TSN FRER Diagnostics for Path Failure and Stream Outage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE 802.1CB error detection in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is limited, providing little information about error nature and severity, failing to detect path failures, random packet drops, or excess packets, which hinders the deployment of ultra-reliable networks.
Innovation Solution
Implement a diagnostic entity in TSN nodes configured for Frame Replication and Elimination for Reliability (FRER) to perform detailed diagnostics, generating error signals for member stream failures, out-of-window packets, stream outages, and recovery timeouts, enhancing error detection and network reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If FRER is implemented to provide redundancy over maximally disjoint paths, then reliability is improved, but error detection and diagnostic capabilities remain insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by having TSN nodes periodically exchange diagnostic information about FRER operation status, packet loss rates, and error conditions. This feedback loop enables nodes to detect failures, report their status, and trigger switchover operations based on diagnosed conditions, thereby resolving the information loss problem while maintaining reliability improvements from FRER redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces diagnostic information as an intermediary layer between the FRER redundancy mechanism and the network control plane. This intermediary carries detailed error detection data, packet statistics, and health status information that mediates between the reliability function and the management functions, enabling informed decision-making without compromising the core FRER reliability mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive diagnostics are implemented to detect all error conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the diagnostic functionality into distinct modules: failure detection diagnostics, packet loss diagnostics, stream outage diagnostics, and recovery timeout diagnostics. Each module handles specific error conditions independently, allowing precise measurement of different error types while keeping the overall system manageable through modular architecture rather than monolithic complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial diagnostics that focus on the most critical and common error conditions first (packet loss, stream outages, recovery timeouts), providing sufficient measurement precision for operational reliability without implementing every possible diagnostic scenario. This partial action approach balances measurement precision needs with device complexity constraints by prioritizing diagnostics that deliver the most value.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include methods performed by a time-sensitive network (TSN) node configured for frame replication and elimination for reliability (FRER). Such methods include receiving a plurality of member streams via a corresponding plurality (n) of disjoint paths in the TSN. Each member stream includes a replication of packets comprising a stream. Such methods include performing the following diagnostics on the received member streams: a first group of diagnostics related to member stream failures, a second group of diagnostics related to packets received out-of-window, a third group of diagnostics related to stream outages, and a fourth group of diagnostics related to recovery timeouts for the TSN node. Other embodiments include TSN nodes configured to perform such methods.