Method and gateway for extending EtherCAT network

A method and a gateway for extending a network are disclosed. A method by which a gateway extends an EtherCAT network to a wireless network according to an embodiment of the invention includes: receiving first data from the EtherCAT network and converting the first data by a protocol conversion to second data suitable for the wireless network, and transmitting the converted second data to the wireless network, where the transmitting of the converted second data may include reducing the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network by using an internal buffer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0103612, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Aug. 30, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a method and a gateway for extending an EtherCAT network, more particularly to a method and a gateway for extending an EtherCAT network to a wireless network.

RELATED ART

EtherCAT, developed by Beckhoff Automation of Germany, is a fieldbus system based on EtherNet and is defined in IEC (International Electro-technical Commission) 61158.

A conventional fieldbus is difficult to extend to the I/O level, and since the communication speed, physical layer, and hardware of each fieldbus is different, there may be problems in extending, maintaining or repairing existing systems.

EtherCAT, which was proposed to overcome such problems, is operated based on a master-slave scheme similar to a conventional fieldbus, and can employ EtherNet cables as is. Thus, EtherCAT makes it possible to integrate upper level systems to lower level systems more easily and with less cost compared to a conventional fieldbus, as well as to provide very high speeds (256 Digital I/O Input: 11 μs, 200 Analog I/O (16 bit): 50 μs) and support various topologies.

However, although the EtherCAT fieldbus technology described above may show superior performance in a wired environment, there may be space constraints caused by the use of cables and problems in simplifying the device controller, etc., and as such, there is a need for extending the EtherCAT network to wireless networks.

SUMMARY

To resolve the problems in the related art described above, an aspect of the invention aims to extend the EtherCAT network to wireless networks.

To achieve the above objective, an embodiment of the invention provides a method by which a gateway extends an EtherCAT network to a wireless network. The method includes: receiving first data from the EtherCAT network and converting the first data by a protocol conversion to second data suitable for the wireless network, and transmitting the converted second data to the wireless network, where the transmitting of the converted second data may include reducing the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network by using an internal buffer.

In an embodiment of the invention, converting the first data to the second data may include fragmenting the first data.

Also, in an embodiment of the invention, the method of extending the network may further include receiving third data from the wireless network and converting the third data by a protocol conversion to fourth data suitable for the EtherCAT network, and transmitting the converted fourth data to the EtherCAT network, where transmitting the converted fourth data may include reducing the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network by using an internal buffer.

To achieve the objective above, an embodiment of the invention provides a gateway for extending an EtherCAT network to a wireless network. The gateway includes: a protocol conversion unit configured to convert first data, which is received from the EtherCAT network, by a protocol conversion to second data suitable for the wireless network, and a data transmission unit configured to transmit the converted second data to the wireless network, where the data transmission unit may reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network by using an internal buffer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the protocol conversion unit may convert the first data to the second data by fragmenting the first data.

Also, in an embodiment of the invention, the protocol conversion unit may convert third data, which is received from the wireless network, by a protocol conversion to fourth data suitable for the EtherCAT network, and the data transmission unit may transmit the converted fourth data to the EtherCAT network.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an EtherCAT network can be extended to a wireless network.

Also, the problems that may otherwise occur in a wired environment when applying EtherCAT fieldbus technology, such as space constraints caused by the use of cables and problems in simplifying the device controller, etc., can be resolved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention can be implemented in various different forms and are not to be limited to the embodiments described herein.

In order to clearly describe the invention, the drawings may have certain parts omitted if they have little bearing with the descriptions. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals are used for like parts.

Throughout the specification, reference to a certain part being “connected” to another part is intended to mean not only being “directly connected” but also being “indirectly connected” with other elements positioned in-between.

Also, when a part is referred to as “including” a component, this is intended to mean that other additional components may exist and is not intended to exclude other components unless specifically indicated otherwise.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1illustrates a structure for extending an EtherCAT network according to an embodiment of the invention.

A gateway100,200based on an embodiment of the invention can be added as a wired or wireless network to an existing wired fieldbus network.

The gateways100,200based on an embodiment of the invention can operate as coupling devices, as illustrated inFIG. 1, to connect wired/wireless networks that use different OSI layers.

Here, an EtherCAT network can use the IEEE 802.3 standard, while a wireless network can use the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

FIG. 2is a flow diagram for an EtherCAT network extension protocol according to an embodiment of the invention.

The EtherCAT network can be composed of a master and a slave. In order to implement a wireless extension between slaves or between the master and a slave of the EtherCAT network, a gateway100,200based on an embodiment of the invention can convert the protocol of the EtherCAT network into the protocol of the wireless network or convert the protocol of the wireless network into the protocol of the EtherCAT network.

That is, the gateway100,200may serve to suitably convert the data transmitted from the data link layer of the EtherCAT network and transmit it to the application layer, and convert the data transmitted from the application layer by a protocol conversion such that it is suitable for each network and transmit it to the data link layer, thus performing the role of a coupling device in the network.

Here, the gateway100,200can fragment the data of the EtherCAT network to resolve problems resulting from the difference in data frame sizes between different networks and can use an internal buffer to overcome the difference in communication speed between IEEE 802.3, the transmission scheme used by EtherCAT networks, and IEEE 802.15.4, the transmission scheme used by wireless networks.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating the composition of gateways according to an embodiment of the invention.

A first gateway100according to an embodiment of the invention can include a first protocol conversion unit110, a first internal buffer120, and a first data transmission unit130.

Looking at each component, the first protocol conversion unit110can convert the data received from the EtherCAT network (hereinafter referred to as “first data”) by a protocol conversion into data that is suitable for the wireless network (hereinafter referred to as “second data”).

Here, the first protocol conversion unit110can fragment the data of the EtherCAT network to resolve problems resulting from the difference in data frame sizes between different networks.

The first internal buffer120can temporarily store the first data or second data to reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network.

The second data that has been converted at the first protocol conversion unit110can be transmitted by the first data transmission unit130to the wireless network. Here, the first internal buffer120can be used to reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network.

A second gateway200according to another embodiment of the invention can include a second protocol conversion unit210, a second internal buffer220, and a second data transmission unit230.

Looking at each component, the second protocol conversion unit210can convert third data received from the wireless network to fourth data that is suitable for the wireless network.

Here, the second protocol conversion unit210can fragment the data of the wireless network to resolve problems resulting from the difference in data frame sizes between different networks.

The second internal buffer220can temporarily store the third data or fourth data to reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network.

The fourth data that has been converted at the second protocol conversion unit210can be transmitted by the second data transmission unit230to the EtherCAT network. Here, the second internal buffer220can be used to reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network.

For the sake of convenience, the gateway100,200based on an embodiment of the invention was described above as including a first gateway100and a second gateway200, where the first gateway100converts first data into second data and transmits it to the wireless network, while the second gateway200converts third data into fourth data and transmits it to the EtherCAT network, so that the first gateway100and the second gateway200each serve as a coupling device in the network.

However, this is merely one example, and it is also possible to have one gateway300perform the operations of both the first gateway100and the second gateway200to serve as a coupling device in the network.

That is, a gateway300based on an embodiment of the invention can include a protocol conversion unit310, an internal buffer320, and a data transmission unit330, with the protocol conversion unit310performing the operations of both the first protocol conversion unit110and the second protocol conversion unit210, and with the data transmission unit330performing the operations of both the first data transmission unit130and the second data transmission unit230, where multiple gateways300can serve as coupling devices in the network.

FIG. 4is a flowchart illustrating the procedures for extending an EtherCAT network according to an embodiment of the invention.

The description of the procedures is provided for the case in which the gateway300ofFIG. 3performs the procedures.

First, the gateway300may receive the first data from the EtherCAT network (S401).

After operation S401, the gateway300may convert the received first data via a protocol conversion into second data that is suitable for the wireless network (S402).

Here, the gateway300can fragment the first data and thus resolve problems resulting from the difference in data frame sizes between different networks.

After operation S402, the gateway300may transmit the converted second data to the wireless network (S403).

Here, the gateway300can reduce the difference in communication speed between the EtherCAT network and the wireless network by using an internal buffer.

The description of the present invention provided above is for illustrative purposes, and those having ordinary skill in the field of art to which the present invention pertains would understand that numerous variations can be easily implemented in different specific forms without departing from the technical spirit or the essential characteristics of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments of the invention disclosed above are for illustrative purposes in all aspects and do not limit the invention to certain forms.

For example, a component referred to in the singular can in practice be implemented in a dispersed form, and likewise components referred to as separate parts can in practice be implemented in an integrated form.

The scope of the invention is to be defined by the scope of the appended claims. The meaning and scope of the claims as well as all modifications and variations derived from their equivalents are encompassed in the scope of the present invention.