Network Task Cycle Setting for Variable Transmission Delays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network synchronization techniques fail to accurately account for extended transmission delays due to long distances or moving slave devices, leading to delayed reaction times and synchronization issues in industrial networks.

Innovation Solution

A management device and method that allows flexible setting of task cycles based on predicted and measured transmission delay times, using a management program to adjust network settings and ensure timely responses from slave devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the task cycle is set based on predicted transmission delay time, then the network configuration is simple and easy to set up, but the actual transmission delay may be longer than predicted causing synchronization issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of network configurationVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of actual transmission delay time before finalizing the task cycle setting. The management device measures the real transmission delay through ping commands or timestamp comparison, then uses this measured value to set the task cycle, ensuring both ease of configuration and synchronization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring whether the current task cycle is sufficient for synchronization. If synchronization failures or delays are detected, the system adjusts the task cycle based on re-measured transmission delay times, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that maintains reliability while keeping configuration simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the task cycle is extended to accommodate longer transmission delays, then synchronization is maintained, but the response time of the network increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork response time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the task cycle parameter based on measured transmission delay characteristics. By changing the task cycle from a fixed predicted value to a measured actual value, the system optimizes the balance between synchronization reliability and response time, ensuring the task cycle is neither too short (causing desynchronization) nor too long (causing delays).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the network supports moving slave devices or long-distance connections, then the network versatility is improved, but the transmission delay becomes unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork adaptabilityVSAvoidtransmission delay prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing the network to automatically measure and adjust its own parameters. Moving slave devices or long-distance connections don't require manual reconfiguration because the management device automatically measures the actual transmission delay and adjusts the task cycle accordingly, making the system adaptable to various configurations without sacrificing measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3952218B1Network management device, management method, management program, and recording medium

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 OMRON CORP

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AI summary

Provided is a management device or the like that can flexibly set a task cycle of a master device. The management device 3 is a management device that manages a network 100 including a master device 1 and a slave device 2 connected to the master device 1, and comprises: a transmission delay time prediction unit 332 which predicts a transmission delay time on the basis of network configuration information D1 and node information D2; a transmission delay time measurement unit 333 which measures the transmission delay time in the network 100; and a transmission delay time setting unit 334 which presents to the user, a predicted value predicted by the transmission delay time prediction unit 332 and a measured value measured by the transmission delay time measurement unit 333, and sets a cycle setting transmission delay time for setting a task cycle in which the master device 1 transmits a signal to the slave device 2, according to the selection operation of the user.