SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING TIME-CRITICAL ANALOG SIGNALS AND/OR DIGITAL SIGNAL

Abstract

A system for transmitting time-critical analog signals and/or digital signals between a first device and a second device. The system includes at least a first protocol converter connected to the first device and at least a second protocol converter connected to the second device. A data transmission network for transmission of data packets is provided between the protocol converters. The data transmission network is established by an internet protocol network. The system includes a port redirector associated with at least one of the protocol converters. The port redirector is configured to convert a protocol for serial data transfer into the transmission control protocol, thereby generating the data packets, or to convert the transmission control protocol associated with the data packets into a protocol for serial data transfer. The system is configured to process asynchronous data and synchronous data. Further, a method of transmitting time-critical analog signals and/or digital signals is provided.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting at least one of time-critical analog signals and time-critical digital signals between a first device and a second device, wherein the system comprises at least a first protocol converter connected to the first device and at least a second protocol converter connected to the second device, wherein a data transmission network for transmission of data packets is provided between the protocol converters, wherein the data transmission network is established by an internet protocol network, wherein the system comprises a port redirector associated with at least one of the protocol converters, wherein the port redirector is configured to convert a protocol for serial data transfer into the transmission control protocol, thereby generating the data packets, or to convert the transmission control protocol associated with the data packets into a protocol for serial data transfer, and wherein the system is configured to process asynchronous data and synchronous data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the port redirector provides the functionality of the respective protocol converter.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one clock generator is provided.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the port redirector is connected with the clock generator in a clock-precise manner

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is configured to convert a protocol for synchronous data transmission into a protocol for asynchronous data transmission or vice versa.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein a configuration module including one or more circuits is provided for configuring an internal routing of the signals via inputs and outputs, establishing a flexible connection between the devices.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the inputs and the outputs with regard to at least one of transmission and reception.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the inputs and the outputs with regard to the kind of data.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the inputs and the outputs with regard to data associated with at least one of an audio signal and a data signal.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module is established to configure electrical properties of at least one of the inputs and the outputs.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the electrical properties of at least one of the inputs and the outputs during operation.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the system such that a single transmission device is connected with several reception devices.

13. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module is established to configure the system such that several transmission devices are connected with several reception devices.

14. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration module has an interface for external configuration.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a converter for converting a digital signal into an optical signal or vice versa.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices is configured for satellite communication or underwater communication.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the devices is assigned to a converter that is configured to convert acoustic waves in at least one of current and voltage.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system has at least one of a discrete input and a discrete output.

19. A method of transmitting at least one of time-critical analog signals and time-critical digital signals between a first device and a second device, comprising: receiving at least one of a time-critical analog signal and a time-critical digital signal by a first protocol converter assigned to the first device; converting a protocol for serial data transfer associated with at least one of the time-critical analog signal and the time-critical digital signal into the transmission control protocol by a port redirector associated with the first protocol converter, thereby generating data packets; transmitting the data packets to a second protocol converter assigned to the second device via a data transmission network established by an internet protocol network; converting the transmission control protocol associated with the data packets into the protocol for serial data transfer associated with at least one of the time-critical analog signal and the time-critical digital signal; and forwarding at least one of the time-critical analog signal and the time-critical digital signal to the second device.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0074] FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of a system for transmitting time-critical analog signals and/or digital signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0075] FIG. 2 shows a detail of the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0076] FIG. 3 shows a detail of FIG. 2;

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a detail of FIG. 2; and

[0078] FIG. 5 shows a flow-chart illustrating a method for transmitting time-critical analog signals and/or digital signals according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 for transmitting time-critical analog signals and/or digital signals. The system comprises several first devices 12 as well as several second devices 14. The respective devices 12, 14 may generally be configured by transceivers that are configured to transmit/receive respective signals depending on the operation mode of the system 10.

[0081] In the shown embodiment, the first devices 12 may act as transmission devices, whereas the second devices 14 may act as reception devices. In an alternative operation mode, the first devices 12 may act as reception devices, whereas the second devices 14 may act as transmission devices.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 1, the respective devices 12, 14 are located within a participant 16 that may be established by a mobile participant or a stationary participant. In the shown embodiment, the mobile participant 16 is a ship that communicates with another participant, for instance a stationary participant, for example a base station, or a mobile participant such as a satellite, another ship or a submarine.

[0083] The several transmission devices 12 may relate to voice terminals that output analog signals in an encrypted or decrypted manner Further, the transmission devices 12 may also relate to data terminals that provide digital signals, for instance serial data. The digital signals, for example the serial data, may be encrypted or decrypted. The reception devices 14 may relate to radios that can be connected with different antennas for transmitting analog signals and/or digital signals, for instance serial data via radio transmission.

[0084] The system 10 comprises at least one first protocol converter 18 that is assigned to the first devices 12, namely the transmission devices. In addition, the system 10 comprises at least one second protocol converter 20 that is connected with the second devices 14, namely the reception devices. The respective protocol converters 18, 20 are connected with the respective devices 12, 14 via connection lines 22, 24 respectively.

[0085] For instance, the first devices 12 transmit via the respective connections 22 digital signals and/or analog signals to the first protocol converter 18 that has an appropriate interface in order to receive the respective signals. The first protocol converter 18 converts the signals received into data packets, also called converted data, which are transmitted to the second protocol converter 20 as will be explained later in more detail.

[0086] The data packets are transmitted via a data transmission network 26 that is established by an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Therefore, the first protocol converter 18 is inter alia configured to convert a protocol associated with the signals received via the connections 22 into a transmission control protocol (TCP) that is used by the data packets to be transmitted via the data transmission network 26.

[0087] In the embodiment shown, a first port redirector 28 is provided that is assigned to the first protocol converter 18. The port redirector 28 is used to convert the respective protocol for serial data transfer into the transmission control protocol (TCP).

[0088] In general, the system 10 ensures a flexible connection between the respective devices 12, 14 since each of the different transmission devices 12 can be used for transmitting the respective signals, namely the content encompassed in the respective signals, via the data transmission network 26 to the different reception devices 14.

[0089] The second protocol converter 20 receives the data packets from the data transmission network 26, wherein the second protocol converter 20 converts the transmission control protocol (TCP) associated with the data packets into the protocol used by the respective reception device 14 intended as destination device. Hence, the data packets are converted into the analog signals or rather digital signals that are forwarded to the respective reception device(s) 14 via the connections 24.

[0090] A second port redirector 29 is provided that is assigned to the second protocol converter 20. The second port redirector 29 is used to convert the transmission control protocol (TCP) associated with the data packets into the respective protocol for serial data transfer.

[0091] The protocol converters 18, 20 as well as the port redirectors 28, 29 each may be established by a module.

[0092] In some embodiments, the term “module,” “unit,” etc., refers to a combination of hardware (e.g. a processor such as an integrated circuit or other circuitry) and software (e.g. machine- or processor-executable instructions, commands, or code such as firmware, programming, or object code). Furthermore, a combination of hardware and software may include hardware only (i.e. a hardware element with no software elements), software hosted at hardware (e.g. software that is stored at a memory and executed or interpreted at a processor), or hardware with the software hosted thereon. In some embodiments, the hardware may, inter alia, comprise a CPU, a GPU, an FPGA, an ASIC, or other types of electronic circuitry.

[0093] In FIG. 2, the system 10 is shown in more detail since internal components of the respective protocol converters 18, 20 are shown. FIG. 2 reveals that the first protocol converter 18 as well as the second protocol converter 20 each comprise an analog to digital converter 30 as well as digital to analog converter 32.

[0094] Thus, analog signals can be converted into digital data, namely digital signals, to be transmitted via the data transmission network 26 by the analog to digital converter(s) 30. Furthermore, the digital data, namely the digital signals, may be re-converted into analog signals on reception side by the digital to analog converter(s) 32. In addition, digital signals may be received/outputted directly by the respective protocol converter 18, 19 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0095] As also shown in FIG. 1, the data transmission network 26 generally ensures a bidirectional communication between the respective protocol converters 18, 20.

[0096] In FIG. 3, the first protocol converter 18 is shown in more detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the first protocol converter 18 comprises an interface 34 that provides an analog sub-interface 36 as well as a digital sub-interface 38. Therefore, analog as well as digital data may be received by the first protocol converter 18 for transmission purposes. In addition, the first protocol converter 18 comprises a first processing module 40 comprising one or more circuits. In an embodiment, the first protocol converter 18 may be established, for example, by a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0097] As shown in FIG. 3, the analog-to-digital converter 30 is located upstream of the processing module 40 such that the processing module 40 receives only digital data that might be associated with the originally inputted digital signal or rather the originally inputted analog signal.

[0098] The processing module 40 comprises a control circuit or unit 42 that receives the respective digital data, wherein the control unit 42 forwards the respective digital data to a TCP circuit or unit 44 that encapsulates the data packets according to the transmission control protocol (TCP). In general, the control unit 42 and the TCP unit 44 are assigned to the port redirector 28.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 3, the first processing module 14 also comprises a first clock generator 46 that generates a clock signal which is forwarded to the port redirector 28, for example the TCP unit 44 as well as a control unit 42. In some embodiments, the clock generator 46 is connected with the port redirector 28 in a clock-precise manner

[0100] Furthermore, the first protocol converter 18 comprises a configuration module including circuitry (one or more circuits) that is connected with the port redirector 28, for example the control unit 42 as well as the TCP unit 44, in a signal transmitting manner

[0101] In general, the configuration module 48 is used to configure the internal routing of inputs and/or outputs of the internal components of the protocol converter 18. Hence, the flexible connection can be established on transmission side appropriately by the configuration module 48.

[0102] The port redirector 28 is connected with an Ethernet Media Access Controller 50, for instance a Tri-Mode Ethernet Media Access Controller (TEMAC), which is composed on one or more circuits. The first protocol converter 18 is connected with the data transmission network 26 via the Ethernet Media Access Controller 50. Hence, the data packets associated with the transmission control protocol (TCP) provided by the port redirector 28 are forwarded to the data transmission network 26 via the Ethernet Media Access Controller 50.

[0103] In FIG. 4, the second protocol converter 20 is shown in more detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the second protocol converter 20 is established in a substantially similar manner with respect to the first protocol converter 18. Accordingly, both protocol converters 18, 20 each comprise a configuration module 46 that together form a common configuration module 52.

[0104] In some embodiments, the respective configuration module 48 that is associated with the first protocol converter 18 and/or the second protocol converter 20 is generally established to configure the inputs and the outputs with regard to transmission and/or reception or rather with regard to the kind of data to be exchanged, for example data associated with an audio signal and/or a data signal.

[0105] Hence, the respective configuration module 48 configures the port redirector 28, for example the control unit 42 as well as the TCP unit 44, in an appropriate manner such that data packets according to the transmission control protocol (TCP) are provided accordingly.

[0106] For instance, the respective configuration module 48 configures electrical properties of respective pins of inputs and/or outputs assigned to the respective protocol converters 18, 20, for example the respective control units 42.

[0107] The respective configuration of the electrical properties can be done during operation of the system 10 in order to re-configure the system 10 during operation, namely online or live. In general, the respective configuration module(s) 48 can configure the entire system 10 such that a single transmission device 12 is connected with several reception devices 14 via the respective protocol converters 18, 20 and the data transmission network 26. Moreover, the respective configuration module(s) 48 may also configure the entire system 10 such that several transmission devices 12 are connected with several reception devices 14.

[0108] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the respective configuration module 48 has an interface 54 for external configuration such that an operator of the system 10 can manually configure the entire system 10 in an appropriate manner Alternatively or additionally, an external computing device may be connected with the respective configuration module 48 via the interface 54.

[0109] Generally, the system 10 comprises a converter 56 for converting a digital signal into an optical signal or vice versa. Thus, optical signals may also be processed in an appropriate manner by the system 10, wherein the optical signals are converted into digital data for transmission via the data transmission network 28.

[0110] The first and/or second devices 12, 14 may be configured for satellite communication, under water communication and/or assigned to a converter 58 that is configured to convert acoustic waves in current and/or voltage or vice versa as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the entire system 10 may be used for a satellite communication since the respective signals are transmitted to and/or received from satellites. Moreover, the respective system 10 may also be configured to be operated under water since the respective antenna may be associated with at least one of the devices 12, 14.

[0111] Generally, the system 10, for example the respective protocol converters 18, 20, is configured to convert a protocol for synchronous data transmission into a protocol for asynchronous data transmission or vice versa. In some embodiments both protocol converters 18, 20 are configured to convert the respective protocol correspondingly.

[0112] The system 10 also has at least one discrete input and/or output. In some embodiments, the respective discrete input and/or output is assigned to at least one of the respective device(s) 12, 14, such that discrete signals may be used for transmission purposes.

[0113] Generally, the system 10 ensures a flexible connection between the transmission side and the reception side within a single participant 16 like a ship as shown in FIG. 1.

[0114] The system 10 does not require a rewiring in order to transmit different data since all transmission devices 12, namely the first devices, are connected with the first protocol converter 18 that converts the respective input signals into data associated with the transmission control protocol (TCP), thereby generating data packets, in order to transmit the respective payload associated with the input signals via the Internet Protocol network, namely the data transmission network 26.

[0115] The second protocol converter 18 re-converts the data packets received that are associated with the transmission control protocol (TCP) into the respective protocol(s) used by the reception devices 14 for further processing, namely the second devices.

[0116] Therefore, a simple and cost-efficient way is provided to use several different devices 12, 14 for data transmission in a flexible manner

[0117] Certain embodiments disclosed herein, for example the respective configuration module(s), processing modules, control units, TCP units, controllers, etc., utilize circuitry (e.g., one or more circuits) in order to implement standards, protocols, methodologies or technologies disclosed herein, operably couple two or more components, generate information, process information, analyze information, generate signals, encode/decode signals, convert signals, transmit and/or receive signals, control other devices, etc. Circuitry of any type can be used. It will be appreciated that the term “information” can be use synonymously with the term “signals” in this paragraph. It will be further appreciated that the terms “circuitry,” “circuit,” “one or more circuits,” etc., can be used synonymously herein.

[0118] In an embodiment, circuitry includes, among other things, one or more computing devices such as a processor (e.g., a microprocessor), a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a system on a chip (SoC), or the like, or any combinations thereof, and can include discrete digital or analog circuit elements or electronics, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, circuitry includes hardware circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog circuitry, implementations in digital circuitry, and the like, and combinations thereof).

[0119] In an embodiment, circuitry includes combinations of circuits and computer program products having software or firmware instructions stored on one or more computer readable memories that work together to cause a device to perform one or more protocols, methodologies or technologies described herein. In an embodiment, circuitry includes circuits, such as, for example, microprocessors or portions of microprocessor, that require software, firmware, and the like for operation. In an embodiment, circuitry includes an implementation comprising one or more processors or portions thereof and accompanying software, firmware, hardware, and the like.

[0120] In some examples, the functionality described herein can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems or circuits, etc., or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0121] Of course, in some embodiments, two or more of these components, or parts thereof, can be integrated or share hardware and/or software, circuitry, etc. In some embodiments, these components, or parts thereof, may be grouped in a single location or distributed over a wide area. In circumstances were the components are distributed, the components are accessible to each other via communication links.

[0122] The present application may reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about”, “approximately”, “near” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value.

[0123] The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.