IoT Device Real-Time Cyclical Network Traffic Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current packet transmission methods in packet-switched network architectures, particularly in time-sensitive applications like automation and vehicular systems, face latency and jitter due to software-based packet buffer allocation and setup times, which can lead to delayed packet delivery.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where IoT devices allocate a memory buffer only once for periodic data transmission, using hardware direct memory access (DMA) to packetize and schedule data, and reuse the buffer periodically, either through software interrupts or automatically via hardware, to support real-time cyclical data exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If software-based packet buffer allocation and setup is used for each packet transmission, then packet transmission flexibility is maintained, but latency and jitter increase due to repeated allocation and setup times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-allocates packet buffers and configures transmission parameters before actual data transmission is needed. By preparing buffers in advance and using launch time hints to schedule transmissions, the system eliminates the need for repeated buffer allocation during time-critical operations, thereby reducing latency and jitter while maintaining software flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts packet transmission timing using launch time hints that specify when each packet should be transmitted. This dynamic scheduling allows the software to optimize transmission timing for each packet while using pre-allocated buffers, resolving the contradiction between maintaining transmission flexibility and reducing allocation overhead.
2Reliability
If packet buffers are allocated and set up in software for each transmission, then transmission scheduling flexibility is preserved, but packet delivery timeliness deteriorates due to allocation overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-allocation of packet buffers and preconfiguration of transmission parameters before actual data needs to be sent. This preliminary preparation ensures that when data arrives, the buffering and scheduling infrastructure is already in place, eliminating setup delays and ensuring timely packet delivery while maintaining software control.
3Productivity
If repeated buffer allocation is performed for periodic data transmission, then memory management flexibility is maintained, but transmission efficiency decreases due to allocation overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a buffer reuse mechanism where previously allocated packet buffers are retained and reused for subsequent periodic transmissions. Instead of allocating new buffers for each transmission, the system recovers and reuses existing buffer memory, eliminating allocation overhead and significantly improving transmission efficiency for periodic data flows.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for scheduling time-sensitive cyclical network traffic in real-time include an internet-of-things (IoT) device that includes at least one sensor for collecting sensor data. The IoT device is configured to store the collected sensor data in a data buffer, allocate a packet descriptor for the sensor data, and populate the allocated packet descriptor with a cyclic data port pointer indicative of a location of the data buffer. The IoT device is additionally configured to queue the packet descriptor into a media access control (MAC) unit transmit direct memory access (DMA) of the IoT device, fetch the sensor data, and packetize the fetched data to form a network packet. Further, the IoT device is configured to transmit the network packet to a target computing device based on a launch time, update the launch time, and requeue the packet descriptor into the MAC unit transmit DMA. Other embodiments are described herein.