Networking for Embedded
Systems
Why we use networks.
Network abstractions.
Example networks.
Network elements
distributed computing platform:
PE
PE
communication link
network
PE
PEs may be CPUs or ASICs.
Networks in embedded
systems
initial processing
more processing
PE sensor
PE
PE actuator
Why distributed?
Higher performance at lower cost.
Physically distributed activities---time
constants may not allow transmission to
central site.
Improved debugging---use one CPU in
network to debug others.
May buy subsystems that have embedded
processors.
Network abstractions
International Standards Organization
(ISO) developed the Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI) model to describe
networks:
7-layer model.
Provides a standard way to classify
network components and operations.
OSI model
application end-use interface
presentation data format
session application dialog control
transport connections
network end-to-end service
data link reliable data transport
physical mechanical, electrical
OSI layers
Physical: connectors, bit formats, etc.
Data link: error detection and control
across a single link (single hop).
Network: end-to-end multi-hop data
communication.
Transport: provides connections; may
optimize network resources.
OSI layers, cont’d.
Session: services for end-user
applications: data grouping,
checkpointing, etc.
Presentation: data formats,
transformation services.
Application: interface between network
and end-user programs.
Hardware architectures
Many different types of networks:
topology;
scheduling of communication;
routing.
Point-to-point networks
One source, one or more destinations, no
data switching (serial port):
PE 1 PE 2 PE 3
link 1 link 2
Bus networks
Common physical connection:
PE 1 PE 2 PE 3 PE 4
header address data ECC packet format
Bus arbitration
Fixed: Same order of resolution every
time.
Fair: every PE has same access over long
periods.
round-robin: rotate top priority among Pes.
fixed A B C A B C
round-robin
A B C B C A
A,B,C A,B,C
Crossbar
out4
out3
out2
out1
in1 in2 in3 in4
Crossbar characteristics
Non-blocking.
Can handle arbitrary multi-cast
combinations.
Size proportional to n2.
Multi-stage networks
Use several stages of switching elements.
Often blocking.
Often smaller than crossbar.
Message-based
programming
Transport layer provides message-based
programming interface:
send_msg(adrs,data1);
Data must be broken into packets at
source, reassembled at destination.
Data-push programming: make things
happen in network based on data
transfers.
I2C bus
Designed for low-cost, medium data rate
applications.
Characteristics:
serial;
multiple-master;
fixed-priority arbitration.
Several microcontrollers come with built-in
I2C controllers.
I2C physical layer
master 1 master 2
data line
SDL
clock line
SCL
slave 1 slave 2
I2C data format
SCL ... ...
SDL ...
start MSB ack
I2C electrical interface
Open collector interface: +
SDL
+
SCL
I2C signaling
Sender pulls down bus for 0.
Sender listens to bus---if it tried to send a
1 and heard a 0, someone else is
simultaneously transmitting.
Transmissions occur in 8-bit bytes.
I2C data link layer
Every device has an address (7 bits in
standard, 10 bits in extension).
Bit 8 of address signals read or write.
General call address allows broadcast.
I2C bus arbitration
Sender listens while sending address.
When sender hears a conflict, if its
address is higher, it stops signaling.
Low-priority senders relinquish control
early enough in clock cycle to allow bit to
be transmitted reliably.
I2C transmissions
multi-byte write
S adrs 0 data data P
read from slave
S adrs 1 data P
write, then read
S adrs 0 data S adrs 1 data P
Ethernet
Dominant non-telephone LAN.
Versions: 10 Mb/s, 100 Mb/s, 1 Gb/s
Goal: reliable communication over an
unreliable medium.
Ethernet topology
Bus-based system, several possible
physical layers:
A B C
CSMA/CD
Carrier sense multiple access with collision
detection:
sense collisions;
exponentially back off in time;
retransmit.
Exponential back-off times
time
Ethernet packet format
start source dest data
preamble length padding CRC
frame adrs adrs payload
Ethernet performance
Quality-of-service tends to non-linearly
decrease at high load levels.
Can’t guarantee real-time deadlines.
However, may provide very good service
at proper load levels.
Fieldbus
Used for industrial control and
instrumentation---factories, etc.
H1 standard based on 31.25 MB/s twisted
pair medium.
High Speed Ethernet (HSE) standard
based on 100 Mb/s Ethernet.
