Industrial Wireless Network Orchestration for Bandwidth Shortages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless networks in industrial plants are prone to unexpected bandwidth shortages due to factors like shared radio frequency spectrum, interference, and unlicensed spectrum crowding, which can disrupt critical data streams needed for safe and reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A method to orchestrate network usage by attributing granular importance levels to data streams, creating ordered lists for curtailment and restoration, and using a network management entity to manage bandwidth allocation based on these levels to ensure critical data streams are maintained during shortages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless networks are used to convey data streams in industrial plants, then network flexibility and ease of installation are improved, but network reliability and resistance to bandwidth shortages deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of data streams into categories (control, monitoring, operational) and pre-establishes priority levels before bandwidth shortages occur. This advance preparation enables rapid response when bandwidth becomes limited, as the classification and priority structure are already in place rather than requiring real-time decision-making during crises.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes transmission parameters such as bandwidth allocation, data rate, and quality of service levels based on current network conditions. When bandwidth shortages are detected, the system adjusts these parameters to maintain critical communications while reducing or eliminating non-critical traffic, thereby adapting to varying bandwidth availability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data streams are transmitted simultaneously over shared wireless spectrum, then network versatility and application diversity are improved, but bandwidth availability and signal quality deteriorate due to interference and crowding
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the wireless network into distinct priority levels and categories, separating control traffic from monitoring and operational traffic. This segmentation allows each category to be managed independently with appropriate bandwidth allocation, preventing any single type of traffic from monopolizing the shared spectrum and ensuring that critical control functions maintain reliable bandwidth availability.
3Reliability
If wired networks are used instead of wireless networks, then network reliability and bandwidth stability are improved, but installation complexity and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces physical wired connections with wireless communication infrastructure while implementing virtual management mechanisms (classification, prioritization, dynamic allocation) to achieve the reliability previously provided by physical wiring. This substitution maintains bandwidth stability through software-based control rather than mechanical/physical constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for orchestrating use of a communications network for conveying a plurality of data streams transmitted by a plurality of applications includes attributing levels of importance to individual or groups of data streams, determining based at least in part on the levels of importance and on network capacity requirements of the data streams an ordered list of data streams to be curtailed or stopped in case of a shortage of bandwidth in the communications network, providing the list to a management entity that monitors available bandwidth, compares available bandwidth to a combined bandwidth requirement and, in response to determining that the available bandwidth is, or is imminent to become, less than the combined bandwidth requirement, curtails or stops data streams in the order given by the list so as to bring the combined bandwidth requirement back to or below the available bandwidth.