IED Network Segregation for Urgent Data Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) in power grids face challenges in distinguishing and prioritizing urgent communications over non-urgent ones due to the use of a single network connection, leading to increased processor load and complexity when trying to handle urgent data promptly.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a network data segregation method within IEDs that routes urgent and non-urgent data to separate internal network ports based on network data type indicia, such as MAC addresses or underlying protocols, using an Ethernet switch and packet filtering circuit to optimize handling and reduce processor load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single network connection is used for all communications, then wiring and equipment costs are reduced, but the ability to discriminate between urgent and non-urgent data is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiring and equipment costsVSAvoiddata discrimination capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single network connection into multiple virtual channels by examining network data type indicia (such as MAC addresses or protocol-specific data) and routing different data types to different internal network ports. This allows urgent and non-urgent data to be handled separately while still using a single physical connection, thus maintaining cost efficiency while gaining data discrimination capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a custom network stack is used to prioritize urgent data, then urgent data handling is improved, but processor load and software complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurgent data handling speedVSAvoidprocessor load and software complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data prioritization function from the software network stack and implements it at the hardware level using a packet filtering circuit. This circuit examines network data type indicia and routes data to appropriate internal ports before the data reaches the processor, thereby achieving urgent data prioritization without significantly increasing processor load or software complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a packet filtering circuit as an intermediary component between the network interface and the processor. This intermediary performs the function of examining data type indicia and routing data to appropriate internal ports, thereby offloading the prioritization task from the processor and reducing both processor load and software complexity while maintaining improved urgent data handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8867345B2Intelligent electronic device with segregated real-time ethernet

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

An intelligent electronic device segregates urgent data frames from non-urgent data frames on reception so that the urgent data frames may be handled with greater priority. A switching device is disposed between an external network interface and multiple internal network ports. Based on a network data type indicia, urgent data frames are routed to one of the ports, and non-urgent data frames are routed to another port. A processor coupled to the internal network ports handles urgent data frames before handling any non-urgent data frames.