MOXA TSN – Time Sensitive Networking focuses on establishing a common time reference

A UNIFIED TIME SENSITIVE NETWORK TO BECOME THE FOUNDATION OF INDUSTRY 4.0

The current trends of automation and data exchange in manufacturing, also referred to as “Industry 4.0” or the “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT), are based upon digitization. By converting analog signals, sounds, images, texts, and other information into a computer-readable format, digitization has been transforming industries for decades. For manufacturers to make sense of all these bits of information, the data must be transported from numerous sensors and equipment on the factory floor and processed for humans or other machines to make informed decisions in real-time. 

Simulating a Smart Factory Network With and Without TSN

What Is TSN – Time Sensitive Networking?

TSN is a collection of standards that enables deterministic messaging over standard Ethernet networks. As defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), TSN involves a form of network traffic management to ensure non-negotiable time frames for end-to-end transmission latencies. Consequently, all TSN devices must synchronize their clocks with each other and use a common time reference to support real-time communications for industrial control applications. 

Time Synchronization

As the name suggests, time-sensitive networking focuses on establishing a common time reference between all devices within a unified and interoperable infrastructure, which forms the foundation of its entire operations. 

Bounded Low Latency

By adopting the concept of non-negotiable time period allocation for end-to-end transmissions, these components ensure deterministic data transmission over the network. 

Ultra Reliability

To implement and maintain all aspects of a deterministic networking environment, a set of components has been defined to ensure optimal reliability and security. 

Resource Management

When the network and applications become more converged and larger in scale, additional tools are required to provide better manageability and visibility. 

Real-time communication is crucial for smart factory automation as networks grow in scale and complexity. Let’s see how time-sensitive networking (TSN) realizes deterministic communication in converged applications.