WO2024246977A1 - Transmission device, reception device, communication system, transmission method, reception method, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

A transmission device (100) comprises: a computer (120) including a calculation unit (121) that performs a calculation on an input signal to produce first data, and a checksum calculation unit (122) that performs a calculation on the first data to produce a first checksum; a computer (130) including a calculation unit (131) that performs a calculation on the input signal to produce second data; and a transmission unit (160) that transmits the first checksum and the second data to a reception device (200).

Description

Transmitting device, receiving device, communication system, transmitting method, receiving method, and communication method

This disclosure relates to a transmitting device for transmitting data, a receiving device, a communication system, a transmitting method, a receiving method, and a communication method.

　Traditionally, computer systems that handle important data have been configured to duplicate the computers and compare the results of each computer so that if any hardware failure occurs in one computer, the effect of the failure will not affect the output from the computer. The computer system compares the results of each computer and only adopts the result obtained by the computer if the results match. One method for comparing the results of each computer is to compare the results of each computer bit by bit, but when comparing bit by bit, the circuit scale increases as the amount of data increases.

In response to this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which, in a system equipped with two counters, a parity generator outputs a parity bit signal corresponding to the logical state of each output from one of the counters, and a parity check circuit performs parity verification between the output from the other counter and the parity bit signal, thereby simplifying the circuitry and comparing the outputs from the two counters.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-95155

However, with the above conventional technology, although the counter is duplicated, there is a problem in that a single failure in the parity check circuit may result in an incorrect output from the counter being used.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a transmitting device capable of transmitting, to a receiving device, information that allows easy detection of defects in duplicated data calculations that occur in the transmitting device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the transmitting device of the present disclosure is characterized by comprising a first computer having a first calculation unit that performs calculations on an input signal to calculate first data and a first checksum calculation unit that performs calculations on the first data to calculate a first checksum, a second computer having a second calculation unit that performs calculations on the input signal to calculate second data, and a transmitting unit that transmits the first checksum and the second data to a receiving device.

The transmitting device disclosed herein has the advantage of being able to transmit to the receiving device information that can easily detect defects in duplicated data calculations that occur in the transmitting device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to a first embodiment; A flowchart showing the operation of the transmitting device according to the first embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a processing circuit in a transmission device according to a first embodiment when the processing circuit is realized by a processor and a memory. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a processing circuit in a transmission device according to a first embodiment when the processing circuit is realized by dedicated hardware; FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a communication system according to a second embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of a transmitting device according to a second embodiment. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of a receiving device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to a third embodiment; A flowchart showing the operation of a transmitting device according to a third embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of a receiving device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system according to a fourth embodiment; A flowchart showing the operation of a transmitting device according to a fourth embodiment. A flowchart showing the operation of a receiving device according to a fourth embodiment.

Below, a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication system, a transmitting method, a receiving method, and a communication method according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.
1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system 300 according to the first embodiment. The communication system 300 includes a transmitting device 100 and a receiving device 200. The communication system 300 is a system used in, for example, a train safety device, and is assumed to be used for ground-to-car communication between a train and a ground facility, communication between ground facilities, etc., but the uses of the communication system 300 are not limited thereto.

First, the configuration and operation of the transmitting device 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the transmitting device 100 includes a branching unit 110, a computer 120, a computer 130, a coupling unit 150, and a transmitting unit 160. The computer 120 includes a calculation unit 121, a checksum calculation unit 122, and a timing adjustment interface 123. The computer 130 includes a calculation unit 131. Note that the timing adjustment interface 123 is provided in the computer 120, but is an interface used between the computers 120 and 130 as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the timing adjustment interface 123 may be provided in the computer 130, or may be provided in both the computers 120 and 130. The timing adjustment interface 123 may be external to the computers 120 and 130. As described below, the transmitting device 100 has a configuration in which two computers 120 and 130 perform calculations on the same input signal, i.e., the computers are duplicated. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmitting device 100 according to the first embodiment.

The branching unit 110 branches an input signal to be calculated by the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 and the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 (step S101). The branching unit 110 outputs one of the input signals obtained by branching to the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120, and outputs the other input signal obtained by branching to the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130. The branching unit 110 may duplicate the acquired input signal and output the input signal to the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 and the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130. The input signal may be generated inside the transmitting device 100 or outside the transmitting device 100.

In the computer 120, the calculation unit 121 is a first calculation unit that performs a specified calculation on an input signal to calculate first data (step S102) and outputs the first data to the checksum calculation unit 122. The checksum calculation unit 122 is a first checksum calculation unit that performs a specified calculation on the first data to calculate a first checksum (step S103) and outputs the first checksum to the combining unit 150. The first checksum is one type of error detection code, and is calculated by a general calculation. The same applies to the second checksum described below. In the following explanation, the computer 120 may be referred to as the first computer.

In the computer 130, the calculation unit 131 is a second calculation unit that performs a specified calculation on the input signal to calculate second data (step S104) and outputs the second data to the combining unit 150. Here, the calculation method of the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 and the calculation method of the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 are the same. In other words, when the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 and the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 both perform calculations normally, the first data and the second data calculated from the same input signal will be the same value. In the following explanation, the computer 130 may be referred to as the second computer.

Computer 120 outputs a signal for adjusting timing to the other computer 130 via timing adjustment interface 123, and adjusts the timing at which checksum calculation unit 122 of computer 120 outputs the first checksum to combination unit 150 and the timing at which calculation unit 131 of computer 130 outputs the second data to combination unit 150 (step S105). Specifically, computers 120 and 130 output timing messages to each other immediately before checksum calculation unit 122 of computer 120 outputs the first checksum to combination unit 150 and immediately before calculation unit 131 of computer 130 outputs the second data to combination unit 150, and after confirming receipt of a timing message from the other computer, adjust the output timing of checksum calculation unit 122 of computer 120 and calculation unit 131 of computer 130 so that they are the same or within a specified time difference range. In this way, the computers 120 and 130 use the timing adjustment interface 123 to adjust the timing at which the checksum calculation unit 122 outputs the first checksum and the timing at which the calculation unit 131 outputs the second data.

The checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 outputs the first checksum to the combining unit 150 according to the timing adjusted by the timing message (step S106). The calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 outputs the second data to the combining unit 150 according to the timing of the timing message output from the timing adjustment interface 123 (step S107).

The combining unit 150 combines the first checksum output from the checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 with the second data output from the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 (step S108). The combining unit 150 outputs the combined first checksum and second data to the transmitting unit 160. The combining unit 150 combines the first checksum and the second data, assuming that the first checksum arriving from the checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 and the second data arriving from the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 are based on the same input signal, either within the same time difference range or within a specified time difference range. If the combining unit 150 is unable to obtain the first checksum and the second data within the specified time difference range, it may notify the user of the transmitting device 100 of this fact.

The transmitting unit 160 transmits the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200 (step S109). In the first embodiment, the transmitting unit 160 transmits the first checksum and the second data combined by the combining unit 150 to the receiving device 200. For example, if the first data and the second data calculated by the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 and the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 are [0xc0 0xA8 0xFF 0x58] and the first checksum calculated by the checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 is [0xBF], the combined first checksum and second data transmitted from the transmitting unit 160 will be [0xc0 0xA8 0xFF 0x58 0xBF]. Note that here, the combined first checksum and second data are arranged in the order of the second data and the first checksum, but as long as the order is known between the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200, the order may be the first checksum and the second data.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiving device 200 includes a receiving unit 210, a checksum calculation unit 220, and a comparison unit 230. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device 200 according to the first embodiment.

The receiving unit 210 receives the first checksum calculated from the first data and the second data transmitted from the transmitting device 100 (step S201). In the first embodiment, the receiving unit 210 receives the combined first checksum and second data from the transmitting device 100. The receiving unit 210 divides the received first checksum and second data, outputs the first checksum to the comparing unit 230, and outputs the second data to the checksum calculation unit 220. Note that the receiving unit 210 may not divide the first checksum and second data, but may output them to the checksum calculation unit 220 in a combined state.

The checksum calculation unit 220 is a second checksum calculation unit that performs a specified calculation on the second data acquired from the receiving unit 210 to calculate a second checksum (step S202). Here, the calculation method of the checksum calculation unit 122 provided in the transmitting device 100 and the checksum calculation method of the checksum calculation unit 220 provided in the receiving device 200 are the same. In other words, if the first data input to the checksum calculation unit 122 of the transmitting device 100 and the second data input to the checksum calculation unit 220 of the receiving device 200 are the same, and both the checksum calculation unit 122 of the transmitting device 100 and the checksum calculation unit 220 of the receiving device 200 perform normal calculations, the calculated first checksum and second checksum will be the same value. The checksum calculation unit 220 outputs the second data acquired from the receiving unit 210 to the comparison unit 230 together with the calculated second checksum. If the checksum calculation unit 220 also receives the first checksum from the receiving unit 210, it outputs the first checksum and the second data received from the receiving unit 210 to the comparison unit 230 along with the calculated second checksum.

The comparison unit 230 compares the first checksum with the second checksum. If the first checksum and the second checksum match (step S203: Yes), the comparison unit 230 adopts the second data (step S204). The comparison unit 230 may output the second data to another component (not shown) inside the receiving device 200, or may output the second data to the outside of the receiving device 200. If the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S203: No), the comparison unit 230 notifies the user of the receiving device 200 or the like that the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S205).

Here, let us assume that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the transmitting device 100. For example, if the calculation unit 121 of the transmitting device 100 has malfunctioned, the calculation unit 121 will not be able to calculate accurate first data. Even if the checksum calculation unit 122 is not malfunctioning, it will use inaccurate first data and will not be able to calculate a first checksum for the original accurate first data. Therefore, the comparison unit 230 of the receiving device 200 will be able to determine that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the transmitting device 100, since the first checksum and the second checksum do not match. The same applies if the checksum calculation unit 122 of the transmitting device 100 has malfunctioned.

Furthermore, if the calculation unit 131 of the transmitting device 100 fails, the calculation unit 131 cannot calculate accurate second data. The checksum calculation unit 220 of the receiving device 200 uses the inaccurate second data, and therefore cannot calculate a second checksum for the original accurate second data. Therefore, the comparison unit 230 of the receiving device 200 can determine that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the transmitting device 100, since the first checksum and the second checksum do not match.

If the combining unit 150 of the transmitting device 100 fails, the transmitting unit 160 can detect that the data is inaccurate by performing a checksum calculation similar to that of the receiving device 200, and the transmitting device 100 can determine that some kind of problem has occurred in the received data. Therefore, if the combining unit 150 fails, inaccurate data caused by the failure of the combining unit 150 will not be sent from the transmitting unit 160 of the transmitting device 100 to the receiving device 200.

In this way, the receiving device 200 can easily detect a defect in the duplicated data calculation that has occurred in the transmitting device 100 by using the information received from the transmitting device 100. In other words, it can be said that the transmitting device 100 can transmit information to the receiving device 200 that can easily detect a defect in the duplicated data calculation that has occurred in the transmitting device 100. Note that a cause of the first checksum and the second checksum not matching may be a malfunction of the checksum calculation unit 220 of the receiving device 200 that causes the checksum calculation unit 220 to be unable to calculate an accurate second checksum. Therefore, the comparison unit 230 of the receiving device 200 may determine that some defect has occurred in the transmitting device 100 or the receiving device 200 when the first checksum and the second checksum do not match. However, considering the complexity of the operations of the transmitting device 100 and the receiving device 200, it is considered that the probability of a defect occurring is higher in the transmitting device 100 than in the receiving device 200.

Next, the hardware configuration of the transmitting device 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the transmitting device 100, the transmitting unit 160 is a transmitter capable of transmitting the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200. The branching unit 110, the computers 120 and 130, and the combining unit 150 are realized by processing circuits. The processing circuit may be a memory that stores a program and a processor that executes the program stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware. The processing circuit is also called a control circuit.

4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing circuit 900 in the case where the processing circuit of the transmission device 100 according to the first embodiment is realized by a processor 901 and a memory 902. The processing circuit 900 shown in FIG. 4 is a control circuit and includes a processor 901 and a memory 902. When the processing circuit 900 is configured with the processor 901 and the memory 902, each function of the processing circuit 900 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is described as a program and stored in the memory 902. In the processing circuit 900, each function is realized by the processor 901 reading and executing the program stored in the memory 902. That is, the processing circuit 900 includes a memory 902 for storing a program that will result in the processing of the transmission device 100 being executed. This program can also be said to be a program for causing the transmission device 100 to execute each function realized by the processing circuit 900. This program may be provided by a storage medium in which the program is stored, or may be provided by other means such as a communication medium.

The above program can also be said to be a program that causes the transmitting device 100 to execute a first calculation step in which the calculation unit 121 of the computer 120 performs a calculation on the input signal to calculate first data, a first checksum calculation step in which the checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 performs a calculation on the first data to calculate a first checksum, a second calculation step in which the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 performs a calculation on the input signal to calculate second data, and a transmission step in which the transmission unit 160 transmits the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200.

Here, the processor 901 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The memory 902 is, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically EPROM), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the processing circuit 903 in the transmitting device 100 according to the first embodiment when the processing circuit is realized by dedicated hardware. The processing circuit 903 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination of these. The processing circuit 903 may be partially realized by dedicated hardware and partially realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit 903 can realize each of the above-mentioned functions by dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination of these.

The hardware configuration of the transmitting device 100 has been described, but the hardware configuration of the receiving device 200 is also similar. In the receiving device 200, the receiving unit 210 is a receiver capable of receiving the first checksum and the second data from the transmitting device 100. The checksum calculation unit 220 and the comparison unit 230 are realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be a memory that stores a program and a processor that executes the program stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the communication system 300, for the same input signal, the transmitting device 100 has the calculator 120 calculate the first data, calculate the first checksum for the first data, and calculate the second data, and combine the first checksum and the second data and transmit them to the receiving device 200. The receiving device 200 calculates the second checksum for the second data, and adopts the second data if the first checksum and the second checksum match. If the first checksum and the second checksum do not match, the receiving device 200 can determine that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the transmitting device 100. In other words, the transmitting device 100 can transmit to the receiving device 200 information that can easily detect a malfunction in the duplicated data calculation that has occurred in the transmitting device 100.

Embodiment 2.
In the first embodiment, the transmitting device 100 combines the first checksum and the second data and transmits them to the receiving device 200. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the transmitting device transmits the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200 without combining them.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system 300a according to the second embodiment. The communication system 300a includes a transmitting device 100a and a receiving device 200. The use of the communication system 300a is similar to that of the communication system 300 according to the first embodiment.

First, the configuration and operation of the transmitting device 100a will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the transmitting device 100a is obtained by adding an identification information generating unit 141 in each of the computers 120 and 130 to the transmitting device 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 120 is a first identification information generating unit that generates identification information for the first data. The identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 130 is a second identification information generating unit that generates identification information for the second data. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmitting device 100a according to the second embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the operations of steps S101, S102, and S104 are the same as the operations of steps S101, S102, and S104 in the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

The identification information generating unit 141 of the computers 120 and 130 generates identification information for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal (step S111). Here, the identification information is generated by, for example, the identification information generating unit 141 of each computer 120 and 130 incrementing an integer by one for each input signal. When generating identification information in this manner, the computers 120 and 130 do not require timing adjustment by the timing adjustment interface 123. Alternatively, each computer 120 and 130 can output an integer generated by itself to the other computer in a timing message and generate identification information by adding the value generated by itself and the value transmitted from the other computer. Here, each computer 120 and 130 may generate an "integer generated by itself" by incrementing it by one, or may generate a randomly generated value. Furthermore, the method of combining the integer generated by the computer and the integer generated by the other computer does not need to be limited to addition, and may be any of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, or may be other calculation formulas following a specific rule. The identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 120 generates the same identification information as the identification information generated by the identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 130, and outputs it to the checksum calculating unit 122 of the computer 120. The identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 130 generates the same identification information as the identification information generated by the identification information generating unit 141 of the computer 120, and outputs it to the calculating unit 131 of the computer 130. Although omitted in Fig. 6, the identification information generating units 141 of the computers 120 and 130 may generate identification information after obtaining information on branching of the input signal from the branching unit 110, and output the identification information to the checksum calculating unit 122 of the computer 120 and the calculating unit 131 of the computer 130. In this way, the identification information generation unit 141 of the computer 120 and the identification information generation unit 141 of the computer 130 generate identification information using a specified generation method so that the same identification information is generated for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal.

The checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120 adds the identification information obtained from the identification information generation unit 141 to the first data calculated by the calculation unit 121 to calculate a first checksum, and outputs the first checksum to the transmission unit 160 (step S112). The calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 also adds the identification information obtained from the identification information generation unit 141 to the calculated second data, and outputs the second data to the transmission unit 160 (step S113).

The transmitting unit 160 transmits to the receiving device 200 a first checksum calculated from the first data to which identification information has been added, which has been obtained from the checksum calculation unit 122 of the computer 120. The transmitting unit 160 also transmits to the receiving device 200 the second data to which identification information has been added, which has been obtained from the calculation unit 131 of the computer 130 (step S114). The transmitting unit 160 may transmit the first checksum to the receiving device 200 at the same time or at different times to the second data to the receiving device 200.

In the first embodiment, the transmitting device 100 combines the first checksum and the second data based on the same input signal and transmits the combined data to the receiving device 200, thereby allowing the receiving device 200 to ascertain the combination of the first checksum and the second data based on the same input signal. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the transmitting device 100a transmits to the receiving device 200 a first checksum calculated by adding identification information to the first data based on the same input signal and the second data to which the identification information has been added, thereby allowing the receiving device 200 to ascertain the combination of the first checksum and the second data based on the same input signal.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the configuration of the receiving device 200 is the same as the configuration of the receiving device 200 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device 200 of the second embodiment.

If the receiving unit 210 has not received the first checksum and the second data from the transmitting device 100a (step S211: No), it waits until it receives the first checksum and the second data. If the receiving unit 210 has received the first checksum and the second data from the transmitting device 100a (step S211: Yes), it outputs the first checksum to the comparing unit 230 and outputs the second data to the checksum calculating unit 220.

The checksum calculation unit 220 calculates a second checksum by performing a prescribed calculation on the second data acquired from the receiving unit 210 (step S202). At this time, since the second data is assigned with identification information, the checksum calculation unit 220 calculates the second checksum by performing a calculation on the second data to which the identification information is assigned. In the second embodiment, the calculation method of the checksum calculation unit 220 is the same as the calculation method of the checksum calculation unit 122 of the transmitting device 100a in the second embodiment. The checksum calculation unit 220 outputs the second data acquired from the receiving unit 210 together with the calculated second checksum to the comparison unit 230. Note that if the checksum calculation unit 220 has also acquired the first checksum from the receiving unit 210, it outputs the first checksum and the second data acquired from the receiving unit 210 together with the calculated second checksum to the comparison unit 230.

The comparison unit 230 compares the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the same identification information as that given to the second data has been given, with the second checksum. If the first checksum and the second checksum match (step S203: Yes), the comparison unit 230 adopts the second data (step S204). In the second embodiment, the first checksum is calculated by including the identification information in the first data, and the second checksum is calculated by including the identification information in the second data. The first data and the second data are calculated from the same input signal, and the identification information is the same. Therefore, if the first checksum and the second checksum match, all calculations have been performed normally in the transmitting device 100a and the checksum calculation unit 220. The comparison unit 230 deletes the identification information given to the second data, and may output the second data to another configuration (not shown) inside the receiving device 200, or may output the second data to the outside of the receiving device 200. If the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S203: No), the comparison unit 230 notifies the user of the receiving device 200 or the like that the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S205).

The hardware configuration of the transmitting device 100a will now be described. In the transmitting device 100a, the identification information generating unit 141 is realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be a memory that stores a program and a processor that executes the program stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the communication system 300a, the transmitting device 100a transmits to the receiving device 200 separately the first checksum calculated from the first data to which identification information has been added, and the second data to which the same identification information as the identification information added to the first data has been added. Even in this case, the communication system 300a can obtain the same effect as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3.
In the first embodiment, the transmitting device 100 transmits the first checksum and the second data based on a certain input signal once to the receiving device 200. In the third embodiment, a case will be described in which the transmitting device transmits the first checksum and the second data based on a certain input signal to the receiving device 200 multiple times, i.e., continuously.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system 300b according to the third embodiment. The communication system 300b includes a transmitting device 100b and a receiving device 200. The use of the communication system 300b is similar to that of the communication system 300 according to the first embodiment.

First, the configuration and operation of the transmission device 100b will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the transmission device 100b is obtained by adding a copy serial number assignment unit 111 to each of the computers 120 and 130 of the transmission device 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The copy serial number assignment unit 111 of the computer 120 is a first copy serial number assignment unit that copies an input signal, assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal, and outputs the copied input signal to the calculation unit 121. The copy serial number assignment unit 111 of the computer 130 is a second copy serial number assignment unit that copies an input signal, assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal, and outputs the copied input signal to the calculation unit 131. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmission device 100b according to the third embodiment.

After the operation of step S101, the duplicate serial number assignment unit 111 of each computer 120, 130 duplicates the input signal acquired from the branch unit 110 and assigns a serial number to each of the obtained input signals (step S121). The duplicate serial number assignment unit 111 duplicates the input signal the number of times that the transmitting device 100b transmits the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200. For example, if the transmitting device 100b transmits the first checksum and the second data to the receiving device 200 five times, the duplicate serial number assignment unit 111 duplicates the input signal to prepare five copies and assigns a serial number to each input signal. The serial numbers for the five copies are, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. The copy serial number assignment unit 111 of the computer 120 outputs the input signal assigned with serial number 1, the input signal assigned with serial number 2, the input signal assigned with serial number 3, the input signal assigned with serial number 4, and the input signal assigned with serial number 5 to the calculation unit 121. Similarly, the copy serial number assignment unit 111 of the computer 130 outputs the input signal assigned with serial number 1, the input signal assigned with serial number 2, the input signal assigned with serial number 3, the input signal assigned with serial number 4, and the input signal assigned with serial number 5 to the calculation unit 131.

In the calculator 120, the calculation unit 121 performs a prescribed calculation on each of the duplicated input signals with different serial numbers to calculate first data (step S102), and outputs the first data to the checksum calculation unit 122. Here, the calculation unit 121 performs a calculation on five input signals that are the same input signal but have different serial numbers in the above example to calculate the first data, but performs the calculation including the serial numbers. Therefore, the five first data calculated by the calculation unit 121 for the five input signals will all be different values.

The checksum calculation unit 122 performs calculations on each of the multiple first data to calculate a first checksum (step S103). In the above example, the five first data are all different values, so the five first checksums calculated by the checksum calculation unit 122 for the five first data are all different values.

In the computer 130, the calculation unit 131 performs calculations on each of the duplicated input signals with different serial numbers to calculate the second data (step S104). Here, the calculation unit 131 performs calculations on five input signals that are the same input signal but have different serial numbers in the above example to calculate the second data, but the calculation is performed including the serial numbers. Therefore, the five second data calculated by the calculation unit 131 for the five input signals will all be different values. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the operation from step S105 to step S109 onwards is increased by the amount of operation of the transmitting device 100b because the input signals are duplicated, but the individual operations themselves are the same as the operations from step S105 to step S109 in the flowchart of embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 2.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the receiving device 200 is the same as the configuration of the receiving device 200 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device 200 of the third embodiment.

The receiving unit 210 receives the first checksum and the second data transmitted from the transmitting device 100b (step S201). In the above example, the receiving unit 210 receives the first checksum and the second data based on the same input signal five times, but the individual operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

When the input signal is duplicated in the transmitting device 100b and a different serial number is assigned to each input signal, the computer 120 calculates a first checksum for each of the duplicated input signals with different serial numbers, and the computer 130 calculates second data for each of the duplicated input signals with different serial numbers, the checksum calculation unit 220 calculates a second checksum by performing calculations on all of the second data based on the same input signal (step S202). In the above example, the five second data are all different values, so the five second checksums calculated by the checksum calculation unit 220 for the five second data are all different values.

The comparison unit 230 compares the first checksum and the second checksum for each serial number. If the first checksum and the second checksum all match (step S221: Yes), the comparison unit 230 adopts the second data (step S204). In the above example, five combinations of the first checksum and the second checksum are possible, so the comparison unit 230 compares the first checksum and the second checksum based on the same input signal five times, and adopts the second data if the first checksum and the second checksum match all five times. In the third embodiment, the transmission device 100b combines the first checksum and the second data and transmits them, so that each configuration of the reception device 200 can consider that the first checksum and the second data received in a combined state are based on the input signal of the same serial number. The comparison unit 230 compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and if there is even one combination in which the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S221: No), it notifies the user of the receiving device 200 or the like that the first checksum and the second checksum do not match (step S205).

The hardware configuration of the transmitting device 100b will now be described. In the transmitting device 100b, the copy serial number assignment unit 111 is realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be a memory that stores a program and a processor that executes the program stored in the memory, or it may be dedicated hardware.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in the communication system 300b, the transmitting device 100b copies one input signal, assigns a serial number to each input signal, and performs the same operation as the transmitting device 100 of embodiment 1 for each input signal assigned with a different serial number. The receiving device 200 compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and adopts the second data if all match. If there is even one combination in which the first checksum and the second checksum do not match, the receiving device 200 can determine that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the transmitting device 100b. In other words, the transmitting device 100b can transmit to the receiving device 200 information that can easily detect a malfunction in the duplicated data calculation that has occurred in the transmitting device 100b. In embodiment 3, the communication system 300b can improve the accuracy with which the receiving device 200 detects a malfunction in the transmitting device 100b compared to the accuracy with which the receiving device 200 detects a malfunction in the transmitting device 100 in embodiment 1.

In the third embodiment, a specific case has been described in which the transmitting device 100b continuously transmits the first checksum and the second data five times, but the number of continuous transmissions by the transmitting device 100b is not limited to this. The communication system 300b can appropriately increase or decrease the number of continuous transmissions by the transmitting device 100b depending on the number of bits of the first data and the second data, the degree to which errors are desired to be detected, etc. The same applies to the fourth embodiment described below.

Embodiment 4.
In the third embodiment, the first embodiment is taken as an example to describe a case in which the transmitting device 100b transmits, i.e., continuously transmits, a first checksum and second data based on a certain input signal to the receiving device 200 a plurality of times. In the fourth embodiment, the second embodiment is taken as an example to describe a case in which the transmitting device transmits, i.e., continuously transmits, a first checksum and second data based on a certain input signal to the receiving device 200 a plurality of times.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a communication system 300c according to the fourth embodiment. The communication system 300c includes a transmitting device 100c and a receiving device 200. The use of the communication system 300c is similar to that of the communication system 300 according to the first embodiment.

First, the configuration and operation of the transmitting device 100c will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the transmitting device 100c is obtained by adding a copy serial number assignment unit 111 to each of the computers 120 and 130 of the transmitting device 100a of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the transmitting device 100c according to the fourth embodiment. The flowchart of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 13 differs from the flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 in the operation of step S121, but the operation of step S121 is the same as the operation of step S121 in the flowchart of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, a detailed description will be omitted.

Next, the configuration and operation of the receiving device 200 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the configuration of the receiving device 200 is the same as the configuration of the receiving device 200 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device 200 according to the fourth embodiment. The flowchart of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 14 differs from the flowchart of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in the operation of step S221, but the operation of step S221 is the same as the operation of step S221 of the flowchart of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, detailed explanations will be omitted. In the fourth embodiment, the first checksum is calculated by including identification information in the first data based on the input signal to which a serial number is assigned, and the second checksum is calculated by including identification information in the second data based on the input signal to which a serial number is assigned. The first data and the second data are calculated from the same input signal to which the same serial number is assigned, and the identification information is the same. Therefore, if the first checksum and the second checksum all match, all calculations have been performed normally in the transmitting device 100c and the checksum calculation unit 220.

As described above, according to this embodiment, in communication system 300c, transmitting device 100c copies one input signal and assigns a serial number to each input signal, and performs the same operation as transmitting device 100a of embodiment 2 for each input signal assigned with a different serial number, that is, transmits to receiving device 200 separately a first checksum calculated from first data assigned with identification information, and second data assigned with identification information identical to the identification information assigned to the first data. Even in this case, communication system 300c can obtain the same effect as in embodiment 3.

The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, or the embodiments may be combined with each other. In addition, parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

100, 100a, 100b, 100c: transmitting device, 110: branching section, 111: duplicate serial number assignment section, 120, 130: computer, 121, 131: calculation section, 122, 220: checksum calculation section, 123: timing adjustment interface, 141: identification information generation section, 150: combining section, 160: transmitting section, 200: receiving device, 210: receiving section, 230: comparison section, 300, 300a, 300b, 300c: communication system, 900, 903: processing circuit, 901: processor, 902: memory.

Claims (22)

a first computer including a first calculation unit that performs a calculation on an input signal to calculate first data, and a first checksum calculation unit that performs a calculation on the first data to calculate a first checksum;
a second computer including a second calculation unit that performs a calculation on the input signal to calculate second data;
a transmitter that transmits the first checksum and the second data to a receiving device;
A transmitting device comprising: a combiner for combining the first checksum and the second data;
Equipped with
the first computer and the second computer adjust, using a timing adjustment interface, a timing at which the first checksum calculation unit outputs the first checksum and a timing at which the second calculation unit outputs the second data;
The transmitting unit transmits the first checksum and the second data combined by the combining unit to the receiving device.
2. The transmitting device according to claim 1 . the first computer includes a first identification information generation unit that generates identification information for the first data;
Equipped with
the second computer includes a second identification information generation unit that generates identification information for the second data;
Equipped with
the first identification information generation unit and the second identification information generation unit generate the identification information by a specified generation method so that the same identification information is generated for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal;
the first checksum calculation unit calculates and outputs the first checksum by adding the identification information to the first data calculated by the first calculation unit;
the second calculation unit assigns the identification information to the calculated second data and outputs the second data;
the transmitting unit transmits the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the identification information is added to the receiving device, and transmits the second data to which the identification information is added to the receiving device.
2. The transmitting device according to claim 1 . the first computer includes a first copy serial number assigning unit that assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal and outputs the input signals to the first calculation unit;
Equipped with
the second computer includes a second copy serial number assigning unit that assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal and outputs the input signal to the second calculation unit;
Equipped with
the first calculation unit calculates the first data by performing a calculation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers;
the first checksum calculation unit calculates the first checksum by performing calculation on each of the plurality of first data;
the second calculation unit performs a calculation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers to calculate the second data.
4. A transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device is a digital signal processing device. a receiving unit that receives a first checksum calculated from the first data and the second data transmitted from the transmitting device according to claim 1;
a second checksum calculation unit that calculates a second checksum by performing calculation on the second data;
a comparison unit that compares the first checksum with the second checksum and adopts the second data when the first checksum and the second checksum match;
A receiving device comprising: the second checksum calculation unit, when identification information is added to the second data, calculates the second checksum by performing calculation on the second data to which the identification information is added, and outputs the second checksum to the comparison unit;
the comparison unit compares the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the same identification information as the identification information assigned to the second data is assigned with the second checksum, and adopts the second data when the first checksum and the second checksum match.
6. The receiving device according to claim 5. the second checksum calculation unit, when an input signal is duplicated in the transmitting device and a serial number is assigned to each input signal, the first checksum is calculated for each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers in a first computer of the transmitting device, and the second data is calculated for each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers in a second computer of the transmitting device, calculates the second checksum by performing calculation on all of the second data based on the same input signal;
The comparison unit compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and adopts the second data when all checksums match.
7. The receiving device according to claim 5 or 6. a transmitting device which transmits to a receiving device a first checksum calculated by a first computer performing an operation on an input signal to calculate first data and a second checksum calculated by a second computer performing an operation on the input signal;
the receiving device receiving the first checksum and the second data, calculating a second checksum by performing an operation on the second data, comparing the first checksum with the second checksum, and adopting the second data when the first checksum and the second checksum match;
A communication system comprising: the transmitting device adjusts a timing at which the first computer outputs the first checksum and a timing at which the second computer outputs the second data, combines the first checksum and the second data, and transmits the combined data to the receiving device;
9. The communication system according to claim 8. the transmitting device generates identification information for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal, transmits the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the identification information has been added to the receiving device, and adds the identification information to the second data and transmits the second data to the receiving device;
When the identification information is added to the second data, the receiving device performs an operation on the second data to which the identification information is added to calculate the second checksum, compares the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the same identification information as the identification information added to the second data is added with the second checksum, and adopts the second data if they match.
9. The communication system according to claim 8. the transmitting device assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by duplicating the input signal, and transmits the first checksum calculated by performing an operation on the first data calculated by performing an operation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers by the first computer, and the second data calculated by performing an operation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers by the second computer;
The receiving device calculates the second checksum by performing an operation on all the second data based on the same input signal, compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and adopts the second data when all the checksums match.
11. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein the communication system comprises: A transmission method for a transmission device, comprising:
a first calculation step in which a first calculation unit of a first computer performs a calculation on an input signal to calculate first data;
a first checksum calculation step in which a first checksum calculation unit of the first computer calculates a first checksum by performing calculation on the first data;
a second calculation step in which a second calculation unit of a second computer performs a calculation on the input signal to calculate second data;
a transmitting step of transmitting the first checksum and the second data to a receiving device by a transmitting unit;
A transmission method comprising: a timing adjustment step in which the first computer and the second computer adjust, using a timing adjustment interface, a timing at which the first checksum calculation unit outputs the first checksum and a timing at which the second calculation unit outputs the second data;
a combining step in which a combining unit combines the first checksum and the second data;
Including,
In the transmitting step, the transmitting unit transmits the first checksum and the second data combined by the combining unit to the receiving device.
The transmission method according to claim 12 . a first identification information generation step in which a first identification information generation unit of the first computer generates identification information for the first data;
a second identification information generating step in which a second identification information generating unit of the second computer generates identification information for the second data;
Including,
In the first identification information generating step and the second identification information generating step, the first identification information generating unit and the second identification information generating unit generate the identification information by a specified generation method so that the same identification information is generated for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal;
In the first checksum calculation step, the first checksum calculation unit calculates and outputs the first checksum by adding the identification information to the first data calculated by the first calculation unit;
In a second calculation step, the second calculation unit adds the identification information to the calculated second data and outputs the second data;
In the transmitting step, the transmitting unit transmits the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the identification information is added to the receiving device, and transmits the second data to which the identification information is added to the receiving device.
The transmission method according to claim 12 . a first copy serial number assignment step in which a first copy serial number assignment unit of the first computer assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal and outputs the input signal to the first calculation unit;
a second copy serial number assignment step in which a second copy serial number assignment unit of the second computer assigns serial numbers to each input signal obtained by copying the input signal and outputs the input signals to the second calculation unit;
Including,
In the first calculation step, the first calculation unit calculates the first data by performing a calculation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers;
In the first checksum calculation step, the first checksum calculation unit calculates the first checksum by performing calculation on each of the plurality of first data;
In the second calculation step, the second calculation unit calculates the second data by performing a calculation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers.
15. A transmission method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that A receiving method for a receiving device, comprising:
a receiving step in which a receiving unit receives the first checksum calculated from the first data and the second data transmitted from the transmitting device by the transmitting method according to claim 12;
a second checksum calculation step in which a second checksum calculation unit calculates a second checksum by performing calculation on the second data;
a comparison step in which a comparison unit compares the first checksum with the second checksum and adopts the second data when the first checksum and the second checksum match;
A receiving method comprising: In the second checksum calculation step, when identification information is added to the second data, the second checksum calculation unit performs a calculation on the second data to which the identification information is added to calculate the second checksum and outputs the second checksum to the comparison unit;
In the comparing step, the comparing unit compares the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the same identification information as the identification information assigned to the second data is assigned with the second checksum, and adopts the second data when the first checksum and the second checksum match.
17. The receiving method according to claim 16. In the second checksum calculation step, when an input signal is copied in the transmitting device and a serial number is assigned to each input signal, the first checksum is calculated for each of the copied input signals having different serial numbers in a first computer of the transmitting device, and the second data is calculated for each of the copied input signals having different serial numbers in a second computer of the transmitting device, the second checksum calculation unit calculates the second checksum by performing calculation on all of the second data based on the same input signal;
In the comparing step, the comparing unit compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and adopts the second data when all checksums match.
18. Receiving method according to claim 16 or 17. A communication method for a communication system including a transmitting device and a receiving device,
a transmitting step in which the transmitting device transmits to the receiving device a first checksum calculated by a first computer performing an operation on an input signal to calculate first data, and a second data calculated by a second computer performing an operation on the input signal;
a receiving step in which the receiving device receives the first checksum and the second data, performs an operation on the second data to calculate a second checksum, compares the first checksum with the second checksum, and adopts the second data if the first checksum and the second checksum match;
A communication method comprising: In the transmitting step, the transmitting device adjusts a timing at which the first computer outputs the first checksum and a timing at which the second computer outputs the second data, combines the first checksum and the second data, and transmits the combined data to the receiving device.
20. The communication method according to claim 19. In the transmitting step, the transmitting device generates identification information for the first data and the second data based on the same input signal, transmits the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the identification information has been added to the receiving device, and adds the identification information to the second data and transmits the second data to the receiving device;
In the receiving step, if the identification information is added to the second data, the receiving device performs an operation on the second data to which the identification information is added to calculate the second checksum, compares the first checksum calculated from the first data to which the same identification information as the identification information added to the second data is added with the second checksum, and adopts the second data if they match.
20. The communication method according to claim 19. In the transmitting step, the transmitting device assigns a serial number to each input signal obtained by duplicating the input signal, and transmits the first checksum calculated by performing an operation on the first data calculated by performing an operation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers by the first computer, and the second data calculated by performing an operation on each of the duplicated input signals having different serial numbers by the second computer;
In the receiving step, the receiving device calculates the second checksum by performing an operation on all the second data based on the same input signal, compares the first checksum with the second checksum for each serial number, and adopts the second data when all the checksums match.
22. Communication method according to any one of claims 19 to 21.

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