Time-sensitive networking differentiation of traffic based upon content

• US 10,447,606 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bush, Stephen Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Wei, Siren
• Application Number:
  US15/485,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20180302331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74591 using content-addressable memories [CAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 in relation to timing considerations

Abstract

According to some embodiments, system and methods are provided, comprising receiving one or more data frames at a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) module; determining a classification for each data frame via the TSN module; generating a schedule for the one or more data frames to transmit the data frame through a communication network based on the classification; transmitting the one or more data frames based on the schedule; and controlling one or more operations of an installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving one or more data frames at a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) module;

determining a classification for each data frame via the TSN module;

generating a schedule for the one or more data frames to transmit the data frame through a communication network based on the classification, wherein the communication network is a deterministic Ethernet configured as a time sensitive network (TSN), and wherein the TSN module inserts classification data into at least one reserved field of an Ethernet header to indicate whether the one or more data frames is unscheduled or scheduled, and if the one or more data frames is scheduled, the TSN module inserts a further indication into the at least one reserved field, the further indication comprises at least one queue to send the one or more data frames to;

transmitting the one or more data frames based on the schedule; 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 the TSN comprises at least one digital twin.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the TSN module includes a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM), and

wherein the TSN utilizes the at least one digital twin to create a prediction that is transmitted to the installed product.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the classification for each data frame further comprising:

determining a presence of at least one pattern in the data frame.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to receiving one or more data frames at the TSN module:

receiving a pattern data map at the TCAM, wherein the pattern data map identifies one or more patterns included in one or more data frames.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the presence of the at least one pattern in the data frame further comprises:

comparing data in the data frame to the pattern data map via the TCAM at the TSN module, and

wherein the TCAM divides at least one packet into the one or more data frames.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each draft frame is classified as one of a scheduled data frame or an unscheduled data frame, and

wherein the TCAM searches at least one of an Internet Protocol (Ip) header and a transmission payload for the at least one pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the classification is based on an entropy of the data frame.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein generating a schedule further comprises:

generating a transmission time for the unscheduled data frames in relation to transmission time for the scheduled data frames.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmission time for the scheduled data frames is based on an upper limit on a delay in transmitting the data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the generated transmission time for each data frame avoids convention with each other, and

wherein the one or more data frames comprises a CRC Checksum.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitted data frame is operative to control operations of the installed product via a software-defined network control system, the method further comprising:

utilizing, at the communication network, at least one quality of service (QoS) parameter to maintain a time-sensitive networking quality of service, wherein the QoS parameter comprises at least one of a latency parameter, a deadline parameter, and a transport priority parameter.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the installed product is one of a vehicle, one or more medical devices, and a power-generating facility.

14. A system comprising:

an installed product, including a plurality of components;

a computer programmed with a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) module for the installed product, the TSN module for controlling operations of the installed product;

the computer including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing the TSN module and additional program instructions, wherein the processor is operative with the TSN module and additional program instructions to perform functions as follows;

receiving one or more data frames at a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) module;

determining a classification for each data frame via the TSN module;

generating a schedule for the one or more data frames to transmit the data frame through a communication network based on the classification, wherein the communication network is a deterministic Ethernet configured as a time sensitive network (TSN), and

wherein the TSN module inserts classification data into at least one reserved field of an Ethernet header to indicate whether the one or more data frames is unscheduled or scheduled, and if the one or more data frames is scheduled, the TSN module inserts a further indication into the at least one reserved field, the further indication comprising at least one queue to send the one or more data frames to;

transmitting the one or more data frames based on the schedule; and

controlling one or more operations of the installed product based on the transmitted one or more data frames.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the communication network,

wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of an x-ray detector an acoustic pick-up device, a tachometer, and a global positioning system receiver.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the TSN module includes a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM), the installed product comprising at least one actuator,

wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one of brakes, throttles, robotic devices, medical imaging devices, lights, and turbines, and

wherein the at least one actuator communicates at least one status of the installed product to the communication network.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a presence of at least one pattern in the data frame is determined to classify each data frame, and

wherein the at least one pattern comprises at least one port number.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the presence of the at least one pattern is determined based on a comparison of data in the data frame to a pattern data map received at the TCAM of the TSN, and

wherein the communication network matches at least one communication traffic requirement by changing at least one pattern in the pattern data map.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein each data frame is classified as one of a scheduled data frame or an unscheduled data frame,

the system further comprising at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the communication network, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one camera.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein generating a schedule further comprises:

generating a transmission time for the unscheduled data frames in relation to transmission time for the scheduled data frames.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the transmission time for the scheduled data frames is based on an upper limit on a delay in transmitting the data.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the generated transmission time for each data frame avoids contention with each other.

23. The system of claim 14, 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 one or more data frames at a Time Sensitive Network (TSN) module;

determining a classification for each data frame via the TSN module;

generating a schedule for the one or more data frames to transmit the data frame through a communication network based on the classification, wherein the communication network is a deterministic Ethernet configured as a time sensitive network (TSN), and

wherein the TSN module inserts classification data into at least one reserved field of an Ethernet header to indicate whether the one or more data frames is unscheduled or scheduled, and if the one or more data frames is scheduled, the TSN module inserts a further indication into the at least one reserved field, the further indication comprising at least one queue to send the one or more data frames to;

transmitting the one or more data frames based on the schedule; 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 deterministic Ethernet network is configured as the time sensitive network (TSN) hosted within a scheduler comprising a switch, and wherein the one or more data frames are received at the switch.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein the TSN module includes a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM), and

wherein the scheduler receives at least one network topology description.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein determining the classification for each data frame further comprises:

determining a presence of at least one pattern in a content of the data frame, wherein each data frame of the one or more data frames is temporarily placed in the TCAM where one or more rules are applied to each data frame, and

wherein each data frame of the one or more data frames is subsequently removed from the TCAM and placed in at least one transmission queue.

28. The medium of claim 26, wherein the installed product is one of a vehicle, one or more medical devices, and a power-generating facility, and

wherein the TCAM compares an arrival time of the one or more data frames at the TCAM to an expected arrival time window for the one or more data frames.