Digital Protective Relay Ethernet Link Auto-Negotiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for establishing Ethernet communication links in digital protective relays lack a convenient and intelligent approach, particularly when using multiple ports with the same priority, leading to inefficiencies in auto-negotiation and link establishment.
Innovation Solution
A method involving configuring physical layers of multiple communication ports, determining the success of auto-negotiation through timers and flag bits, and replacing configuration information between ports as needed to establish a successful Ethernet link, ensuring all ports can operate without priority and maintain a stable communication environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auto-negotiation is performed for each communication port independently, then each port can establish its own link, but the link establishment process becomes time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the auto-negotiation process across multiple communication ports by having the relay device perform a single auto-negotiation with the external device and apply the negotiated results to all ports. This combines what would otherwise be separate negotiation processes, reducing overall establishment time while maintaining reliable links across all ports through shared negotiation outcomes.
2Ease of operation
If multiple communication ports are configured with the same priority, then port selection becomes flexible and convenient, but determining successful auto-negotiation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing port-specific identification information (such as port indices or unique identifiers) that distinguishes each port's negotiation status. This allows the system to maintain equal priority for all ports while tracking individual negotiation outcomes through localized identifiers, simplifying the determination of which ports have successfully negotiated without reducing operational flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing an Ethernet communication link of a digital protective relay having at least two communication ports, includes: configuring physical layers of a first communication port and a second communication port; determining whether or not auto-negotiation with respect to the first communication port or the second communication port is successful; and replacing configuration information regarding one of physical layers of the first communication port and the second communication port with configuration information regarding the other of the physical layers of the first communication port and the second communication port according to whether or not the auto-negotiation with respect to the first communication port and the second communication port has been successful. Although Ethernet ports of the digital protective relay are connected without priority, the digital protective relay may perform the same operation.