Prefetch Unit for IEEE 802.1Qbv Transmission Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods face challenges in achieving high accuracy for transmission timing control in industrial and in-vehicle networks due to dynamic changes in transmission scheduling information, leading to difficulties in maintaining strict timing control within the allotted time frames.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus is developed, comprising a prefetch unit and a scheduler unit that prefeteches scheduling entries from transmission scheduling information to determine the starting time of frame transmission for each queue, utilizing IEEE 802.1Qbv standards for gate control, enabling precise timing control by managing transmission queues based on predetermined schedules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If transmission scheduling information is assigned in advance to transmission queues, then transmission timing control can be performed, but the transmission possible time dynamically changes making it difficult to achieve high accuracy timing control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by prefetching scheduling entries from the transmission scheduling information before they are actually needed for frame transmission. The prefetching unit retrieves scheduling entries corresponding to future time periods in advance, storing them in a buffer. This allows the scheduler to immediately determine transmission start times for frames without waiting for scheduling information to become available, thereby achieving high-accuracy transmission timing control despite dynamic changes in transmission possible time.
2Reliability
If conventional transmission control is performed based on priority and guaranteed bandwidth, then basic real-time performance can be achieved, but strict transmission timing control in the unit of frames cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the transmission control into two distinct functional units: a prefetching unit that handles advance retrieval of scheduling information, and a scheduler unit that handles precise frame-level transmission timing determination. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve basic real-time performance through priority-based control while also enabling strict frame-level timing control through the scheduler's use of prefetched scheduling entries for each frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The prefetching unit performs preliminary action by retrieving and buffering scheduling entries before they are needed for actual frame transmission. This advance preparation ensures that when frames need to be transmitted, the scheduling information is already available, enabling the scheduler to determine precise transmission start times for each frame without delay, thus achieving both real-time performance and frame-level timing control.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a prefetch unit and a scheduler unit. The prefetch unit is configured to prefetch a scheduling entry corresponding a future time period in advance from scheduling information including one or more entries each of which at least contains a transmission state and interval for each of one or more transmission queues. The scheduler unit configured to determine a starting time of transmission for each frame waiting for transmission in each queue, on the basis of the prefetched entry.