Network Scheduling Configuration for Fast TSN Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication network configuration methods are slow to adapt to changes in network conditions, particularly in time-sensitive networking environments, leading to inefficiencies and suboptimal performance.

Innovation Solution

A customizable configuration procedure that determines scheduling parameters using heuristic optimization based on current customization parameters, allowing for rapid adaptation to network changes while maintaining high performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional optimization techniques are used to determine scheduling parameters, then network performance can be optimized, but the configuration process becomes slow and cannot adapt quickly to network changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performanceVSAvoidconfiguration speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-computes and stores optimal scheduling parameters in a lookup table before network operation begins. When configuration is needed, the system simply retrieves pre-computed parameters based on current network conditions, avoiding slow real-time optimization while still achieving optimal performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration space is segmented into discrete states that can be indexed in a lookup table. By dividing the continuous optimization problem into discrete segments, the system enables fast retrieval of pre-computed solutions without performing full optimization calculations during network operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If centralized optimization is performed for each scheduling instance, then accurate scheduling parameters are obtained, but the computational time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling parameter accuracyVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Optimal scheduling parameters are pre-computed for various network conditions and stored in advance. During actual operation, the system retrieves these pre-computed parameters based on current conditions, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time optimization while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing optimization calculations directly, the system creates a copy of optimal solutions in a lookup table structure. This allows rapid retrieval of accurate scheduling parameters without repeating the computationally intensive optimization process for each scheduling instance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4283941B1Configuring a communication network
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4283941B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4283941B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4283941B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method (600) of configuring a communication network. Devices of the network are configured to communicate according to scheduling parameters that indicate a timing of transmitting and/or receiving data over the communication network. To configure the network, the method uses a configuration procedure that is customizable by a set of customization parameters. For a current scheduling instance, representing multiple data streams to be scheduled, the configuration procedure is applied to determine current scheduling parameters, which are provided to the respective devices. Concurrently with the current customization parameters being used, the customization parameters are optimized with respect to a performance indicator of scheduling the current scheduling instance according to the customization parameters, with the updated customization being used to determine scheduling parameters for future scheduling instances with improved performance with respect to the performance indicator.