Methods, interface unit and nodes for using in parallel a communication network for real-time applications and for non-real-time applications
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Abstract
The invention concerns a data transmission technique for real-time applications and non real-time applications in a communication network comprising several nodes connected by communication channels. The invention is characterized in that the data are cyclically and deterministically transmitted, the data for the real-time applications being processed in priority, such that, during one transmission cycle, all the data for the real-time applications are first sent, then, in the time interval remaining prior to the next transmission cycle, the data for non real-time applications are sent.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A method for transmitting data for real-time applications and non-real-time applications in a communications network with several nodes that are connected to one another via communication paths,
wherein the data transmission takes place in a cyclic and deterministic fashion and data for real-time applications has priority over other data such that all data for real-time applications is transmitted first during a transmission cycle and data for non-real-time applications is subsequently transmitted in the time that remains until the next transmission cycle starts, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting, receiving and processing data for real-time applications and data for non-real-time applications in parallel during a real-time cycle by;
executing a first processing step wherein, in a real-time cycle, the data received in a previous real-time cycle is analyzed to determine which received data are intended for real-time applications and which data are intended for non-real-time applications;
executing a second processing step including executing the real-time applications; and
executing a third processing step including the transmission of the data to be transmitted for real-time applications during a transmission cycle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A node configured to carry out the parallel transmission, reception and processing of data for real-time applications and data for non-real-time applications, the node comprising:
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an interface unit connecting the node to a communications network including several nodes connected to one another via a communications path, the interface unit configured to cyclically and deterministically transmit data between the node and the communications network in order to handle data for real-time applications with priority over data for non-real-time applications, such that all data for real-time applications is transmitted first during a transmission cycle and data for non-real-time applications is subsequently transmitted in the time that remains until the next transmission cycle starts; and
a processing unit (CPU) operatively coupled to the interface unit, wherein the processing unit;
evaluates the data received in the respectively preceding real-time cycle in a first processing step of a real-time cycle in order to determine the received data intended for real-time applications and the received data intended for non-real-time applications;
executes the real-time applications in a second processing step; and
transfers the data to be transmitted for real-time applications to the interface unit for actual data transmission in a third processing step. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification