TSN Gateway VLAN Tag Replacement for Network Interoperability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial Ethernet standards require proprietary hardware, making it difficult to converge OT and IT networks, and the details for handling data streams between TSN and non-TSN networks are still undefined, especially in maintaining real-time deterministic behavior.
Innovation Solution
The proposal involves replacing VLAN tags in packets routed between TSN and non-TSN networks or within a TSN network using a mapping of stream IDs to VLAN tags provided by a Central Network Configuration server, ensuring real-time deterministic behavior by identifying matching stream IDs and replacing corresponding VLAN tags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If proprietary hardware is used for industrial Ethernet standards, then network performance and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase, and interoperability between different networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses VLAN tag copying/replacement to create virtual copies of network identification data. Instead of requiring proprietary hardware for each network type, the system copies stream ID information into VLAN tags, allowing standard hardware to handle both TSN and non-TSN traffic through software-based tag manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The network gateway is designed with multi-functionality to handle both TSN and non-TSN networks using the same hardware infrastructure. By implementing VLAN tag replacement functionality, a single device can perform multiple network protocols and traffic management functions without requiring separate proprietary hardware for each network type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If VLAN tag replacement is implemented at network gateway, then interoperability between TSN and non-TSN networks is improved, but processing complexity and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring mapping relationships between stream IDs and VLAN tags before actual packet transmission. The gateway is pre-programmed with the correspondence tables, allowing it to perform rapid lookups and replacements during packet forwarding without complex real-time processing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
VLAN tags serve as an intermediary mechanism between TSN and non-TSN networks. The stream ID to VLAN tag mapping acts as a mediator that translates between different network protocols, allowing packets to be forwarded between heterogeneous networks through a standardized intermediate format that simplifies the translation process.
3Productivity
If stream ID to VLAN tag mapping is used for packet routing, then packet forwarding efficiency is improved, but memory requirements and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping table is segmented into manageable entries, each containing only the essential stream ID and corresponding VLAN tag information. Rather than storing complete packet headers or complex routing rules, the system segments the mapping data into concise key-value pairs, reducing memory requirements while maintaining forwarding efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An apparatus including a storage medium and a controller is provided. The storage medium stores a mapping of stream Identifiers (IDs) to Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tags. The controller is coupled to the storage medium and configured to route a packet for a Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) network according to the mapping. The routing of the packet includes replacing a VLAN tag in the packet according to the stream ID of the packet and the mapping, so as to maintain the real-time deterministic behavior of delivering data streams in the TSN network.