Redundant Industrial Wireless Communication System with Base Station Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face communication link interruptions leading to information loss, repeated transmissions, and potential production standstills due to non-deterministic wireless communication behaviors and long latency times, especially in wireless networks.
Innovation Solution
A redundantly operable industrial communication system with wireless transmission links that employs a multiplexer unit for parallel data frame forwarding, a redundancy processing unit for filtering redundant frames, and radio subscriber stations coordinating exclusive radio base station connections to ensure efficient resource use and reliable message transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wireless transmission paths are used in industrial communication networks, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but latency time increases and transmission behavior becomes non-deterministic
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments communication into multiple independent wireless paths (first and second communication network connections) with separate radio subscriber stations. This segmentation allows parallel transmission of redundant data frames through different wireless channels, reducing overall latency by not relying on a single wireless path while maintaining mobility benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring redundant wireless paths and pre-establishing coordination mechanisms between radio subscriber stations. The filtering mechanism is pre-set to identify and handle redundant data frames, allowing the system to rapidly respond to transmission failures without increasing real-time latency during actual communication.
2Reliability
If redundant message transmission is implemented using HSR or PRP protocols, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to message duplication and filtering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements redundancy by creating copies of data frames through the multiplexer unit that forwards identical frames via different communication paths. The filtering unit then identifies and removes duplicate copies at the receiver end. This copying approach provides reliable redundant transmission while keeping the implementation relatively simple by leveraging standard frame duplication rather than complex protocol modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering unit acts as an intermediary between the two wireless communication paths and the higher-layer protocols. It automatically identifies and filters redundant data frames based on sequence numbers, preventing protocol complexity from propagating upward while maintaining reliable redundant transmission. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system by handling redundancy management in a dedicated, standardized manner.
3Productivity
If multiple radio subscriber stations connect to the same radio base station simultaneously, then resource utilization appears improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to potential conflicts and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically coordinates connections between radio subscriber stations and the radio base station through message exchange. The coordination mechanism allows the system to adaptively manage which stations connect to the base station at any given time, optimizing resource utilization while preventing conflicts. This dynamic approach maintains reliability by avoiding simultaneous conflicting connections while improving productivity through efficient resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback through message exchange between radio subscriber stations to monitor and coordinate base station connections. Each station provides feedback about its connection status and resource usage, allowing the coordination mechanism to make informed decisions about connection allocation. This feedback loop ensures reliable communication by preventing conflicts while optimizing resource utilization based on real-time system conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a radio communication system for an industrial automation system, at least a first and a second communication device are redundantly linked to an industrial communication network. The first and second communication devices are each connected indirectly or directly to a particular first radio subscriber station or radio base station and to a particular second radio subscriber station or radio base station via the first communication network connection and via the second communication network connection of said communication devices. The radio subscriber stations interchange messages about available radio base stations among one another and use the messages to coordinate which of the radio subscriber stations has exclusive authorisation for a radio link to a selected radio base station at present or within a definable period.