Communication Node Message Caching for Power and Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially in vehicle bus systems, controllers that are not actively participating in communication remain in an active state, leading to unnecessary power consumption and outdated message states when waking up from a quiescent state due to the lack of message caching capabilities during partial networking.
Innovation Solution
A method where at least one communication node remains active, informing other nodes of state changes through sleep and wake events, using internal and hardware data memories to store and send message copies, ensuring up-to-date message transmission and erasing messages upon active state reactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If controllers are put into quiescent state to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but message state synchronization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing message data in the quiescent controller's buffer memory before the controller enters quiescent state. This pre-stored data ensures that when the controller wakes up, it already has the latest message information available, eliminating the need to receive and process messages during the quiescent period and maintaining state synchronization without requiring continuous active operation.
2Loss of information
If all controllers remain in active state to maintain message synchronization, then information availability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a local copy of message data in the buffer memory of each controller before it enters quiescent state. Instead of requiring all controllers to remain active to maintain synchronization, each controller maintains a local copy of the message state, allowing it to operate independently in quiescent mode while still being synchronized upon wakeup.
3Reliability
If message buffering is implemented in sleeping controllers, then message delivery improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by utilizing the existing buffer memory structure in controllers for dual purposes: both for normal message reception during active state and for message data storage during quiescent state. This multi-functional use of the buffer memory eliminates the need for separate dedicated storage structures, thereby maintaining reliability while avoiding additional device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for transmitting messages in a communications network with at least three communications nodes. At least one communications node always remains active and stores messages sent by a second communications node. If the second communications node switches to an idle state, the caching node is informed thereof by means of a sleep-event and takes over the sending of the messages for this node. By means of a wake-up event, the caching node obtains information that the second node has switched back into the active state and ceases sending the stored messages. Further nodes, which likewise can switch to the idle state at any time and possibly not receive messages sent by the second node during their own idle phase, thus do not notice anything about the idle state of the second node and operate on the assumption of an up-to-date status in the network at all times.