Ring Bus Network Topology Reconfiguration for Fault Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer networks with ring or bus topologies face challenges in efficiently reconfiguring connections upon faults, leading to increased synchronization time and difficulty in locating cable issues, especially as the number of network participants grows, resulting in limited time-synchronous isolation and prolonged reconfiguration times.
Innovation Solution
A computer network operates with a dynamic bus connection logic that switches between ring and line topologies by using terminating resistors and a changeover switch with two independent bus interfaces, allowing for asynchronous and parallel fault detection and reconfiguration, enabling quick restoration of data connections without prior knowledge of network participant positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bus connection operates with a ring topology where network participants are connected in a loop, then the connection between remaining network participants is not disrupted when one fails, but the reconfiguration time increases significantly with an increasing number of network participants due to increased synchronization time
Solution Approach 1:
The ring bus connection is segmented into discrete bus segments between adjacent network participants. When a fault is detected, the ring is broken at the faulty segment, and the remaining segments are reconfigured into a linear bus topology. This segmentation allows independent handling of faults without requiring synchronization across the entire ring, thereby reducing reconfiguration time while maintaining connection continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bus connection topology is made dynamic by allowing automatic switching between ring and linear configurations based on fault detection. The control logic dynamically adjusts the connection topology from a closed ring to an open linear bus when faults are detected, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and reduce reconfiguration time without compromising reliability.
2Reliability
If the bus connection uses a ring topology with multiple network participants, then connection continuity is maintained during failures, but the difficulty of locating cable faults increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring bus is divided into discrete bus segments between adjacent network participants, each with identifiable boundaries. When a fault occurs, the system can isolate the faulty segment by breaking the ring at the appropriate location. This segmentation enables systematic fault isolation and location without requiring traversal of the entire ring, significantly reducing the difficulty of detecting and measuring cable faults while maintaining connection continuity through the remaining segments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the bus connection logic includes complex control logic for reconfiguration, then the network can adapt to faults, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bus connection logic implements self-service by automatically detecting faults and reconfiguring the topology without external intervention. The control logic monitors communication status, detects faults in the ring connection, and autonomously switches to a linear bus topology. This self-service capability provides fault adaptation while keeping the control logic relatively simple by eliminating the need for complex external management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The control logic uses feedback mechanisms to monitor communication status and detect faults in the ring bus connection. When communication failures are detected, the system automatically adjusts the topology from ring to linear configuration. This feedback-based approach enables adaptability to faults while maintaining simple control logic by relying on direct communication status monitoring rather than complex prediction or manual control.
4Device complexity
If the bus connection operates with a linear topology, then fault isolation is simpler, but the connection between remaining network participants can be disrupted when one fails
Solution Approach 1:
The bus connection topology is made dynamic by allowing automatic switching between ring and linear configurations based on fault detection. In normal operation, the system uses a ring topology for redundancy, but when faults are detected, it automatically switches to a linear topology for simplified fault isolation. This dynamic adaptation maintains connection continuity while keeping control logic relatively simple by using straightforward fault detection and switching mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a computer network (4), during the regular operation of which each individual network participant (100-103) is connected to a ring bus connection (3) via a bus connection logic (1), wherein one bus segment of the bus connection (3) remains open (line topology). The invention further relates to a bus connection logic (1) for connecting a network participant (100-103) to the bus connection (3) of the computer network (4) and to a method for operating the computer network (4). The aim of the invention is to improve a reconfiguration of the network (4), in particular after the occurrence of a defective bus segment (16), with respect to comparable computer networks. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the bus segments of the bus connection (3) of the computer network (4) are temporarily connected together into a point-to-point connection in the event of a communication failure or a partial communication failure, and then the defective segment is automatically determined. The bus segments of the bus connection (3) are then switched back into a line topology in which the open position of the ring is set to the damaged bus segment (16).