Time sensitive network (TSN) scheduler with verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10218628-B2
Application number	US-201715485946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising receiving, at a verification module, a schedule for transmission of one or more data frames to one or more destination nodes via a Time Sensitive Network (TSN); receiving, at the verification module, a destination for each data frame; receiving, at the verification module, a maximum tolerable latency for each data frame; determining, via the verification module, the received schedule is correct; transmitting one or more data frames according to the schedule; accessing, via the verification module, the one or more destination nodes; verifying, via the verification module, the one or more data frames were transmitted to the one or more destination nodes within a maximum tolerable latency, based on accessing the one or more destination nodes; and controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames. Numerous other aspects are provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a verification module, a schedule for transmission of one or more data frames to one or more destination nodes via a Time Sensitive Network (TSN);
receiving, at the verification module, a destination for each data frame;
receiving, at the verification module, a maximum tolerable latency for each data frame;
determining, via the verification module, the received schedule is correct;
transmitting one or more data frames according to the schedule;
accessing, via the verification module, the one or more destination nodes;
verifying, via the verification module, the one or more data frames were transmitted to the one or more destination nodes within a maximum tolerable latency, based on accessing the one or more destination nodes; and
controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein verification further comprises:
determining whether each data frame arrived at the destination node.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
for each data frame that arrives at the destination node, determining if the arrival time of the data frame is within a specified time window.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
for each data frame that arrives at the destination node, determining if the arrival time of the data frame is equal to an expected arrival time.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
for each data frame that does not arrive at the destination node, determining if a departure time of the data frame is the same as a scheduled departure time of the data frame.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
for each data frame that does not arrive at the destination node, determining an inferred path for the data frame through the TSN.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
analyzing at least one point from the inferred path to determine a likelihood an error occurred at this point.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the TSN is a deterministic Ethernet network.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the schedule further comprises:
a transmission time for one or more unscheduled data frames in relation to transmission time for one or more scheduled data frames.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transmission time for each data frame avoids contention with each other.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the installed product is one of a vehicle, one or more medical devices, and a power-generating facility.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operations of the installed product are controlled by a networked control system.

13. A system comprising:
an installed product, including a plurality of components;
a computer programmed with a verification module for the installed product, the verification module for verifying a schedule to control operations of the installed product;
the computer including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing the verification module and additional program instructions, wherein the processor is operative with the verification module and additional program instructions to perform functions as follows:
receive a schedule for transmission of one or more data frames to one or more destination nodes via a Time Sensitive Network (TSN);
receive a destination for each data frame;
receive a maximum tolerable latency for each data frame;
determine the received schedule is correct;
transmit one or more data frames according to the schedule;
access the one or more destination nodes;
verify the one or more data frames were transmitted to the one or more destination nodes within a maximum tolerable latency, based on accessing the one or more destination nodes; and
control one or more operations of the installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the verification module determines whether each data frame arrived at the destination node.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the verification module determines if the arrival time of the data frame is within a specified time window, for each data frame that arrives at the destination node.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the verification module determines if the arrival time of the data frame is equal to an expected arrival time, for each data frame that arrives at the destination node.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the verification module determines if a departure time of the data frame is the same as a scheduled departure time of the data frame, for each data fame that does not arrive at the destination node.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the verification module determines an inferred path for the data frame through the TSN, for each data frame that does not arrive at the destination node.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the verification module analyzes at least one point from the inferred path to determine a likelihood an error occurred at this point.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the TSN is an Ethernet network.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the schedule further comprises:
a transmission time for one or more unscheduled data frames in relation to transmission time for one or more scheduled data frames.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the transmission time for each data frame avoids contention with each other.

23. The system of claim 13 , wherein the installed product is one of a vehicle, one or more medical devices, and a power-generating facility.

24. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving, at a verification module, a schedule for transmission of one or more data frames to one or more destination nodes via a Time Sensitive Network (TSN);
receiving, at the verification module, a destination for each data frame;
receiving, at the verification module, a maximum tolerable latency for each data frame;
determining, via the verification module, the received schedule is correct;
transmitting one or more data frames according to the schedule;
accessing, via the verification module, the one or more destination nodes;
verifying, via the verification module, the one or more data frames were transmitted to the one or more destination nodes within a maximum tolerable latency, based on accessing the one or more destination nodes; and
controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames.

25. The medium of claim 24 , wherein the verification module determines whether each data frame arrived at the destination node.

26. The medium of claim 25 , wherein the verification module determines if the arrival time of the data frame is within a specified time window, for each data frame that arrives at the destination node.

27. The medium of claim 25 , wherein the verification module determines an inferred path for the data frame through the TSN, for each data frame that does not arrive at the destination node.

28. The medium of claim 27 , wherein the verification module analyzes at least one point from the inferred path to determine a likelihood an error occurred at this point.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Bush Stephen Francis

Classifications

• H04L47/28 Primary

  in relation to timing considerations · CPC title

• H04L47/27

  Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets · CPC title

• H04L47/125

  by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering · CPC title