Virtual Gateway Node for Hardware-in-the-Loop Network Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing communication hardware devices struggle to exhaustively test a large number of devices communicating effectively under various conditions due to limited prototypes, leading to disparities between actual hardware and its modeled specifications, which can impact resources and production costs if not detected early.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to interface real and virtual networks using a virtual gateway node that translates data packets between simulated and real networks, allowing for comprehensive comparison studies and scalability analyses by converting simulated packets into Internet Protocol (IP) packets and vice versa, enabling data exchange between real and virtual networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual network simulation is used to test communication hardware, then testing coverage and scalability are improved, but disparities between actual hardware and modeled specifications arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) interface as an intermediary between virtual network simulations and actual hardware devices. This interface enables real hardware to be integrated into the virtual simulation environment, allowing direct comparison and validation of hardware behavior against simulated models, thereby reducing specification disparities while maintaining extensive testing coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges virtual network simulation capabilities with physical hardware testing in a unified HITL environment. By combining the scalability of virtual simulations with the accuracy of real hardware measurements, the system achieves both extensive testing coverage and high specification accuracy simultaneously
2Measurement precision
If multiple real hardware prototypes are used for exhaustive testing, then validation accuracy is improved, but resource requirements and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual network simulations as accurate copies or models of real network environments. These virtual models allow exhaustive testing scenarios to be executed without requiring multiple physical hardware prototypes, thereby maintaining high validation accuracy while reducing hardware quantity requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The HITL interface acts as an intermediary that allows a single physical hardware prototype to be tested against multiple virtual network configurations and scenarios. This enables exhaustive validation with minimal physical hardware by leveraging the scalability of virtual environments
Data Source
AI summary
Real and simulated (virtual) networks are interfaced with one another for carrying out hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and evaluations. A simulated network is modeled at a workstation by running a network simulation or discrete event modeling tool on the workstation. A virtual gateway node is defined in the simulated network, and the gateway node is linked with a network adapter on the workstation. An external real network operating with Internet protocol (IP) is also linked with the adapter. The adapter and the gateway node are configured to (i) translate simulated data packets sent from nodes of the simulated network and designated for the real network, into IP data packets for routing or processing by the real network, and (ii) translate IP data packets sent from nodes of the real network and designated for the simulated network, into simulated data packets for muting or processing by the simulated network.