Network Controller Prioritization Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In local area networks, especially those using shared physical media like power lines or coaxial cables, ensuring reliable signal delivery and prioritization of data streams is challenging due to limited bandwidth and the unsophisticated nature of adapters, which may not enforce prioritization schemes consistently across devices.
Innovation Solution
A method where all data streams are rerouted through a designated controller within the network, which determines, inserts, and enforces prioritization parameters, even if adapters or devices do not support specific prioritization schemes, ensuring proper delivery based on priority levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data streams are delivered directly between devices in a shared network, then network simplicity is maintained, but signal delivery reliability deteriorates due to bandwidth limitations and lack of prioritization enforcement
Solution Approach 1:
A controller is introduced as an intermediary device between data sources and destinations in the network. The controller receives data streams from devices, determines prioritization parameters, and transmits them to adapters before actual data delivery. This intermediary structure ensures reliable signal delivery through centralized prioritization management while keeping individual devices and adapters relatively simple.
2Reliability
If adapters enforce prioritization schemes, then data stream prioritization is improved, but adapter complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prioritization determination function is extracted from adapters and relocated to a separate controller device. Adapters only need to receive prioritization parameters from the controller and enforce them, rather than independently determining priorities. This extraction reduces adapter complexity while maintaining effective prioritization enforcement through the controller's centralized management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple prioritization schedules are used by different devices, then device autonomy is maintained, but network-wide prioritization consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple prioritization schemes and formats. It can determine prioritization parameters in various formats based on different schemes, translate between formats, and provide consistent prioritization control across the entire network. This universal approach allows the network to support diverse prioritization requirements while maintaining overall consistency through centralized management.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system is described for delivering data streams in a network comprising devices connected to the network via adapters and wherein at least some of the devices are programmed to indicate priority of a data stream using priority parameter valuesof respective priority parameter types. One device in the network operates as a controller and the accompanying controller adapter is configured to perform priority enforcement on data streams according to all priority parameter types used within the datastreams in the network. A controller is also described and the controller can be a gateway configured to allow data streams into and out of the network. The method, system and controller find particular application in networks based on shared network segments, for example power line communication or networks based on coaxial cable. Fig. 3