Relay Device Ring Port Redundancy for Ethernet
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ring-shaped Ethernet networks, existing technologies fail to maintain communication reliability when an abnormality occurs in the communication lines, as frames may only be transmitted through one of the two communication paths, limiting the ability to determine frame matching and thus reducing reliability.
Innovation Solution
A relay device with a common port and two ring ports, connected via communication lines forming a ring-shaped network, and a communication bus, includes an abnormality detection module, a redundant transmission module, and an abnormal-time transfer module. The module detects line abnormalities, transmits frames via both ring ports or the communication bus to bypass faulty lines, and performs match determinations to ensure reliable frame delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frames are transmitted through both ring ports to bypass abnormal communication lines, then communication reliability is improved, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device applies different transmission strategies based on frame priority levels. High-priority frames are transmitted through both ring ports (dual path) to ensure reliability during abnormal conditions, while low-priority frames use single path transmission to minimize traffic. This local differentiation of transmission quality resolves the contradiction between reliability and traffic volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission paths based on the abnormality detection state. When communication line abnormalities are detected, the relay device switches from normal single-path transmission to dual-path transmission for high-priority frames. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability only when needed, reducing overall traffic during normal operation.
2Reliability
If frames are transmitted via both ring ports and communication bus, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device integrates multiple transmission functions (ring port transmission and communication bus transmission) into a single unified device. The abnormality detection module, redundant transmission module, and abnormal-time transfer module work together as a cohesive system that manages multiple paths without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device acts as an intermediary between the ring-shaped network and the communication bus. It receives frames from one path, processes them through the abnormality detection and redundant transmission modules, and forwards them through the appropriate path. This intermediary role consolidates complexity into a single device that coordinates multiple transmission routes.
3Reliability
If match determination is performed between frames from different paths, then communication reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs match determination only for high-priority frames that are transmitted through multiple paths. Low-priority frames bypass the match determination process and use simpler single-path transmission. This partial application of the verification action to only necessary cases maintains reliability where it matters most while minimizing processing time overall.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay device is one of relay devices each including (i) a common port connected to a terminal and (ii) two ring ports connected to other relay devices via communication lines. Upon receiving via the common port a frame whose destination is a terminal connected to a different relay device under one of the communication lines being abnormal, the relay device transmits the frame via both (i) one of the ring ports bypassing the abnormal communication line and (ii) a communication bus. In contrast, upon receiving a frame, whose destination is a terminal connected with the relay device, via one of the ring ports and a frame, whose destination is the terminal connected with the relay device, via the communication bus, the relay device determines whether the frames match. If the frames match, the relay device transfers the matched frame to the terminal via the common port.