Lower-Layer Reset Trigger Signaling for Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reset signaling methods in electronic devices and networks face limitations such as high pin count, limited topology, and reduced reliability due to dependence on higher OSI protocol layers, which can lead to failure in reaching destination devices, especially in congested or misconfigured networks.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a reset trigger with a device indicator, signaling it over a protocol layer lower than the network layer to initiate a reset procedure, allowing the trigger to bypass higher protocol layer failures and reach destination devices independently of network topology, using the PHY adaptation layer for robust and flexible reset signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reset signaling is applied separately by means of reset wires for each device, then each device can be reset independently, but the pin count increases and topology is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual reset wire connections into a single shared communication bus. Multiple devices share the same bus infrastructure, and reset commands are multiplexed onto this shared medium. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated reset wires for each device, reducing pin count while maintaining the ability to reset individual devices independently through address identification in the protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared communication bus serves multiple functions: it carries both data traffic and reset commands. The same physical infrastructure used for normal device communication is also used for reset signaling, eliminating the need for dedicated reset wires. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity and pin count while maintaining reset capability.
2Ease of operation
If all reset wires are connected to the main processor, then centralized control is achieved, but the topology is limited and hinge crossing becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reset signaling function from the centralized processor connection requirement. Instead of all reset wires converging at the main processor, the system divides the network into segments that can be reset independently through the shared bus. Each device can receive reset commands directly through the bus without requiring physical connection to the main processor, enabling flexible topologies including hinge-crossing configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared communication bus acts as an intermediary between the main processor and multiple devices. Rather than direct point-to-point connections between the processor and each device's reset line, the bus mediates the communication. This allows the main processor to initiate reset commands that are distributed to target devices through the bus, enabling centralized control logic while supporting flexible physical topologies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If SNMP protocol is used to reset remote devices, then remote device reset is enabled, but higher OSI protocol layer failures prevent the reset message from reaching its destination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the reset signaling function from the upper OSI protocol layers (network layer and above) and implements it at the data link layer or physical layer. By removing the dependency on TCP/IP stack and higher-layer protocols, the reset mechanism operates independently of potential failures in routing, addressing, or network layer services. This extraction ensures that reset commands can be delivered even when higher-layer protocols are blocked or malfunctioning.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the conventional approach of sending reset commands through the normal network stack (which may be blocked), the patent inverts the approach by implementing a parallel, independent reset signaling path at a lower protocol layer. This alternative path bypasses the problematic higher layers, ensuring reliable delivery of reset commands through a dedicated mechanism that does not depend on the proper functioning of TCP/IP or other network layer protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach provides a reset trigger signaling in a network, wherein a reset trigger is generated, which carries a device indicator for indicating a target device. To trigger a reset procedure, the reset trigger is signaled over the network by using a protocol layer lower than a network layer. At a network entity, it is checked whether the device indicator indicates this network entity; and the reset procedure is initiated in response to the result of this checking. Thereby, the reset trigger works independent of the network topology and will reach the destination device, even if a higher protocol layer is blocked due to error situations, so that a robust and flexible reset signaling procedure can be provided.