Relay Apparatus Abnormal Frame Notification for Ethernet Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In Ethernet-based communication systems, when an Ethernet switch discards an abnormal frame, the transmission source is not notified, preventing it from taking measures such as retransmission.
Innovation Solution
A relay apparatus with a determination section to identify abnormal frames, a discarding section to discard such frames, and an abnormality notifying section to inform the transmission source of the abnormality, allowing for retransmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Ethernet switch discards abnormal frames to maintain network quality, then the reliability of communication is improved, but the transmission source cannot be notified of the discarding, preventing retransmission measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the relay apparatus sends abnormality notification frames back to the transmission source device when abnormal frames are detected and discarded. This feedback loop allows the transmission source to be informed of the abnormality and take appropriate retransmission measures, resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication reliability through frame discarding and providing necessary information feedback to the transmission source.
2Reliability
If the relay apparatus notifies all transmission sources of frame abnormalities, then the transmission source can take retransmission measures, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the abnormality notification function selective rather than universal. The relay apparatus determines whether to send abnormality notifications based on specific conditions such as the type of abnormality detected and the port configuration. This selective approach maintains communication reliability for critical cases while avoiding unnecessary complexity and power consumption for all transmission sources in all scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay apparatus which relays a communication among a plurality of control devices includes a plurality of ports connected with the plurality of control devices, respectively, via a plurality of communication lines; a determination section determining whether a reception frame received by each of the plurality of ports is normal or abnormal; a discarding section discarding the reception frame when the determination section determines that the reception frame is abnormal; and an abnormality notifying section, when the determination section determines that the reception frame is abnormal, notifying an abnormality occurrence in the reception frame to a transmission source device, wherein the transmission source device is one of the control devices that transmitted the reception frame.