Deterministic control loop scheduling
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- receiving, at a scheduling device in a network, routing metrics regarding a network path between a device controller and a networked device in a control loop running in the network, wherein the scheduling device is a path computation element, wherein routing metrics are indicative of time costs associated with transferring data along various links of the network path, wherein the networked device is a sensor or actuator and the device controller is a programmable logic controller;
receiving, at the scheduling device, controller metrics from the device controller, wherein the controller metrics indicate at least one of;
a delay associated with loading a control application that communicates with the networked device or a delay associated with scheduling the control application to execute;
determining, by the scheduling device, time costs associated with the network path and one or more control operations performed by the device controller, wherein the time costs are based on the routing and controller metrics;
generating, by the scheduling device, a communication schedule based on the time costs; and
sending, by the scheduling device, instructions to the device controller and the networked device that instruct the device controller and the networked device to use the communication schedule for performing the one or more control operations in the control loop at specific times.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a scheduling device in a network receives routing metrics regarding a network path between a device controller and a networked device. The scheduling device also receives controller metrics for the device controller. The scheduling device determines time costs associated with the network path and one or more control operations performed by the device controller, based on the routing and controller metrics. The scheduling device generates a communication schedule based on the time costs and instructs the device controller and the networked device to use the communication schedule.
24 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving, at a scheduling device in a network, routing metrics regarding a network path between a device controller and a networked device in a control loop running in the network, wherein the scheduling device is a path computation element, wherein routing metrics are indicative of time costs associated with transferring data along various links of the network path, wherein the networked device is a sensor or actuator and the device controller is a programmable logic controller; receiving, at the scheduling device, controller metrics from the device controller, wherein the controller metrics indicate at least one of;
a delay associated with loading a control application that communicates with the networked device or a delay associated with scheduling the control application to execute;determining, by the scheduling device, time costs associated with the network path and one or more control operations performed by the device controller, wherein the time costs are based on the routing and controller metrics; generating, by the scheduling device, a communication schedule based on the time costs; and sending, by the scheduling device, instructions to the device controller and the networked device that instruct the device controller and the networked device to use the communication schedule for performing the one or more control operations in the control loop at specific times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus operating as a path computation element, comprising:
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one or more network interfaces to communicate with a network; a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute computer instructions; and a memory configured to store the computer instructions executable by the processor, the computer instructions when executed configured to; receive routing metrics regarding a network path between a device controller and a networked device in a control loop running in the network, wherein routing metrics are data indicative of time costs associated with transferring data along various links the network path, wherein the networked device is a sensor or actuator and the device controller is a programmable logic controller; receive controller metrics from the device controller, wherein the controller metrics indicate at least one of;
a delay associated with loading a control application that communicates with the networked device or a delay associated with scheduling the control application to execute;determine time costs associated with the network path and one or more operations performed by the device controller based on the routing and controller metrics; generate a communication schedule based on the time costs; and send instructions to the device controller and the networked device that instruct the device controller and the networked device to use the communication schedule for performing the one or more control operations in the control loop at specific times. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor of a path computation element configured to:
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receive routing metrics regarding a network path between a device controller and a networked device in a control loop running in the network, wherein routing metrics are data indicative of time costs associated with transferring data along various links of the network path, wherein the networked device is a sensor or actuator and the device controller is a programmable logic controller; receive controller metrics from the device controller, wherein the controller metrics indicate at least one of;
a delay associated with loading a control application that communicates with the networked device or a delay associated with scheduling the control application to execute;determine time costs associated with the network path and one or more operations performed by the device controller based on the routing and controller metrics; generate a communication schedule based on the time costs; and send instructions to the device controller and the networked device to instruct the device controller and the networked device to use the communication schedule for performing the one or more control operations in the control loop at specific times. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification