PTP Network Topology Discovery via Timing Delay Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer networks lack a simplified and flexible solution to determine and maintain the physical arrangement of nodes while allowing for changes over time, especially in industrial control systems where precise timing relationships are not inherently supported.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing Precision Time Protocol (PTP) packets to track timing delays between nodes, forming a network topology map through algorithms like minimum spanning tree, and approximating spatial distances to optimize power transmission by positioning high-power consuming nodes closer to power delivery nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized hardware is implemented in nodes to achieve inherent awareness of physical ordering, then measurement precision of physical arrangement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces specialized hardware mechanisms with software-based PTP protocol processing. Nodes use standard Ethernet interfaces and implement PTP algorithms to determine physical ordering, eliminating the need for dedicated physical ordering detection hardware while achieving the same measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces PTP synchronization packets as an intermediary mechanism. These packets carry timing information that allows nodes to calculate their physical position in the network topology without requiring direct hardware-based physical ordering detection, thus reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If network configuration is updated to reflect physical arrangement changes, then reliability of network management is improved, but loss of time for configuration updates increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables nodes to automatically determine their own physical ordering position through PTP timing measurements and self-update their configuration. This eliminates manual configuration updates and reduces the time required to reflect physical arrangement changes, while maintaining high reliability through automated consistent updates across all nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary timing measurements and ordering determination continuously in the background using PTP packets. When physical arrangement changes occur, the pre-collected timing data is already available for rapid configuration updates, reducing the time penalty for updates while ensuring accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If manual methods are used to determine physical topology, then ease of operation is reduced, but device complexity is minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual topology determination methods with automated PTP-based timing analysis. Nodes automatically exchange timing packets and compute their physical ordering positions, transforming a manual operation into an automated process that improves ease of operation while using only standard network hardware.
4Loss of energy
If nodes are repositioned to optimize power transmission, then loss of energy is reduced, but difficulty of detecting and measuring physical arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses PTP timing packets as an intermediary to measure spatial relationships. By analyzing the time of flight of synchronization packets between nodes, the system can determine spatial distances and optimal power transmission configurations without requiring direct physical measurement tools, thus reducing energy loss while maintaining ease of detection.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods using precise timing relationships between nodes in computer networks to generate mappings depicting the physical arrangement or ordering of nodes in the computer networks. The technical effect is by tracking the timing delays between nodes as observed by an individual node, and collecting such information together for subsequent processing, nodes may receive and/or construct an entire physical network topology using an algorithm accordingly.