TSN Control Device Dynamic Time Slot Allocation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technologies are limited in scheduling resources, allowing only eight classes of gate opening and closing, which restricts scheduling to nine or more types of transmission timing, and require inefficient settings changes across multiple devices using NETCONF or OpenFlow, leading to increased control traffic and communication interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a schedule database unit and schedule processing unit that allocates resources by selecting a time slot satisfying transmission requests based on remaining transmittable amounts, allowing for efficient communication resource management and scheduling beyond the nine-class limitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing TSN standard with eight classes of Gate opening and closing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but scheduling versatility is limited to nine or more types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scheduling function into two parts: the existing TSN gate mechanism (8 classes) remains unchanged, while a new centralized scheduler divides time into multiple time slots and allocates them dynamically. This allows supporting 9 or more scheduling types without modifying the underlying gate structure, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized scheduler as an intermediary component that sits between the communication requests and the TSN gates. This mediator translates high-level scheduling requirements (9+ types) into the existing 8-gate framework by managing time slot allocations, thus enabling enhanced versatility without increasing gate complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If settings of all devices are performed using NETCONF or OpenFlow, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but control traffic increases and communication interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex device configuration functions (NETCONF/OpenFlow settings) from the data plane and consolidates them into a centralized scheduler in the control plane. The scheduler pre-calculates time slot allocations and only sends minimal allocation results to devices, dramatically reducing control traffic while maintaining scheduling flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized scheduler performs preliminary calculation of time slot allocations before actual communication occurs. By pre-determining the scheduling scheme and distributing only the necessary allocation information to devices, the system achieves flexible scheduling without generating excessive control traffic during runtime.
3Adaptability or versatility
If settings of all devices are performed using NETCONF or OpenFlow, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but time until settings are completed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-consuming device configuration operations from the scheduling process and relocates them to a centralized pre-computation phase. The centralized scheduler calculates all time slot allocations in advance using efficient algorithms, then distributes results quickly to devices, significantly reducing the time until settings are completed while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary scheduling calculation in the centralized controller before deployment to devices. By pre-computing the entire scheduling scheme and preparing allocation tables in advance, the system minimizes the time required for actual setting completion when services are added or modified.
4Adaptability or versatility
If settings change frequently for service addition and deletion, then adaptability is improved, but communication interruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized scheduler pre-calculates time slot allocations and prepares scheduling tables before service changes occur. When services are added or deleted, the scheduler re-computes allocations in advance and coordinates updates across devices, minimizing the window of communication interruption and maintaining service adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the centralized scheduler monitors service changes and automatically triggers re-allocation calculations. This closed-loop approach ensures that scheduling adjustments are made proactively rather than reactively, reducing communication interruptions while maintaining high service adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device that performs resource allocation to a network including a transmission device, one or more transfer devices, and a reception device as nodes, the control device including a schedule database unit that holds schedules of time slots not allocated to specific communication, the schedules being set in advance for respective nodes of the network, and a schedule processing unit that, in a case where a communication request is received, selects a time slot that satisfies a transmission request amount of the transmission device on the basis of remaining transmittable amounts of respective time slots in the schedules and notifies the transmission device of a selected time slot.