Star Coupler Time-Triggered Function Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed real-time systems, star couplers face challenges with computationally intensive functions like cryptographic processing, leading to high silicon area usage, latency, energy consumption, and message delays or loss due to the need for multiple implementations or reduced message handling capacity.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves linking the internal use of computing functions in star couplers to the communication schedule of time-triggered communication, optimizing the utilization of available computing functions by implementing multiple functionally equivalent or redundant functions and synchronizing their execution with the communication schedule.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple computationally intensive functions are implemented in parallel in star couplers to handle multiple Ethernet messages simultaneously, then message processing capacity is improved, but silicon area usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage processing capacityVSAvoidsilicon area
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements time-triggered communication where computationally intensive functions are activated at specific predetermined times based on a common time base. This periodic activation allows a single function instance to process multiple messages sequentially at different time slots, eliminating the need for parallel function instances while maintaining message handling capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically activates computationally intensive functions based on real-time communication requirements and synchronizes their execution with the communication schedule. This dynamic timing allows flexible resource utilization where functions are activated only when needed, optimizing the balance between processing capacity and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If computationally intensive functions are implemented in star couplers to perform cryptographic processing, then security and data integrity are improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Cryptographic functions are activated periodically at predetermined times synchronized with the common time base, rather than continuously or on-demand. This timing-based activation ensures security processing occurs only when required by the communication schedule, maintaining data integrity while minimizing energy consumption by keeping functions inactive during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system ensures continuous security protection by synchronizing cryptographic function activation with every time-triggered message transmission. This continuous synchronized operation maintains reliability without wasted energy on redundant processing, as each function activation directly corresponds to a required security operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If computationally intensive functions are activated at predetermined times based on a common time base, then system determinism is improved, but forwarding latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem determinismVSAvoidforwarding latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication schedule is created in advance with predetermined activation times for computationally intensive functions. This preliminary planning allows the system to reserve specific time slots for processing, ensuring deterministic behavior. Messages are forwarded through the network according to this pre-planned schedule, guaranteeing predictable latency bounds while maintaining system determinism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2871806B1Method for transmitting messages in a computer network and computer network
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 TTTECH COMPUTERTECHNIK AG
  • EP2871806B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2871806B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2871806B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for transmitting messages in a computer network, wherein the computer network comprises computing nodes (101-105) which computing nodes (101-105) are interconnected via at least one star coupler (201) and/or at least one multi-hop network (1000), wherein each computing node (101-105) is connected to the at least one star coupler (201) and/or the at least one multi-hop network (1000) via at least one communication line (110), and wherein the computing nodes (101-105) exchange Ethernet messages with each other and with the at least one star coupler (201) and/or the at least one multi-hop network (1000), wherein at least a part, e.g.one, two, several or all of the Ethernet messages are communicated in a time-controlled manner, and at least one star coupler (201, 202, 203, 205, 207) implements at least one function (COF), wherein the at least one function (COF) is characterized by taking one, two, or more time-controlled Ethernet messages, and/or parts of one, two, or more Ethernet messages, as input parameters and generating one, two, or more Ethernet messages and/or parts of one, two, or more Ethernet messages as output, and for at least one part, e.g.For one, two, several or all of the time-controlled communicated Ethernet messages, the temporal use of the function (COF) and/or its multiple implementation in the star coupler (201) is coupled to the communication schedule of the time-controlled messages, so that the temporal use of the function (COF) and/or its multiple implementation is, at least partially, determined by the communication schedule of the time-controlled messages.