Token Ring Network Communication Delay Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional building management systems using token ring networks, such as BACnet, experience significant communication delays due to the sequential passing of a token, which can lead to user annoyance, especially with the increasing need for immediate responses from devices like electric window blinds.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where a device broadcasts a request message after receiving the token, allowing other devices to send time-sensitive messages without waiting for the token, and using predetermined time periods to manage message transmission and prevent clashes, ensuring timely communication without overloading the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a token ring network is used for device communication, then network structure is simple and easy to implement, but communication delay increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork structureVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the first device broadcast a request message immediately upon receiving the token, before passing the token to the second device. This allows the second device to prepare and send its command message in advance, reducing the overall communication delay while maintaining the simple token ring structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by introducing structured time periods: a request message period during which the first device broadcasts requests, and a token passing period for transferring the token. This periodic structure organizes communication phases to minimize delays while preventing network overload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Speed

If request messages are broadcast frequently to reduce delay, then communication speed improves, but network overload occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidnetwork overload

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action by defining specific request message periods and token passing periods. The first device broadcasts request messages only during designated periods, ensuring frequent enough communication to maintain speed while spacing out transmissions to prevent network overload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making the request message broadcasting conditional and time-dependent. The first device dynamically adjusts when to broadcast based on the token possession state and predefined periods, optimizing communication frequency to balance speed and network load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10187222B2Methods and devices for communicating over a building management system network

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 HONEYWELL TECHNOLOGIES SARL

AI summary

A method of communication between devices of a building management system (1) over a token ring network, comprising the steps of: a first device receiving (101) the token (2) for the token ring network; the first device, in response to receiving the token (2), broadcasting (105) a request message over the network; a second device, in response to receiving the request message over the network, sending a command message to a receiving device over the network; and the first device passing (107) the token (2) for the token ring network to a subsequent device on the network.