Synchronized control of sensors in an Ethernet network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12160499-B2
Application number	US-202318150213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2023
Priority date	Jan 7, 2022
Publication date	Dec 3, 2024
Grant date	Dec 3, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a sensor over a network includes a transceiver and a processor. The transceiver is configured to communicate over a network. The processor is configured to receive or generate control data for controlling a sensor connected to the network, to generate a packet including (i) the control data and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, and to transmit the packet using the transceiver over the network.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for controlling a sensor over a network, the apparatus comprising:
a transceiver, configured to communicate over a network; and
a processor, configured to:
receive or generate control data for controlling a sensor connected to the network;
generate a packet comprising (i) the control data and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network between the apparatus and the sensor; and
transmit the packet using the transceiver over the network.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
wake-up a peer device in accordance with a schedule; and
include in the packet a transport timestamp, the transport timestamp indicative of an additional future time at which, in accordance with the schedule, a link with the peer device will be awake, and send the packet to the peer device at a transmission time corresponding to the additional future time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

4. An apparatus for controlling a sensor over a network, the apparatus comprising:
a transceiver, configured to communicate over a network;
a sensor interface, configured to communicate with a sensor over a local link that does not traverse the network;
a memory; and
a processor, configured to:
receive from a controller, over the network, using the transceiver, a packet comprising (i) control data for controlling the sensor and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network between the controller and the sensor;
buffer at least the control data in the memory until a delivery time corresponding to the future time indicated in the trigger timestamp; and
at the delivery time, retrieve the control data from the memory and send the control data to the sensor over the local link.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

6. A method for controlling a sensor over a network, the method comprising:
receiving or generating control data for controlling a sensor connected to the network;
generating a packet comprising (i) the control data and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network to the sensor; and
transmitting the packet over the network.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
waking-up a peer device in accordance with a schedule; and
including in the packet a transport timestamp, the transport timestamp indicative of an additional future time at which, in accordance with the schedule, a link with the peer device will be awake, and sending the packet to the peer device at a transmission time corresponding to the additional future time.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

9. A method for controlling a sensor over a network, the method comprising:
communicating packets over a network, and communicating with a sensor over a local link that does not traverse the network;
receiving from the network a packet comprising (i) control data for controlling the sensor and (ii) a trigger timestamp indicative of a future time at which the control data is to be provided to the sensor, the future time being set to exceed a maximal latency of the network to the sensor;
buffering at least the control data in a memory until a delivery time corresponding to the future time indicated in the trigger timestamp; and
at the delivery time, retrieving the control data from the memory and sending the control data to the sensor over the local link.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the network comprises an Ethernet network.

Assignees

• Marvell Asia Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Thekkeettil Madhusudhan Harigovindan
• Shen David

Classifications

• H04J3/0661 Primary

  using timestamps · CPC title

• H04L69/28

  Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04L12/12

  Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof · CPC title

• H04L12/40039

  Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus · CPC title