Communication Controller Queue Selection Without Priority Tags

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication control devices require additional priority information to be added to data for selecting the appropriate transfer queue, which can lead to delays in processing high-priority data due to mismatched transfer and reception orders.

Innovation Solution

A communication control device that selects a transfer queue based on the source address, destination address, and Ethernet frame type of the reception data, without adding additional priority information, to ensure high-priority data is processed before low-priority data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional priority information is added to data for queue selection, then queue selection capability is improved, but data processing delay increases due to mismatched transfer and reception orders

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequeue selection capabilityVSAvoiddata processing delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the priority information from the data itself and places it in the reception queue structure. The reception queue includes a priority field that stores priority information separately from the data payload, allowing queue selection based on priority without modifying the data itself. This resolves the contradiction by enabling priority-based queue selection while avoiding the delay caused by adding priority tags to data packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the priority information from the data by using separate reception queues for different priority levels. Each reception queue is associated with a specific priority level, and the priority information is stored in the queue structure rather than being embedded in the data. This segmentation allows efficient priority-based routing without modifying the data packets, thus avoiding processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple reception queues with different priorities are implemented, then data processing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoidqueue management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple reception queues with different priority levels before data reception. Each queue is pre-assigned a priority level, and the priority information is stored in the queue structure in advance. This preliminary setup enables efficient priority-based data routing without requiring complex real-time decision-making, thus improving processing efficiency while keeping the management complexity acceptable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the reception queue structure as an intermediary between the data reception unit and the data processing unit. The reception queue includes a priority field that mediates the priority information, allowing the system to route data based on priority without requiring complex interaction between multiple components. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining efficient multi-priority processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4120650B1Communication control device and method for controlling communication control device
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 OMRON CORP
  • EP4120650B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4120650B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4120650B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

According to the present invention, a transfer queue for storing data is selected from a plurality of transfer queues in accordance with processing priority of the data, without providing the data with additional information indicating processing priority. A communication controller (10) is provided with a plurality of reception queues (13) to which mutually different priority orders (NP) are given in advance, a queue selection table (121), and a selection unit (122).