Shared-Time Communication Scheduling for Sync Error Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In factory automation systems, synchronization accuracy between devices can vary, leading to communication inefficiencies and the need for complex operator settings to manage data transmission cycles.
Innovation Solution
A communication device that measures shared time, acquires error information from other devices, and specifies a suspension duration for data transmission to accommodate the greatest error in time measurement, thereby reducing the need for operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suspension duration is set to accommodate the maximum synchronization error among all devices, then communication reliability is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to excessive transmission-disabled duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different suspension durations for different devices based on their individual synchronization errors. Each device's suspension duration is customized to its specific error characteristics rather than using a uniform duration for all devices, thereby optimizing both reliability and efficiency locally for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the suspension duration adjustable and adaptable to each device's synchronization performance. The system dynamically determines the appropriate suspension duration for each device based on measured synchronization errors, allowing the communication parameters to be optimized in real-time rather than being fixed.
2Reliability
If the synchronization accuracy is examined and settings are adjusted for each device individually, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling each device to autonomously determine its own suspension duration based on its synchronization error characteristics. The devices automatically exchange error information and calculate appropriate suspension durations without requiring manual operator intervention, thereby simplifying operations while maintaining high synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having devices exchange synchronization error information with each other. Each device receives feedback about its synchronization performance from others and uses this information to automatically adjust its suspension duration, creating a closed-loop system that maintains reliability without complex manual settings.
3Ease of operation
If a fixed suspension duration is used for all devices, then ease of operation is improved, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary transmission disabled periods for devices with better synchronization accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed suspension duration to a dynamic, device-specific suspension duration. Each device's suspension period is automatically adjusted based on its synchronization characteristics, allowing the system to maintain operational simplicity while optimizing communication efficiency for each device individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by customizing the suspension duration for each device according to its specific synchronization error profile. Instead of applying a uniform suspension duration to all devices, the system tailors the parameter locally to each device's performance characteristics, eliminating unnecessary transmission disabled periods for devices with better synchronization accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device (10) communicates with a communication device (20) in each of time divisions defined by shared time that is shared with the communication device (20). The communication device (10) includes a clocking unit (11) that measures the shared time, an acquirer (13) that acquires, from the communication device (20), error information about a first error of the communication device (20) in measuring the shared time, and a specifier (14) that specifies, to the communication device (20), a suspension duration at least at a start or at an end of each of the time divisions. The suspension duration is a duration for which the communication device (20) suspends data transmission. The suspension duration specified by the specifier (14) is greater than or equal to a greater error of the first error and a second error that is an error of the clocking unit (11) in time measurement.