Synchronous multi-cluster network architecture

• US 20060045135A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMSC Europe GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SMSC Europe GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thiel, Christian, Heck, Patrick, Hetzel, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/503
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40091 Bus bridging LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; single bridge functionality H04L12/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

A network for data transmission comprises a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames. The sub-networks have different transmission rates and are connected to each other via at least one gateway. The transmission of the data frames is effected with a defined timing relationship between the sub-networks.

Claims

1. Network for data transmission, comprising:

a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames, in which each sub-network has at least two subscribers;

at least one gateway connecting each sub-network to at least one other sub-network for transmission of data between the sub-networks;

wherein at least one first sub-network is configured for at least one of simultaneous addressing of data frames to a plurality of subscribers (broadcast or multicast), and random addressing of single data frames or parts of data frames, and this at least one first sub-network is furthermore adapted for synchronous transmission of synchronous data or control data, and normal package data; and

for real-time transmission with deterministic transmission times between sub-networks by an exchange of time synchronization signals and a synchronization of at least one first sub-network and at least one other sub-network with these signals, a transmission of individual data frames between the respective sub-networks is effected with a defined timing relationship between the sub-networks.

2. Network according to claim 1, wherein transmission clock frequencies of at least one further sub-network are in a ratio of n:

m to those of a first sub-network, where n and m are whole numbers.

3. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-network is configured in accordance with a MOST Specification.

4. Network according to claim 1, wherein additionally at least one further sub-network is provided and configured so that in it a transmission of individual data frames is effected without correlation of timing with other sub-networks.

5. Network according to claim 1, wherein additionally at least one further sub-network is provided that has the same transmission rate as the first sub-network.

6. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-network is based on an optical bus.

7. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-network is based on a circular bus.

8. Network according to claim 1, wherein numbers of data frames transmitted within a certain time interval in different sub-networks are in a definite given ratio to each other.

9. Network according to claim 1, wherein data frames transmitted within different sub-networks have the same duration of time.

10. Network according to claim 1, wherein information concerning a timing relationship with other sub-networks is transmitted at least within one sub-network.

11. Network according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sub-networks are synchronized with each other via a common clock.

12. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one gateway for connecting a plurality of sub-networks is configured so that it copies single bits or data words at given positions of data frames of a sub-network to given positions of data frames of another sub-network.

13. Network according to claim 12, wherein means are provided for signaling a kind of copying operation.

14. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-network is itself divided into further sub-networks which in turn are connected to a single sub-network.

15. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one sub-network comprises net-work addressing that includes at least one sub-network internal address or sub-address, and also at least one global address or sub-address.

16. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least one network node is provided which has means for synchronizing an emission of single data frames or groups of data frames with other sub-networks having different transmission rates, or with a synchronization clock having a plurality of synchronized sub-networks.

21. Network according to claim 1, wherein at least two sub-networks are configured for different transmission rates.

22. Network according to claim 13, wherein the means for signaling a kind of copying operation is an additional signal line.

23. Network according to claim 14, wherein the further sub-networks are connected to the single sub-network via a fast backbone.

17. Network node for a data transmission network that comprises:

a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames, in which each sub-network has at least two subscribers;

at least one gateway connecting each sub-network to at least one other sub-network for transmission of data between the sub-networks;

at least one first sub-network is configured for at least one of simultaneous addressing of data frames to a plurality of subscribers (broadcast or multicast), and random addressing of single data frames or parts of data frames, and this at least one first sub-network is furthermore adapted for synchronous transmission of synchronizing data or control data, and normal package data; and

wherein means are provided for synchronizing the emission of data with other network nodes, or with a synchronizing clock.

18. Gateway for a data transmission network that comprises:

a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames, in which each sub-network has at least two subscribers;

at least one gateway connecting each sub-network to at least one other sub-network for transmission of data between the sub-networks;

at least one first sub-network is configured for at least one of simultaneous addressing of data frames to a plurality of subscribers (broadcast or multicast), and random addressing of single data frames or parts of data frames, and this at least one first sub-network is furthermore adapted for synchronous transmission of synchronizing data or control data, and normal package data;

for real-time transmission with deterministic transmission times between sub-networks by an exchange of time synchronization signals and a synchronization of at least one first sub-network and at least one other sub-network with these signals, a transmission of individual data frames between the respective sub-networks is effected with a defined timing relationship between the sub-networks; and

wherein the gateway comprises at least two network nodes, at least two network nodes being connected to different sub-networks.

24. Network according to claim 18, wherein a synchronous transmission is provided between at least two network nodes.

19. Gateway for a data transmission network that comprises:

a plurality of sub-networks for transmitting data in data frames, in which each sub-network has at least two subscribers;

at least one gateway connecting each sub-network to at least one other sub-network for transmission of data between the sub-networks;

at least one first sub-network is configured for at least one of simultaneous addressing of data frames to a plurality of subscribers (broadcast or multicast), and random addressing of single data frames or parts of data frames, and this at least one first sub-network is furthermore adapted for synchronous transmission of synchronizing data or control data, and normal package data;

for real-time transmission with deterministic transmission times between sub-networks by an exchange of time synchronization signals and a synchronization of at least one first sub-network and at least one other sub-network with these signals, a transmission of individual data frames between the respective sub-networks is effected with a defined timing relationship between the sub-networks; and

wherein the gateway comprises at least two network nodes of different sub-networks, and furthermore at least one of a clock rate and a frame rate of a second sub-network is synchronized with at least one of a clock rate and a frame rate of a first sub-network.

20. Method for operating a network that comprises a plurality of sub-networks having different transmission rates, the method comprising:

connecting sub-networks to form a network; and

transmitting data frames in individual sub-networks with a defined timing relationship.

25. Method according to claim 20, further comprising:

transmitting the data frames in the individual sub-networks with a defined timing relationship by synchronizing at least one of data rates and frame rates of the individual sub-networks.