Long-Reach Ethernet Relay for Extended Distance Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Ethernet systems cannot maintain normal data exchange and power supply when the working distance between two Ethernet devices exceeds 100 meters, especially if at least one device is a conventional Ethernet device, due to limitations in existing Powered over Ethernet (POE) technology.
Innovation Solution
A long-reach Ethernet system with a relay that transforms conventional Ethernet data into long-reach Ethernet data, enabling communication and power transmission over extended distances by using a conventional Ethernet interface, a data relaying unit, and a long-reach Ethernet interface, allowing conventional Ethernet devices to communicate with each other beyond 100 meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If conventional Ethernet technology is used, then Ethernet devices can communicate within 100 meters, but communication distance cannot be extended beyond 100 meters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a long-reach Ethernet device as an intermediary component between two conventional Ethernet devices. This intermediate device converts conventional Ethernet data into long-reach Ethernet data, enabling extended communication while maintaining compatibility with existing conventional Ethernet devices. The intermediary device essentially acts as a protocol converter that bridges the gap between conventional and extended-range communication requirements.
2Length of stationary object
If long-reach Ethernet devices are used to extend communication distance, then working distance can be extended beyond 100 meters, but both communication ends must be long-reach Ethernet devices
Solution Approach 1:
The long-reach Ethernet device serves as a mediator that enables communication between devices of different types. By converting data protocols, it allows one end to be a conventional Ethernet device while the other end can be either conventional or long-reach, thus providing versatility in device compatibility while achieving extended communication distances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by transforming the data encoding and transmission parameters between conventional Ethernet and long-reach Ethernet formats. This parameter transformation enables the system to adapt to different device types and extend communication distance while maintaining compatibility with existing conventional devices.
3Power
If POE technology is used to provide power over cable, then power can be transmitted to powered devices, but POE technology requires both communication ends to be the same type and directly connected
Solution Approach 1:
The long-reach Ethernet device acts as a power relay that receives power from a power sourcing device and forwards it to the powered device through the extended link. This intermediary function enables POE power transmission across long distances while accommodating different device types at each end, effectively extending POE capability beyond the limitations of direct conventional Ethernet connections.
4Length of stationary object
If advanced coding method is used in long-reach Ethernet devices, then code rate is decreased and working distance is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex advanced coding functionality into a dedicated long-reach Ethernet device, separating it from conventional Ethernet devices. This extraction allows conventional devices to remain simple while the specialized intermediate device handles the complex encoding/decoding required for extended-range communication, thus concentrating complexity in one component rather than requiring all devices to be complex.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a long-reach Ethernet system. The system includes a first Ethernet device and a second Ethernet device which communicate with each other, and a relay; wherein one of the first Ethernet device and the second Ethernet device is a conventional Ethernet device, and the other one of the first Ethernet device and the second Ethernet device is a conventional Ethernet device or a long-reach Ethernet device; the first Ethernet device and the second Ethernet device communicate with each other via the relay; and the relay is adapted to transform conventional Ethernet data into long-reach Ethernet data and transform long-reach Ethernet data into Ethernet data. The present invention can realize the communication of two Ethernet devices when at least one of the two Ethernet devices is a conventional Ethernet device and a working distance between them is longer than 100 meters.