Network Node Interrupt Hardware Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in controlling hardware of one node by another without software intervention, leading to increased latency and difficulty in synchronizing operations, especially when software hangs or malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with nodes connected via a network, where each node includes a software-operated data generator, data transmission unit, data accepting unit, software-operated controller, and interrupt accepting unit, allowing direct hardware control via interrupt data without software intervention, and including a data output switching unit to manage data transmission and prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If data is transmitted via software-operated controller, then control flexibility is improved, but processing time increases and latency is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into two parallel paths: a software-operated control path for complex decision-making and a hardware interrupt path for time-critical responses. This allows the system to route different types of control signals through appropriate channels, achieving both flexibility and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
An interrupt accepting unit acts as an intermediary between the network data transmission unit and the hardware control target. This intermediary can directly pass time-critical control signals from received data to hardware without software intervention, reducing latency while maintaining software control for non-critical operations.
2Measurement precision
If software-operated controller is used for hardware control, then control precision is improved, but reliability decreases when software hangs or malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a hardware interrupt path as a pre-prepared backup mechanism. When software malfunction or hang is detected (or anticipated), the hardware interrupt path can directly control the target hardware without relying on the faulty software, ensuring continuous operation and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control signal transmission mode is changed from exclusively software-based to a dual-mode system that can switch between software-operated control and hardware interrupt-based control. This parameter change in the control architecture allows the system to maintain precision while improving reliability through alternative control paths.
3Productivity
If multiple nodes transmit data simultaneously via Ethernet, then communication efficiency is improved, but signal collision occurs and delivery is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
Each node is equipped with an interrupt accepting unit that can autonomously process time-critical control data received from other nodes without requiring software intervention or network arbitration. This self-service capability at the hardware level allows immediate response to control signals, reducing delivery delay for critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
In a communication system having multiple nodes communicably connected via a network, at least two of the nodes each includes: a software-operated data generator that executes arithmetic processing using software to generate transmission data to be transmitted to another node; a data transmission unit that sends out the transmission data; a data accepting unit that accepts data transmitted from another node; a software-operated controller that executes arithmetic processing using software based on at least the data accepted by the data accepting unit to control hardware serving as a control target; and an interrupt accepting unit that accepts interrupt data generated by another node and, based on the accepted interrupt data, outputs a hardware control signal to the hardware serving as the control target or other hardware associated with the node such that the hardware is directly controlled based on the hardware control signal without via the software-operated controller.