PRP Wireless Data Buffering for Fault-Tolerant Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety-critical transmission systems in process engineering and mobile work equipment face disruptions and data packet errors during wireless data transmission between networks, despite using redundant paths, which can lead to impermissible data transmission failures.
Innovation Solution
Data packets are buffered after transmission via multiple paths, allowing defect-free packets from one path to replace defective or missing packets from another path, ensuring correct sequencing and delivery, with buffering criteria like time or packet count to maintain redundancy and speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data packets are transmitted via multiple redundant wireless paths, then reliability is improved, but data packet errors and sequence disruptions still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by buffering data packets from both transmission paths before final merging. The buffer stores packets temporarily, allowing the system to check for sequence disruptions and errors before committing to the final data stream. This proactive buffering approach enables correction of transmission errors without compromising real-time performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by comparing data packets from both transmission paths and detecting sequence disruptions. The system monitors the integrity of received packets, identifies errors or out-of-sequence arrivals, and uses this feedback information to select the correct packets from the buffer, ensuring reliable data transmission despite wireless path vulnerabilities.
2Reliability
If data packets are buffered to correct errors, then data transmission reliability is improved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by buffering only the necessary portion of data packets - specifically, packets from both transmission paths are buffered temporarily, but only the minimum required time to detect and correct errors is maintained. Once packets are verified as correct and in proper sequence, they are immediately forwarded, avoiding excessive buffering delays while still achieving reliability improvements.
3Reliability
If redundant transmission paths are used, then fault tolerance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the outputs of two separate transmission paths through a buffer and selection mechanism. Instead of maintaining completely separate processing channels, the system merges both paths at the buffer stage, allowing unified error detection and packet selection logic. This reduces overall system complexity compared to fully independent redundant systems while maintaining fault tolerance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a transmission system (1) that comprises a first network (2) and at least one additional network (3), in which data are exchanged between said at least two networks (2, 3) by means of data of the first network (2) being fed to duplication means (4) in the form of data packets, these fed data packets being wirelessly transmitted to separator means (5) via at least two transmission paths (6, 7) using PRP, and being forwarded from said separator means (5) to the connected additional network (3) in the form of a data stream. The invention is characterized in that the data packets are temporarily stored in a memory once they have been transmitted via the at least two transmission paths (6, 7).