Relay Device Multicast Frame Filtering

Solution Overview

Problem

In existing relay devices, multicast frames are transmitted to all ports except the received port, leading to unnecessary communication and processing load at ports where the destination device does not exist.

Innovation Solution

A relay device with communication ports, a receiver, a selector, and a transmitter that uses connection information and group information to selectively transmit frames only to ports where the destination devices exist, preventing transmission to ports without connected devices during multicast.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multicast frames are transmitted to all ports except the received port, then the frame reaches all potential destination devices, but unnecessary communication occurs at ports where destination devices do not exist

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe delivery completenessVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device pre-acquires connection information mapping communication ports to transfer destination devices and pre-acquires group information indicating which devices belong to predetermined groups. This preliminary preparation enables the device to determine appropriate transmission ports before actually transmitting multicast frames, avoiding unnecessary transmissions to ports without destination devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay device uses the pre-acquired connection information and group information to make intelligent transmission decisions. By referencing this stored information, the device can determine which ports actually have destination devices connected, thereby avoiding unnecessary transmissions and reducing communication overhead while ensuring frames reach all intended destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If multicast frames are transmitted to all ports except the received port, then all potential destinations receive the frame, but processing load increases at devices connected to ports without actual destination devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe delivery completenessVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device pre-acquires connection information mapping communication ports to transfer destination devices and pre-acquires group information indicating which devices belong to predetermined groups. This preliminary preparation enables the device to determine appropriate transmission ports before actually transmitting multicast frames, avoiding unnecessary transmissions to ports without destination devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay device uses the pre-acquired connection information and group information to make intelligent transmission decisions. By referencing this stored information, the device can determine which ports actually have destination devices connected, thereby avoiding unnecessary transmissions and reducing communication overhead while ensuring frames reach all intended destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If frames are selectively transmitted only to ports with connected destination devices, then communication efficiency improves, but the device needs additional information storage and processing capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinformation storage requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device pre-acquires connection information mapping communication ports to transfer destination devices and pre-acquires group information indicating which devices belong to predetermined groups. This preliminary preparation enables the device to determine appropriate transmission ports before actually transmitting multicast frames, avoiding unnecessary transmissions to ports without destination devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11665030B2Relay device

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A relay device for relaying a frame includes: communication ports respectively connected with communication lines; a receiver receiving a frame addressed to a transfer destination device connected through one communication port; a selector selecting one or more communication ports respectively connected to one or more transfer destination devices, based on connection information of the communication ports and the transfer destination devices and group information indicating whether the transfer destination devices belong to a predetermined group; and a transmitter transmitting the frame through selected communication ports.