incorporating signal converters and data repeaters to ensure continuous communication without hubs, converting to bus topology if necessary to mitigate failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a star topology network system using hubs is used, then control systems can be easily connected to the network, but communication reliability deteriorates due to hub malfunctions or unstable power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hub from the network system, extracting the central problematic component that caused communication failures. Control systems connect directly to each other in a ring topology, eliminating the single point of failure that was the hub, thus resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of connection through direct peer-to-peer links
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having control systems connect to a central hub (star topology), the patent inverts the approach by having control systems connect directly to each other in a ring configuration. This inversion transforms the network architecture from hub-dependent to peer-to-peer, fundamentally changing how connections are established and eliminating hub-related failures
2Reliability
If a combined star and ring topology with multiple hubs is used, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity and transmission medium length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates hubs entirely from the network architecture, extracting the problematic central components that increased complexity. By implementing a pure ring topology where control systems connect directly to each other, the system achieves reliability without requiring multiple hubs, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions previously separated between hubs and control systems. In the ring topology, control systems directly perform both data transmission and reception functions without requiring separate hub devices, consolidating the network into a simpler structure that maintains reliability while reducing device complexity
3Reliability
If a combined star and ring topology with multiple hubs is used, then communication reliability improves, but transmission medium length increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing hubs from the network architecture, the patent reduces the total transmission medium length required. The ring topology allows control systems to connect directly in a compact loop, eliminating the additional cable length that would be needed to connect multiple hubs and their associated control systems, thus achieving reliability with shorter transmission media
Data Source
AI summary
A hub-free network system is provided in which control systems can operate normally for mutual communications, even though one of the plurality of control systems malfunctions.Each of the plurality of control systems has a network interface card, and each of the network interface cards has a plurality of communication ports. Each of the network interface cards has a phase structure of ring topology by sequentially connecting a plurality of the communication ports. The plurality of the control systems perform the communications in the phase structure of ring topology, and perform the communications by changing the phase structure of ring topology to a phase structure of bus topology if an error occurs in the communications.