Synchronized Frame Transmission in Industrial Communication Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial communication networks face challenges in achieving bandwidth-saving deterministic communication, particularly in ensuring seamless resiliency and deterministic data delivery for time-critical processes in industrial automation systems, where network load is increased due to redundant frame transmission and collisions can lead to delays in non-critical data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The method involves synchronizing nodes to transmit regular frames periodically and sporadic frames only after completion of the regular phase, ensuring optimized bandwidth usage by delaying sporadic frames until the next transmission period, and utilizing dual communication ports with redundancy protocols like HSR to identify and manage frame duplicates, thereby optimizing bandwidth and reducing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant frames are transmitted over both ports in HSR protocol, then seamless resiliency against faults is achieved, but network load is roughly doubled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining a regular phase where all nodes transmit regular frames simultaneously at synchronized time points. This predetermined structure allows the network to handle time-critical traffic efficiently before accommodating sporadic traffic, avoiding the need for continuous redundant transmission of all frame types and reducing overall network load while maintaining resiliency for time-critical communications.
2Reliability
If network bandwidth is increased to handle redundant frames, then deterministic delivery is maintained, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission period into distinct phases: a regular phase dedicated to time-critical regular frames and a sporadic phase for non-time-critical sporadic frames. This segmentation allows deterministic delivery guarantees for regular frames during their dedicated phase while efficiently utilizing remaining bandwidth for sporadic frames, thereby maintaining reliability without excessive bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by organizing frame transmission into periodic transmission periods with synchronized regular phases. All nodes transmit regular frames at predetermined time points within each period, creating a rhythmic, predictable transmission pattern that ensures deterministic delivery while efficiently managing bandwidth usage through structured periodicity.
3Loss of time
If sporadic frames are transmitted immediately when ready, then transmission delay is minimized, but regular frame transmission may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission medium dynamically allocated between regular and sporadic phases. During the regular phase, the medium is dedicated to regular frames with highest priority. During the sporadic phase, the medium becomes available for sporadic frames. This dynamic time-division approach ensures regular frames are never interrupted while allowing sporadic frames to be transmitted with minimal delay in their designated phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is concerned with a communication network interconnecting a plurality of synchronized nodes (1, 2, 3, 4), where regular frames (RP) comprising time - critical data (R1, R2, R3, R4) are transmitted periodically or cyclically, and sporadic frames (SP) are transmitted non-periodically or occasionally. In particular, each node of the plurality of nodes (1, 2, 3, 4) transmits a regular frame (RP) at the beginning of a transmission period common to, and synchronized among, all nodes. A node then receives regular frames (RP) from its first neighboring node, and forwards them within the same transmission period and with the shortest delay, to a second neighboring node. Furthermore, the node actively delays transmission of any sporadic frame (SP), whether originating from an application hosted be the node itself or whether received from a neighboring node, until forwarding of all received regular frames (RP) is completed.