Serialization Unit for Redundant Industrial Radio Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in reliable radio communication due to issues with message duplication and address management in wireless networks, particularly with VLAN-based methods, which often require separate sub-networks and can lead to non-deterministic transmission behavior.
Innovation Solution
A radio communication system with redundant communication devices connected to an industrial network, utilizing a serialization unit to replace destination addresses and insert original addresses as additional information in data frames, allowing PRP data frames to be transmitted via WLAN without needing independent sub-networks, and using signal processing units to detect and process redundant frames.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VLAN-based methods are used for transmitting PRP data frames via WLAN, then address management becomes complex and requires separate sub-networks, but transmission reliability and network simplicity are improved
Solution Approach 1:
A serialization unit is introduced as an intermediary component that translates and adapts PRP data frames for WLAN transmission. This unit converts the redundant PRP frame format into a format suitable for single-subnetwork WLAN transmission, managing address translation and frame serialization without requiring complex VLAN configurations or separate sub-networks.
2Reliability
If separate sub-networks are used for redundant transmission paths, then transmission reliability is improved, but network structure and address management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functionality of separate redundant sub-networks into a single WLAN sub-network. By using a serialization unit to handle PRP frame translation and a coupling element to manage the single connection, the system achieves redundant transmission reliability while maintaining a simplified single-sub-network structure, eliminating the need for complex multi-sub-network configurations.
3Speed
If PRP data frames are transmitted directly via WLAN without serialization, then transmission speed is maintained, but address conflicts and non-deterministic behavior occur
Solution Approach 1:
The serialization unit performs preliminary actions on PRP data frames before WLAN transmission. It pre-processes the frames by serializing redundant data streams, translating addresses, and preparing them for deterministic WLAN transmission. This preliminary serialization prevents address conflicts and non-deterministic behavior during actual transmission, while maintaining efficient speed through optimized frame handling.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a wireless communication system for an industrial automation system, at least one first and one second communication device are redundantly connected to an industrial communication network. The first communication device is connected to a serialization unit, which is connected to a network infrastructure device. A first and a second wireless base station are connected to the network infrastructure device. The second communication device is directly or indirectly connected to a first and a second wireless substation. The first wireless substation is connected to the first wireless base station, while the second wireless substation is connected to the second wireless base station. The serialization unit replaces destination addresses in data frames transmitted by the first communication device with the address of the first or second wireless substation, respectively.The radio subscriber stations replace destination addresses matching their own address in data frames transmitted by the radio base stations with original destination addresses replaced in the serialization unit.