Slave Device Control Method Reducing Network Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of slave devices in a network increases, existing control methods face challenges with increased data traffic, longer data transmission times, and difficulty in real-time control due to the need for multiple control messages and fixed data field sizes, leading to transmission delays and data collisions.
Innovation Solution
A slave device control method that generates a single control message with multiple input data, allowing slave devices to extract and pad data at specific positions, enabling flexible data transmission sizes and reducing traffic and delay by using one control message for all devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a master device generates and transmits control messages to each slave device individually, then each slave device can be controlled, but data traffic increases and data transmission time increases as the number of slave devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control messages into a single control message that contains control data for multiple slave devices. The master device generates one control message with embedded control data for N slave devices, which is then transmitted through the network. Each slave device extracts its own control data from this single message, eliminating the need for N separate transmissions and significantly reducing data transmission time while maintaining control capability for all devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control message is designed with universal applicability to serve multiple slave devices simultaneously. A single control message structure can accommodate control data for any number of slave devices by dynamically allocating data fields. This multi-functional control message replaces the need for device-specific individual messages, reducing network traffic and transmission time while maintaining reliable control for all slave devices.
2Loss of time
If a master device generates one control message for multiple slave devices using EtherCAT communication, then data traffic is reduced and transmission time is reduced, but a slave device cannot transmit another control message during transmission to prevent data collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control message into distinct control data fields, each assigned to a specific slave device. Each slave device can identify and extract its own control data from the segmented message structure. This segmentation allows slave devices to process their own data independently during the single transmission, enabling flexible data extraction and processing without causing data collisions, while maintaining the efficiency of single-message transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The control message employs local quality by assigning specific data fields to specific slave devices based on their addresses or identifiers. Each slave device has a designated region within the control message that contains its specific control data. This localized data organization allows slave devices to extract only their relevant data without interfering with other devices' data, enabling flexible simultaneous data extraction from a single transmitted message.
3Device complexity
If a fixed size field is used for storing input data of each slave device, then data structure is simple, but the size of data to be transmitted is limited and data field allocation is reduced when the number of slave devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data field allocation within the control message, where the size and position of data fields for each slave device can be adjusted based on the actual data requirements. Instead of fixed-size fields, the control message structure dynamically allocates space for each slave device's control data according to its needs. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple data structure while providing high adaptability for varying data sizes and numbers of slave devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control message employs parameter changes by allowing the data field size and allocation parameters to vary based on the number of slave devices and their individual data requirements. The master device can adjust the control message parameters dynamically, changing the size and distribution of data fields to match the actual network configuration. This parameter flexibility enables the system to adapt to different numbers of slave devices and varying data size requirements without complex restructuring.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates a slave device control method including generating the control message including a plurality of input data and transmitting the control message to a specific slave device among a plurality of slave devices, by a master device, extracting input data from a received data start position of the control message, by the specific slave device, and padding output data to transmitted data storage position of the control message and transmitting the output data to a next slave device, by the specific slave device.