Safety Link Monitoring with Dynamic Identifiers for Faster Error Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety communication methods in technical systems are slow to detect communication errors, leading to potential uncontrolled or dangerous operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

A safety communication method that modifies the monitoring identifier for request data telegrams before receiving a response, allowing for simultaneous monitoring of multiple timeout periods and quicker detection of communication errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the monitoring identifier is only changed after receiving a response with the previous identifier, then the communication protocol remains simple and easy to implement, but the error detection time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection speedVSAvoidmaximum detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring identifier is modified in advance before the timeout period expires, rather than waiting for the response to be received. This preliminary modification allows the system to start monitoring for the next identifier earlier, reducing the maximum detection time while maintaining protocol simplicity through sequential identifier management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring identifier transitions from a static value (unchanged until response received) to a dynamic value that changes periodically during the communication cycle. This dynamic modification enables overlapping monitoring windows, where multiple identifier states coexist, thereby reducing the worst-case detection time without complicating the overall protocol structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the monitoring identifier is modified after each transmission, then the error detection speed improves, but the complexity of managing multiple monitoring states increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection timeVSAvoidmonitoring state management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication cycle is segmented into discrete phases with specific identifier modification rules. By dividing the monitoring process into manageable segments (transmission phase, timeout phase, response phase), the system reduces complexity while maintaining fast detection. Each segment has clear identifier management rules that prevent state confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring identifier is modified periodically after a predetermined number of transmissions rather than after every single transmission. This periodic modification reduces the burden of managing multiple monitoring states while still achieving faster error detection compared to the traditional approach of only modifying upon response receipt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4300220B1Safety communication method and communication device
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4300220B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A device and a method for monitoring a communication link. When a request is periodically sent, the request is supplemented with a specific identifier, and an error is detected if a response with this identifier is not received within a predetermined time period. The specific identifier for multiple consecutively sent requests is modified before a response with a previously sent identifier has been received.