Industrial Network Stream Reservation for Multiple Talkers Per Listener
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial networks face scalability issues due to the growing amount of network control information and limited storage and processing power of nodes, especially when handling multiple real-time data flows and terminals in closed control loops, which complicates the reservation and forwarding of time-sensitive data traffic.
Innovation Solution
The method involves distributing a Listener Advertise message across the network to allow multiple transmitters to send data to a single receiver via a single stream, using a 'multiple talkers per listener' configuration, which reduces the number of streams and control overhead by introducing new attributes and data objects within existing reservation protocols, such as Stream Reservation Protocol (SRP) and Multiple Stream Registration Protocol (MSRP).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate stream is set up for each IO device to receive data from the PLC, then real-time data transfer guarantees are provided, but the number of streams and control information increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual streams into a single aggregated stream that carries data from one talker to multiple listeners. Instead of establishing separate reserved streams for each IO device, the invention combines these into one stream that is processed once by the network, significantly reducing the number of control information entries required in network nodes while maintaining real-time delivery guarantees for all recipients.
Solution Approach 2:
The single aggregated stream serves multiple functions simultaneously - it delivers real-time data from one source to multiple different IO devices with different data requirements. Each listener receives the complete data set and can filter locally to extract only the subset of information it needs, making the stream universally applicable to multiple destinations with varying needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual streams are used for data transmission from PLC to multiple IO devices, then each device receives its required data, but the amount of network control information grows with the number of terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual stream reservations into a single aggregated stream reservation. Instead of maintaining separate control information entries for each stream in network switches and bridges, the invention uses one control information entry for the aggregated stream, reducing the quantity of control information from O(n) to O(1) where n is the number of listeners.
Solution Approach 2:
The complete data frame is copied to multiple listeners along the transmission path. Each listener receives an identical copy of the full data set from the single stream, and then performs local filtering to extract only the subset of data it requires. This eliminates the need for multiple differentiated streams while maintaining adaptability to different device needs.
3Ease of operation
If individual streams are established for each IO device, then data transmission is simplified, but network bandwidth is excessively used since each stream transmits full Ethernet frames even for small data amounts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small data transmissions into a single aggregated stream that carries one comprehensive Ethernet frame. Instead of transmitting multiple separate frames (each with full overhead) for different IO devices, the invention consolidates them into one frame that is transmitted once over the network, significantly reducing total bandwidth consumption while maintaining simplicity in the transmission mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The single aggregated data frame is copied to multiple listeners rather than transmitting separate frames to each device. This copying approach eliminates redundant transmission of identical data overhead multiple times, reducing bandwidth consumption from O(n) to O(1) while keeping the reception and processing model simple for each listener.
4Device complexity
If a single stream is used to distribute data from one source to multiple destinations, then the number of control information entries is reduced, but individual IO devices receive more data than needed increasing processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtering operation from the network layer to the application layer at each listener. Instead of the network attempting to customize and filter data for each listener (which would increase network complexity), the complete data set is transmitted once, and each listener extracts only the subset of data it needs through local filtering. This shifts processing overhead from the network infrastructure to the end devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by sending the complete data set to all listeners rather than filtering data before transmission. Instead of the network performing selective data delivery (complex routing and filtering at each hop), the inversion sends everything to everyone and lets each device filter locally, simplifying network control information while moving processing requirements to the endpoints.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for data communication in a network, particularly an industrial network, with one or more nodes (2), for data transfer between several data-providing senders (11) and a receiver (1) that receives the data provided by the several senders (11) via a stream, wherein, for the establishment of the stream, the receiver (1) issues a listener advertise message for the stream, preferably comprising a stream description, and the listener advertise message is transmitted to at least one node (2) of the network. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the method. Finally, the invention relates to a computer program and a computer-readable medium.