Packet Network Capacity Determination via Reservation Requests

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current packet-oriented communication networks, particularly those adhering to the Ethernet AVB standard, lack the ability to determine actual latency and available data rate, leading to inefficient resource utilization and potential communication disruptions due to insufficient capacity handling.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sending periodic reservation requests to determine the current capacity of the network, even in the absence of data transmission, and using timestamped data packets to verify the available quality of service, allowing for adaptive reservation requests and optimized data stream transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If reservation requests are sent periodically to determine network capacity, then measurement precision of available data rate and latency is improved, but loss of time due to additional communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs capacity determination by sending reservation requests periodically before actual data transmission occurs. This preliminary measurement of network capacity (available data rate and latency) allows the sender to adapt subsequent data transmissions to current network conditions, improving measurement precision without interfering with actual data flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses dummy reservation requests that do not carry actual data but serve solely for capacity measurement. These disposable measurement packets are sent periodically and discarded after serving their measurement purpose, enabling continuous network monitoring with minimal impact on actual data transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sender adapts reservation requests based on determined network capacity, then adaptability to network conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the sender determines network capacity by analyzing responses to reservation requests, then uses this information to adapt subsequent reservation requests. The sender adjusts the requested data rate and latency parameters based on the measured available capacity, creating a closed-loop system that continuously adapts to changing network conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The reservation request parameters (requested data rate, requested latency) are made dynamic rather than static. The sender continuously adjusts these parameters based on periodically determined network capacity, allowing the system to adapt flexibly to varying network conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic parameter adjustment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If standard rejection messages without network status information are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of information about available capacity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidloss of information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement process using dummy reservation requests that act as a mediator between the sender and network status. Instead of relying on incomplete rejection messages, the sender uses these intermediary probes to indirectly query network capacity by analyzing the responses (acknowledgments or rejections) to the reservation requests, thereby obtaining information that standard messages do not provide

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2847936B1Method for transmitting data in a packet-oriented communications network and correspondingly configured user terminal in said communications network
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2847936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2847936B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2847936B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a packet-oriented communications network (1), in particular of a motor vehicle, with a guaranteed maximum transmission time for the data packets (9) in said communications network (1), and to a user terminal in said communications network. In said method, a specific quality of service as a capacity of the communication link is reserved prior to a data transmission (6) by means of a reservation request (4) from the sender (2, T) of the data to the receiver (2, L) of the data and the requested quality of service as a capacity of the communication link between the sender (2, T) and the receiver (2, L) is guaranteed in the network (1) for the data stream by the confirmation (5) of the reservation request (4), or an indication is given by means of a rejection (7) that transmission is not possible. In addition, the capacity of the communications network (1) is determined cyclically prior to a reservation request (4), after a rejection (7) and/or at predefinable time intervals.