Time Sensitive Networking merges Factory and Enterprise Networks

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) offers smart infrastructure and hyper-connected devices with sensing, processing and networking capabilities. These systems will generate incredible amounts of Data, sharing the same network. Thus, it is necessary to ensure that the real-time and critical-mission messages are transferred within strict bounds of latency and reliability regardless of other network traffic.

Deterministic Ethernet solutions, like TSN, deliver streams with guaranteed bandwidth and deterministic latency. There are many features involved in the multiple standards currently under development.

Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) is the name of the IEEE 802.1 Task Group responsible for standards at Data Link Layer. This group provides the specifications that will allow time-synchronized and low latency streaming services through IEEE 802 networks.

TSN is evolving and it is targeting different sectors, like Automotive, Industry, Broadcasting and Aerospace. Therefore, it is expected switching implementations that combine a subset of the available standards and features. This flexibility can be achieved through reconfigurable logic (FPGAs), HDL IPs and embedded software.