Abstract: A method for operating a time-sensitive network (TSN) includes splitting data stream on network elements into a “preempting” class and a “preemptable” class based on a mapping from priority labels; forwarding the data streams to respective next-hop network elements, wherein the forwarding of “preempting” data streams takes precedence over the forwarding of “preemptable” data streams; and forwarding the data streams received from both segments based on the priority labels and the classes of the data streams to at least one next-hop network element; wherein forwarding of “preempting” data streams takes precedence over forwarding of “preemptable” data streams; wherein the priority label attached to the data stream that has the highest priority is different from the priority label attached to the data stream that has the highest priority within the second segment.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a first data packet from a receiving input-buffer to a receiving output-buffer, the first data packet in the receiving input-buffer having a non-TSN format and the first data packet in the receiving output-buffer being TSN-compliant, includes the steps of: analysing the first data packet, which has been retrieved from a non-TSN device, in the receiving input-buffer; adding a first data packet time to the first data packet according to a Precision Time Protocol (PTP); adding a predefined first data packet priority level to the first data packet according to a Priority Code Point (PCP) of an 802.1Q tag; transmitting the first data packet to the receiving output-buffer; and sending the first data packet according to the first data packet priority level to a TSN-compliant device.

Abstract: A method for testing a network that comprises multiple devices includes sending, by a first device that is a regular participant of the network, on a path through the network, a test data flow to a second device that is another regular participant of the network; sending, by the second device, the received test data flow, and/or at least one diagnostic metric derived from this received test data flow, to a diagnostic entity; and determining, by the diagnostic entity, based at least in part on the test data flow, and/or on the diagnostic metric, received from the second device, whether the path through the network is performing according to at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A method for testing a device or a subsection under test within a network includes generating, by at least one sending device that is a regular participant of the network and borders the device or subsection under test, at least one test data flow; sending the test data flow to at least one receiving device that is a regular participant of the network different from the sending device and also borders the device or subsection under test, on a path that passes through the device or subsection under test; determining, by the receiving device, at least one performance metric of the received test data flow; determining, based on the at least one performance metric, whether the device or subsection under test, and/or a link between this device or subsection under test and the sending device or receiving device, is performing according to at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A system for enabling Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)-stream configuration of a TSN network includes: a gathering device for gathering resource utilization information from TSN switches of the TSN-stream configuration as gathered resource utilization information; and a tool device for providing a TSN stream path calculation based on the gathered resource utilization information and allocating stream paths and establishing channel multiplexing in the TSN network based on the gathered resource utilization information.

Abstract: A method for testing a device or a subsection under test within a network includes generating, by at least one sending device that is a regular participant of the network and borders the device or subsection under test, at least one test data flow; sending the test data flow to at least one receiving device that is a regular participant of the network different from the sending device and also borders the device or subsection under test, on a path that passes through the device or subsection under test; determining, by the receiving device, at least one performance metric of the received test data flow; determining, based on the at least one performance metric, whether the device or subsection under test, and/or a link between this device or subsection under test and the sending device or receiving device, is performing according to at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A method for testing a network that comprises multiple devices includes sending, by a first device that is a regular participant of the network, on a path through the network, a test data flow to a second device that is another regular participant of the network; sending, by the second device, the received test data flow, and/or at least one diagnostic metric derived from this received test data flow, to a diagnostic entity; and determining, by the diagnostic entity, based at least in part on the test data flow, and/or on the diagnostic metric, received from the second device, whether the path through the network is performing according to at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: A method for transporting a message from an end device in an industrial plant over an Ethernet network with extended functionality for time-sensitive communication includes obtaining the message from a control application of the end device, mapping the message, based at least in part on the content of the message, to at least one functionality for time-sensitive communication converting the message into Ethernet frames; encoding a request to transport the message; transmitting the Ethernet frames; decoding the request; and forwarding the message on the Ethernet network according to the requested functionality for time-sensitive communication.

Abstract: A method for establishing time-sensitive communication from at least one end device in an industrial plant into an Ethernet network with extended functionality for time-sensitive communication includes obtaining a first information model of the at least one end device, obtaining a second information model of the Ethernet network; determining first configuration information; determining second configuration information; transmitting the first configuration information to the at least one end device; and transmitting the second configuration information to the at least one network device.

Abstract: A method for operating a time-sensitive network, TSN, having a first, high-importance segment and a second, low-importance segment, includes remapping, using TSN per-port priority regeneration, priority labels attached to data streams received on the first port and the second port to updated priority labels; splitting the data streams into a “preempting” class and a “preemptable” class based on a mapping from updated priority labels to classes; and forwarding the data streams from a border network element to at least one next-hop network element. When congestion is present on a link to the next-hop network element, the forwarding of “preempting” data streams takes precedence over the forwarding of “preemptable” data streams.

Abstract: A system for enabling Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)-stream configuration of a TSN network includes: a gathering device for gathering resource utilization information from TSN switches of the TSN-stream configuration as gathered resource utilization information; and a tool device for providing a TSN stream path calculation based on the gathered resource utilization information and allocating stream paths and establishing channel multiplexing in the TSN network based on the gathered resource utilization information.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a first data packet from a receiving input-buffer to a receiving output-buffer, the first data packet in the receiving input-buffer having a non-TSN format and the first data packet in the receiving output-buffer being TSN-compliant, includes the steps of: analysing the first data packet, which has been retrieved from a non-TSN device, in the receiving input-buffer; adding a first data packet time to the first data packet according to a Precision Time Protocol (PTP); adding a predefined first data packet priority level to the first data packet according to a Priority Code Point (PCP) of an 802.1Q tag; transmitting the first data packet to the receiving output-buffer; and sending the first data packet according to the first data packet priority level to a TSN-compliant device.